"Let America Be America Again" and Symbolism

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Langston Hughes has been known for his superior use of symbolism, especially in the poem, "Let American be America Again." It looks at how the poem mainly symbolizes a land of freedom, the struggles of American minorities, and the desires of the American minorities.

From the Paper:

"The second message that the poet symbolically approaches is the struggles of the American minorities. The poet first introduces the reader to the voice of the people in the seventh stanza when he asked who was speaking against the equality in America. The poet states in the eighth stanza, "I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars," which represents the African American slaves that had to pick cotton and was beaten. Line 11 states, "I am the red man driven from the land," who are the Indians that the English men killed drove away from their native land. Line 13 states, "Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain \whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain \ Must bring back our mighty dream again," which expresses to the reader about all the struggles that the American minorities had to endure."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Johnson, Wanita. "Basic Literature." atsak.com/literary_sentences; 2003
• Hughes, Langston. "Let America Be America Again." poetry.com/langston_hughes/let_america_be_america_again; 1999
• Jordon, Evona. " English Terms." http//:wikinovia.edu.com; 2007

More papers on "Let America Be America Again" and Symbolism:

• Poem Review # 115177 : "Let America Be America Again" and Failings"
• Poem Review # 93960 : "Let America be America Again"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: