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Langston Hughes Theory Of Harlem

Decent Essays

In Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem,” the Structural theory can be observed by looking at the text and comparing it to other works written during the same time. A structural way to look at the poem “Harlem” found on page 560, is to recognize that a majority of the writings (poems and other forms) were based on asking questions. This was written between the time of World War One and after World War Two. There was the idea that the first world war was to end all wars, but then there was a second one. Questions emerged as to what the point of life was, related to death, religion, government expectations and even personal goals and dreams. As questions arose in society, they also were brought up in writing and art, by looking at the questions posed …show more content…

(Owen 25-28)
These two poems, although different in many ways, allow the reader to glimpse the uneasy attitude of war and dying for one’s country. What had once seemed like a dream to many now was a “dream deferred” or a nightmare.
The lack of conviction towards a certain train of thought can further be seen in the next few lines of “Harlem”: “Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?” (Hughes 2-3). With the use of imagery, one is able to actually see the raisin in the sun shriveling up (not unlike society’s perception of what truth is). A similar moment of imagery can be seen in Jean Toomer’s poem “Face” on lines ten through thirteen:
And her channeled muscles
Are cluster grapes of sorrow
Purple in the evening sun
Nearly ripe for worms. (Toomer 10-13)
By incorporating the element of imagery, the concept of wilting and dying and rotting becomes more relatable since more individuals have experienced being around ripening fruit. The way that the descriptions turn delicious fruit into something that is almost perfect for worm food further expresses the disgust and uncertainty which the populous was feeling for life and about their …show more content…

The Atom bomb had been created, mustard “gas” was deadly and explosions were going off every which way from guns being fired (Owen 8). The overall effect of all of these questions and statements is whether or not it is important to stand up for something, or if dreams and just beginnings in the end simply get deterred and turned into nightmares.
Through the theory of structuralism, “Harlem” has been examined and compared to other texts written during the same time in order to better understand the populace’s reaction to the war and the uneasiness and questions which generated from it. This poem “Harlem” asks the question “What happens” and then ends with an unknown answer. By ending with the unknown, it is evident that the mystery wasn’t just for writing, but a societal issue that people wanted cleared up and answered. The structure and emotions of the time were just as uncertain as this

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