Langston Hughes “I Look at the World”
This by far is the best poem I’ve read because of
the emotions behind it, and the way Langston Hughes conveys his frustrations. Many
African Americans can express a personal connection they experienced with this
poem. Langston Hughes is opening a
pathway for many black to follow; he is trying to give black some knowledge on
the fairness of life. Langston Hughes knows
there were more to life than what he was given.
Life shouldn’t be about your mind being in mental slavery, I think that’s
what he was trying to convey when he stated “This fenced- off narrow space
assigned to me”. This phrase can always illustrate
why should he be assigned a life? I
compared this poem with Komyunkayaa’s “Facing it”, because both poets faced
pain and despair, about their race. One
man has to live with the memory of many lose, and the other has to live a life
of being oppressed. Both poets is also
living a life where they have limited control, and a life that’s not destined
for them. It’s almost like they have no
control of the steering wheel of a car. I also thought that the ending of this poem
was intriguing because Langston Hughes is trying to appraise a situation where
his fellow comrades should come to a realization what morally right and be
assertive in what they believe in.
Yes, this poem was amazing for me to read as well. This poem to me is about an African American realizing that he has basically been pushed into a corner and he freedom has been very limited. It sounds like at first he was sure that this is all he could have in life until he realized that he could have and do more. "i look at my own body with eyes no longer blind" in this part, he is saying that he will no longer be blinded by the hatred and oppression, and that instead of settling for less and doing what is expected from an African American, hes going to go above and beyond. This brought chills to my skin. Really liked your post as well!
ReplyDeletegood points all--and the emotional distance between two lines you quote--being "fenced off"... "no longer blind"--suggest the conflict and change in the poem: the movement from feeling overwhelmed by forces outside the self, and also not being able to "see" beyond that self as (pre)figured by society, or to understand that there might be a self that is not the one culturally and socially assigned to you (many of us can relate to that), to being able to see another self/way through, and also finding the inner strength to act on that discovery/knowledge
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, especially about Hughes' intention to help encourage his comrades to follow in the path of creating their own identity. The alternative is to continue living with the one that was given to them, which ultimately limits them immeasurably. I think "mental slavery" is definitely the most apt term for this, because it is possible (sometimes easier) to go on living while one's mind is still bound in chains.
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