Democracy is the cornerstone of American society; however, history has shown that while the United States claims that all men are created equal, prejudices remain and prove inequality still exists. Langston Hughes’s poem “I, Too” contradicts Walt Whitman’s idealized view of America in his poem “I Hear America Singing” to prove that democracy does not necessarily signify equality. By using a narrative stanza structure and creating an active character with a unique perspective in society in “I, Too,” Hughes successfully reveals the flaws of Whitman’s romantic image of America and asserts his right to be a part of American society.
Although both poems describe the authors’ visions of America, their different structures affect how the reader relates …show more content…
In “I Hear America Singing,” Whitman only relies on one stanza to describe the “varied carols” he hears. The stanza consists of one long sentence listing the different songs, and each line has an almost identical structure. Whitman names the worker who is singing, …show more content…
As a result, Hughes must refute this idea in his own poem through his speaker by bringing attention to Whitman’s lack of diversity. Writing from the perspective of the “darker brother,” who is not mentioned in “I Hear America Singing,” Hughes uses his speaker to relate the struggles minorities face to be recognized as a part of society. The protagonist must “eat in the kitchen / When company comes,” but unlike Whitman’s speaker, he actively decides to change the segregated world in which he finds himself. Resolving to “laugh, / And eat well, / And grow strong,” the speaker brings change for both himself and for the people around him. Hughes’s active protagonist is an inspiring character who exposes the prejudice found in society and works to change society for the better so others can see “how beautiful I am.” Writing from this perspective proves that some people are excluded from Whitman’s inaccurate representation of the United States. Hughes speaks for all minorities when he states, “I, too, am
Although both poems describe the authors’ visions of America, their different structures affect how the reader relates …show more content…
In “I Hear America Singing,” Whitman only relies on one stanza to describe the “varied carols” he hears. The stanza consists of one long sentence listing the different songs, and each line has an almost identical structure. Whitman names the worker who is singing, …show more content…
As a result, Hughes must refute this idea in his own poem through his speaker by bringing attention to Whitman’s lack of diversity. Writing from the perspective of the “darker brother,” who is not mentioned in “I Hear America Singing,” Hughes uses his speaker to relate the struggles minorities face to be recognized as a part of society. The protagonist must “eat in the kitchen / When company comes,” but unlike Whitman’s speaker, he actively decides to change the segregated world in which he finds himself. Resolving to “laugh, / And eat well, / And grow strong,” the speaker brings change for both himself and for the people around him. Hughes’s active protagonist is an inspiring character who exposes the prejudice found in society and works to change society for the better so others can see “how beautiful I am.” Writing from this perspective proves that some people are excluded from Whitman’s inaccurate representation of the United States. Hughes speaks for all minorities when he states, “I, too, am