Symbolic Imagery in Langston Hughes Poems, The Negro...

Symbolic Imagery in Langston Hughes Poems, The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Mother To Son Langston Hughes uses symbolism throughout his poetry. In the poems The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Mother To Son, Langston Hughes uses symbolism to convey his meaning of the poems to the readers. Readers may make many interpretations about the symbols used throughout these poems. Throughout the poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers Hughes uses metaphorical statements to suggest to the reader what the soul of the African American has been through. The symbols of the old rivers, from which the African American ideal has risen, can be interpreted in many different ways. They can represent the birth and growth of the African American†¦show more content†¦In the fourth line of the poem Hughes speaks of the Euphrates River. This river symbolizes the birth of life and the beginning of civilization to many readers. This river can represent the youth of the African American people. It speaks of the beginning of life and culture. Then Hughes talks of the Congo River in Africa. This is an image of home for many African Americans. It represents a place of peace and tranquility in their lives. The speaker of the poem goes on to say how the Congo lulled me to sleep (5), which further brings the image of a tranquil scene to mind. Hughes also writes about the Nile River and the great pyramids in Egypt in this poem. To some readers the pyramids can be viewed as a symbol of slavery of the African American people due to the slave labor that it took to create these grand structures. Finally the great Mississippi River is written about. Many symbols arise from this river of the South. To many whites it represents prosperity, especially in the time of the Civil War when slave trade was one of the bases of economy; however, to many African Americans this river may be a symbol of the oppression of their people. The image of Abe Lincoln riding down the Mississippi can be seen as a symbol of hope and freedom to the slaves of the South. The very fact that Lincoln is on the Mississippi river, which can represent early slavery, shows theShow MoreRelatedWhat Qualities That Make A Langston Hughes Work Memorable And Timeless2528 Words   |  11 Pages There are certain qualities that make a Langston Hughes’ work memorable and timeless. Whether it is the topics that choose to write about or types of characters he chose to portray. Imagery provides the reader with a visual picture of what the writer is trying to convey, rhythm gives the story its beat, and the metaphor gives the work its deeper meaning. All three components can always be found in a Langston Hughes piece. Most of my own poems are racial in theme and treatment, derived from