Comparing Langston Hughes 'Poems I, Too And' Harlem

An analysis of Langston Hughes’s language, used in poems “I,Too” and “Harlem” Language. It it
When looking at the language used in “Harlem”, word choice plays a big role. Starting with the question, “What happens to a dream deferred?” This line of questioning pulls the readers thoughts to, what happens to dreams that are not lived out to their potential? Or better, what happens to those who do not seek their dreams. Dreams are not meant as the REM sleep visions, but rather the ambitions and aspirations of the reader. This can be taken one of two ways, either in the sense of hope or a warning. Hughes use of phrases that can be conveyed in more than one way, also give an eerie tone to his poems. When looking at double meanings, Hughes writes …show more content…
This “darker brother” “eats in the kitchen when company comes” is an example of how Hughes enables the reader to see how he feels included by calling himself a brother, yet he is still separated from the majority, like a black sheep, and eats in the kitchen instead of at the table with everyone else. In the next few lines Hughes writes “But I laugh, And eat well, and grow strong.” In saying that he sits back and watches, waiting for his time to act, Hughes gives the reader the sense of hope again, that he hasn’t given up. At the same time this can sound blunt and maniacal. It provides a sneaky tone that is seen as revenge in being plotted. He goes on to say “Tomorrow I’ll be at the table when company goes and nobody’ll dare say to me, eat in the kitchen.” Although this line is bleeding with black pride, if looking at the same line in a different light the threat that has been peppered throughout the poem comes to life. The next few lines “Besides-they’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed,” at first glance, registers with the reader as Hughes proudly announcing his worth to ‘America’. Hughes maintains the hope in one light while he supports his threats saying that [America] will be ashamed. The last line “I too am America” goes in sync with the reoccurring theme in both poems. Hughes is pointing out that black people are part of America. And a country that treats one part of its populace poorly is like a family that maltreats a member. It's a sick family and there will be trouble. When using the first-person narrative, Hughes enables the reader to comprehend that Hughes is looking into the future. The first-person narrative also