Langston hughes mother to son poem. Mother to Son Poem (A Warning Letter to Her Son) 2022-11-05
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"Mother to Son" is a poem written by Langston Hughes in 1922. It is a powerful and moving tribute to the strength and resilience of mothers and their enduring love for their children.
In the poem, a mother speaks to her son, using the metaphor of a staircase to describe the challenges and obstacles that she has faced in life. Despite the difficulties she has encountered, the mother remains steadfast and determined, encouraging her son to keep climbing and to never give up hope.
The mother's words are filled with wisdom and inspiration, as she tells her son that life is not always easy, but that he must persevere and keep moving forward. She tells him that she has had to face many setbacks and struggles, but that she has never let them hold her back. Instead, she has used them as opportunities to learn and grow, and to become stronger and wiser.
Throughout the poem, Hughes uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the mother's message. The metaphor of the staircase is particularly effective, as it illustrates the ups and downs of life and the importance of perseverance. It also reflects the mother's love and support, as she guides and encourages her son to keep climbing and to reach for the stars.
In conclusion, "Mother to Son" is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the enduring bond between mothers and their children. It is a reminder of the strength and resilience that we all possess, and of the importance of never giving up, even when faced with the toughest of challenges.
Langston Hughes
His father would discourage him from pursuing writing as a career, in favour of something 'more practical'. Don't you set down on the steps. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. Using his poetic intellect, he has explained how these people try to pass their painful stories to the next generation. The mother in this poem has had no such life; in fact, the description of hers seems more tough and unpleasant.
The rhythm of the poem has no rhyme but it has no beat that flows in a jaded but it does builds like a stairway, one step at a time. We realize that although her life has given her many hardships, she never gave up her willpower to keep on and she pushes on. Langston's tuition fees to Columbia University were paid on the grounds that he study engineering. He must rather face them and keep pushing forward. Perhaps she believes that her people will enjoy the bliss of life one day. The image of the broken-down staircase also gives the readers a notion of insufficiency of funds. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And Where So, boy, don't you turn back.
She inspires her son by saying that she has always strived for a better life and even he must continue to do so. Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. The mother says to her son, that life is not as easy as it seems and you really cannot just stroll through. Order now In this poem, Langston Hughes uses an extended metaphor, which was the staircase, to portray the life of the mother. It leads me to think that this staircase only stops if you die. But, the writer praises their struggle; he likes how these people carry a firm belief that one day a bright light will replace darkness and gain the fruits of their hard work. Blues was a very popular genre in the 1920s, especially down there many Southern African Americans popularized it as well.
It leads me to think that this staircase only stops if you die. So, the main theme of the poem is that of perseverance. I selected this poem for analysis as it is rather short yet thought-provoking. Toward the end, she refers to her struggling life once again; she reinforces the same idea that she is still climbing, but she is hopeful. The mother tells him that the adversities that come his way should not dampen his spirit and he must continue to strive for a better life. In conclusion, Langston Hughes uses extended metaphor, imagery, dialect, and structure to reveal a weary mother who gives her son guidance about the strength of character. Falling off the staircase may also indicate being misled.
He attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began writing poetry in the eighth grade. This gives the readers an interpretation that no matter what age you are, you will eventually begin climbing your staircase of life. She is just encouraging him to climb those stairs that life throws at him by telling him that she herself went through the same struggles as he will because she never gave up in lines 18-19, "For I'se still goin', honey. Langston Hughes uses dialect to reveal to the readers that the mother may not have been well educated. If a town is completely abandoned with no trace of human life, it is extremely difficult to find help. The image of the broken-down staircase also gives the readers a notion of insufficiency of funds.
The mother says her life has not been a smooth ride. However, she never gave up; she tried climbing even during the worst of times. So, boy, don't you turn back. The mother is telling her son that no matter what happens, he should never give up or quit. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare.
The poet passes the message that one must persevere to make his life better and not be discouraged by the adversities that one may have to face. In the 1920s, which was when this poem was written, many African Americans were moving from the South into cities for a possibility at a better living situation. In this poem, Langston Hughes uses an extended metaphor, which was the staircase, to portray the life of the mother. Additionally, a blues song will have the reappearance of words. This gives the readers an interpretation that no matter what age you are, you will eventually begin climbing your staircase of life. In most blues songs, they will sing about progressing on and never giving up on yourself, which is what this poem really tries to instill into the child.
The mother sets her own example by saying that she is still walking on that path and climbing that metaphorical staircase of life. With the use of the extended metaphor of the staircase and the crystal-clear imagery, the readers take on a clear picture of struggle, perseverance, and hope that the mother had to go through. The poem is a monologue that conveys the idea of encouragement and hope. With the use of the extended metaphor of the staircase and the crystal-clear imagery, the readers take on a clear picture of struggle, perseverance, and hope that the mother had to go through. He wonders how the blacks are hopeful even after facing hatred and biased treatment of the world. He uses symbols like tacks, splinters, no carpet on the floor and darkness to describe the difficulties that one faces in life.
