Claude McKay & Dialectical Analysis
In Claude McKay’s, “Old England” and “Quashie to Buccra” McKay uses dialect as a way to give poems multiple meanings. What may be seen as a simplistic or naïve poem about Jamaican life may actually be full of double meanings that only a select audience would be able to identify. In his poem’s, McKay ultimately gives Negros who work under white colonists the underlying message of black resistance by revolution.
Perhaps what makes this interpretation so convincing is the background of the author. McKay was born Sunny Ville Jamaica as the youngest of 11 sons. While in Jamaica, McKay wrote “Songs of Jamaica”, which is where “Quashie to Buccra” is derived from. In this time, he also became a self
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In actuality, the poem can be seen by Negros as a way to criticize the white plantation owner and in fact plant the seeds of rebellion.
Indeed, the title of the work itself leads credence to it being veiled in double meaning. While a white, European in the high rungs of the social ladder may read the poem as a simple address of worker to plantation owner. However, a Negro experiencing the strife of Quashie, the black peasant worker who produces sweet potatoes in the poem, may relate to the unfairness of they experience from the Buccra, which is the white man being addressed in the poem. Indeed, McKay points out in the poem, “You taste the potato, and you say it’s sweet, but you don’t know how hard we work for it” (McKay 2). Buccra even attempts to haggle for a lower price, further showing he doesn’t understand the work that goes into farming the sweet potatoes, “You want a basketful fe quattiewut” (McKay 3). Not only does this demonstrate the Buccra’s insensitivity to the work that goes into the harvest, but it shows he’s greedy and milking the natives for every last sixpence.
A white reader may look at the reading as Quashie simply complaining about his hard work, “The sun is hot like when fire catches a town” (McKay 9). In reality, Quashie would do this work even if he
In conclusion, the poem was used as a key to unlock some of the thoughts the negro had concerning Africa. The negro in this poem was a representative of all negroes during this time; their thoughts and the their feelings toward Africa. Cullen’s usage of the literary devices allow for an effective expression of the meaning of this poem. Poems are intensified language of experience, so the devices assured the connection of the reader to the poem and the experience. This applies to many issues in society today because as beautiful as our country is there are still dark clouds that cover the very essence of what the states once stood
Claude McKay was an important figure during the 1920's in the Harlem Rennaisance. Primarily a poet, McKay used the point of view of the outsider as a prevalent theme in his works. This is best observed in such poems as "Outcast," "America," and "The White House." In these poems, McKay portrays the African-American as the outsiderof western society and its politics and laws and at times, the very land that he is native to.
During the time this poem was written, racism and prejudice towards African Americans was prevalent and habituated to whites. From the first stanza alone, the tone is already set as uncharitable and
Claude McKay’s poems reflect on American culture during a specific time in history, known as Harlem Renaissance. A time where racism was predominately a way of living for many, this was a beneficial time in history for African Americans. Bringing blacks together in a new movement that had not been present in America. Development in which blacks emphasized themselves by taking on their racial identity. It was a time period in which the black community helped each other to be able to express themselves as who they truly are, creating a true African American visual doing so
Singing as a form of communication and as an expression of emotions was deeply rooted in African American culture. Slaves who were shipped across the Atlantic in the 1700’s used song to communicate during the several-month-long journeys. Slave songs were used to pass down history through generations and ensured the survival of African American culture. Black slaves worked and lived in horrendous conditions and were constantly oppressed by blacks. Slaves had no rights or freedoms and living their culture in the form of song in a foreign land oppressed by foreigners was key to the survival of their culture and legacy for future generations. Claude McKay lived during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920’s, which was decades after the civil war and after slavery was abolished in America. After the reconstruction, the Jim Crow laws were laws that enforced racial segregation and blacks second-class status. During the post reconstruction, thousands of blacks were lynched primarily in the South and were oppressed by whites. In Claude McKay’s “Outcast,” the difficulty of being black is unceasing oppression by whites as seen through their inability to connect with their past roots, their treatment by White’s as sub-human, and their belief that they have lost their humanity.
Imagery within Dunbar’s work conveyed the harsh reality of African American life in America’s heritage. Dating back to when blacks forcefully came over to the United States for the purpose of manual labor, Dunbar explained the conditions in “Ode to Ethiopia.” Their duties entailed that “they tread the fields” (19) from sunrise to sunset until the worked reached an end. To pass away the time, they would sing “up to the skies in the beauty ring/and bolder grow each hour” (23-24). They would find themselves attempting to find some hope while plantation owners hollered at them if unproductive. “Very seldom has any author brought so vividly before us the black farm laborer of the plantation as he comes from the day’s toil” (Burch). Forced to brutal
In Langston Hughes' poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", he examines some of the roles that blacks have played throughout history. Ultimately, the poem asserts that in every one of these aspects the black people have been exploited and made to suffer, mostly at the hands of white people. The poem is written entirely in first person, so there is a very personal tone, even though the speaker symbolizes the entire black race. The examples of each role cited in the poem are very specific, but they allude to greater indignities, relying on the readers' general knowledge of world history. To convey the injustice that has taken place, Hughes utilizes the symbolism of the
Claude McKay was a Jamaican poet who brought hopefulness to the oppressed during the Harlem Renaissance in his poem, “If We Must Die”. McKay experienced the hardships that colored people were going through because of their race and nationality. He believed that the people should fight for what they believe in, even if it seems like a hopeless cause. McKay uses the concept of dying with dignity to persuade his fellow African-Americans that are being oppressed to fight for what they believe in.
The depiction black struggles within Dunbar’s dialect poetry makes Dunbar’s poetry beneficial for the black race. For example, in “An Ante-bellum Sermon,” when Dunbar writes “But when Moses wif his powah Comes an' sets us chillun free, We will praise de gracious Mastah, Dat has gin us liberty; An' we'll shout ouah halleluyahs, On dat mighty reck'nin' day, When we'se reco'nised ez citiz', Huh uh! Chillun, let us pray!”, he is depicting a common feeling of African Americans. Although this poem takes place before the Civil War, and before Dunbar’s birth, both of Dunbar’s parents were ex-slaves, which gave him an understanding of slavery. With an understanding of slavery, Dunbar was able to depict the desire for slaves to be rid of the unjust system. Beyond that, the idea is still applicable to the time in which he lived. From one issue to another, people anticipate equality while in dire situations. Similarly, in “Song,” Dunbar depicts the harmful race relations from his time. Instead of the black experience being told from a sympathizer perspective, Dunbar has a better understanding of what it was like to be black in the 1890s. The competition and hate between flowers symbolizes the conflict between white and black people. Through this metaphor, especially at the end when they celebrate the death of all daisies when he writes “In de fiel’ de flags is wavin’ in a tantalizing’ way, Kin o’ ‘joicin’ case de daisies all is daid,” Dunbar depicts the hateful race relations of his time. Dunbar’s representation of black issues brings attention to them, which benefits African Americans.
Trazodone: This is an antidepressant classified as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor which is used mainly in the treatment of depression. Trazodone selectively hinders the reuptake of serotonin, causing the serotonin concentration in the brain’s synapses to increase (American Psychiatric Association, 2010). This increase in serotonin is thought to exert a penile erection however there is no clear evidence that supports this. It is used as a 50-200mg dose per night while the common side effects include dry mouth, fatigue and drowsiness. (Padush, n.d)
All three of the poems discussed in this essay relate to the struggles suffered by African Americans in the late 18th century to the early 19th century in many different ways. They had to live under harsh
One of the prominent themes is appearance versus reality, the duality of human nature. In Macbeth we see this theme numerous times in many of the scenes. In act 1 scene 3 Macbeth meets the witches for the first time they give him the vision of being ‘thane of Cawdor’ and thereafter the ‘king’ himself. After the vision we begin to see that Macbeth has begun pondering whether he shall murder Duncan and taking his ‘rightful’ place as king. However at the end of this scene he begins to think in a rational manner and states “If chance may have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” and “Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day” this shows that he believes that if it is a prophecy then it will come true without him having to do anything. Banquo had warned Macbeth that “oftentimes to win us to our harm these instruments of darkness tell us truths…to betray us in deepest consequence” although Macbeth stubbornly overlooked
In the poem ,“America”, Claude McKay uses figurative language and diction to create a dark tone, a powerful empowering tone, and an optimistic tone. The theme of double consciousness of African-Americans is supported in the poem and the poem itself also connects to the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance which was to fight back racial hate and stereotypes with black empowerment.
The Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling are a well known and highly celebrated series. In the first novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the audience is introduced to the main character, Harry. Harry is an embodiment of many common themes and devices in literature. However, Rowling manages to employ these literary tropes while creating a story entirely different from any other. The novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone provides an example of how to effectively utilize common literary motifs and archetypes without being cliché.
The poem America by Claude McKay is on its surface a poem combining what America should be and what this country stands for, with what it actually is, and the attitude it projects amongst the people. Mckay uses the form of poetry to express how he, as a Jamaican immigrant, feels about America. He characterizes the bittersweet relationship between striving for the American dream, and being denied that dream due to racism. While the America we are meant to see is a beautiful land of opportunity, McKay see’s as an ugly, flawed, system that crushes the hopes and dreams of the African-American people.