What does it mean to let America be America again? Tone Hughes tone in “Let America Be America Again” is confessional and optimistic. Though Hughes’ vivid imagery, “Ireland’s dark shore”, “England’s grassy lea”, “Black Africa’s strand”, the reader pictures the variety of people from vastly different backgrounds and homelands coming together, willingly or not, into this veritable melting pot; each on facing his or her own unique struggles (47-49). Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. 23, 2008, Langston Hughes’ Let America Be America Again. What is the tone of Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes? Study.com has thousands of articles about every The last stanza is thus drafted on a strong instance of cacophony or discordant sounds which convey the ugliness of the reality described: “Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,/The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies…”(Hughes)[4]. Another literary device that the author uses plentifully is the metaphor. “I’m the man who never got ahead…yet I am the one who dreamt our basic dream” (37, 39). Although American’s have been living under this facade of freedom and equality for centuries it doesn’t mean that the future fulfillment of this dream is impossible. Get access risk-free for 30 days, The theme of the poem is enshrouded in a thick foil of literary devices. Through his provocative words, intensified by his use of imagery, and anaphora the audience is sent on an emotional journey through the lives the American dream has left behind. The poem opens as a plea for America to become all that it has promised. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. The poem questions who ''the free'' really are. All rights reserved. You can get your custom paper from Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The proof for this is given by centuries of severe racial discrimination or of capitalist aggression. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. This era was a trying and painful time for the black community. 's' : ''}}. The metaphors provide the poem with poignant effects. Let it be the dream it used to be. "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy", Don't use plagiarized sources. He issues a rallying cry urging all people to ''redeem the land,'' ''work to overcome America's problems,'' and, ''make America again,'' a place where greed, discrimination, and oppression are pushed aside in favor of acceptance, perseverance, love, and equality. Change ), Analysis of Langston Hughes’ – Let America Be America Again. 23, 2008, [1] Hughes, Langston. America to him meant freedom and equality but it has become the exact opposite and a story of greed, oppression and inequality. The fifth line, ''America was never America,'' is a powerful statement about Hughes' feelings, and possibly those of many others, that the values on which America was founded (freedom, liberty, and justice for all) do not really exist. Euphony and cacophony are also used so as to express tenderness and beauty on the one hand or harshness and discontent on the other. The theme of the poem is thus the turning of the American Dream of greatness, of peace, liberty, equality and the pursuit of happiness into a historical nightmare. Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. just create an account. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? courses that prepare you to earn our expert writers, Hi, my name is Jenn Where is the dream for the “Negro”, born into enslavement, never having the opportunity to taste freedom? Yet, by the end of the poem, Hughes takes a more upbeat tone, saying: ''America never was America to me, And yet I swear this oath--America will be!'' The final part of the poem reveals the passion of the author through the now determined and direct tone employed. Gradually however, it appears clear that the America in the dream has never existed, except as an illusion or a projection. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} Thus, the tone alternates from a common, almost dispassionate imperative, such as Hughes employs in the first two stanzas of the poem for instance to a passionate, rollicking rhetoric which directly attacks the flaws of American democracy or capitalism. Essay, Use multiple resourses when assembling your essay, Get help form professional writers when not sure you can do it yourself, Use Plagiarism Checker to double check your essay, Do not copy and paste free to download essays. "Let America Be America Again" is written in the first person. In “A Dream Deferred”, on the other hand, the author’s tone is formal and encouraging. 6 Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—. Select a subject to preview related courses: Hughes' poem is a scathing analysis of an America that boasts of certain goals and ideals but doesn't quite live up to them. Already registered? One of these is the proud American flag, with its starred pattern symbolizing the constitution established by the first seven states on the continent. study Poet Langston Hughes had a few thoughts about that. Although, the majority of this poem seems to have a bleak outlook on American society, towards the end of the poem the tone takes an optimistic change: “let America be America again, the land it never has been yet.. [a]nd yet must be” (62-63). The farmer is indentured to the earth; the factory worker is a slave to his employer, “bartered” like a piece of equipment (31-32, 38). Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free. America, rather than a land of opportunity, is a land of greed, where the strong consume the weak and the young are encouraged to “own everything for one’s own greed” (30). succeed. Hughes speaks to all types of people in his poem, addressing immigrants, Native Americans, the poor, and the blacks. Let's take a closer look. 4 Seeking a home where he himself is free.. 5 (America never was America to me.). In this lesson, we'll explore his poem, 'Let America Be America Again', and the meaning behind his words. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. America says it stands for freedom, yet everyone has not always been free to do as they wish. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. You can test out of the Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, I, Too, Sing America By Langston Hughes: Summary, Theme & Analysis, Mulatto by Langston Hughes: Poem & Analysis, Langston Hughes & the Harlem Renaissance: Poems of the Jazz Age, The American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun, Harlem By Langston Hughes: Analysis & Overview, Claude McKay: Role in Harlem Renaissance & 'America' Analysis, What Is the American Dream? first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Hughes uses anaphora, “I am the poor white…I am the Negro”, to force the reader to step into these characters’ shoes and give the reader a perspective into a new truth (19-20). After all, the pursuit of freedom isn’t just an American aspiration but  is innate to all humans. Get Your Custom Essay on, By clicking “Write my paper”, you agree to our, Topic: Langston Hughes’ Let America Be America Again, https://graduateway.com/langston-hughes-let-america-be-america-again/, Get your custom Thus, a great part of the poem’s message is given through indirect statement. Those who gain power and wealth do so by manipulating the working class. He personalizes the plights of the farmers, the workers, and the men and women who came to America with hopes of something greater by using the phrase, ''I am,'' over and over. your own paper. Among these, allusion is a crucial literary element. In this instance, he shows hope for what America can become, again stressing that, while America's ideals have never covered him, America can still be great. “[T]orn from Black Africa’s strand….to build a “homeland of the free” creates a powerful visual of Africans being torn away from their homeland by greedy slaveholders to build a country living under the pretense of freedom and equality (49). © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. The stanza ends with a striking picture of a poor immigrant who struggles to make it to America for an opportunity at a better life, only to meet the same cruel, “dog eat dog” world that he had hoped to escape (22-24). Visit the Poetry Lesson Plans & Activities page to learn more. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. ( Log Out /  To illustrate his thoughts, Hughes uses repetitive phrasing like ''American never was America to me.'' 3. Throughout this poem, “homeland of the free” is always in quotations, meaning this is not the opinion of the writer (16,50). Hughes again uses anaphora, “I am the farmer”, to help the reader identify with these individuals (31). Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Essentially, Hughes is saying, ''let America be America again,'' because it's not the America it claims to be. Create your account. He says the dreamers envisioned the United States as a place where comfortable and safe lives are possible for all citizens, not just the elite. The poem thus begins by deploring the loss of the American Dream and the virginal beginnings of the continent, thus mimicking the commonplace view of modern America. The Academy of the American Poets. In ‘Let America be America Again’, Langston Hughes contrasts the American reality with the American dream to show what America has become and what it was meant to be. 1 Let America be America again.. 2 Let it be the dream it used to be.. 3 Let it be the pioneer on the plain. '', To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.

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