In the poem "Mother to Son," the speaker, a mother, imparts wisdom and guidance to her son as he navigates through life. The mother speaks to her son as if she were climbing a staircase, telling him about the obstacles and challenges she has faced and encouraging him to keep moving forward.
The mother begins by telling her son that she has had "troubles" in her life, just as everyone does. She compares life to a staircase, saying that she has been "climbin' on" and has "had to cut" her own path through life. The metaphor of the staircase conveys the idea that life is a journey and that each person must find their own way through it. The mother's use of the word "cut" also suggests that life is not always easy and that there will be times when one must make tough decisions or sacrifices in order to move forward.
Despite the difficulties she has encountered, the mother tells her son that she has never turned back or given up. She encourages him to follow in her footsteps and to keep climbing, no matter how hard the journey may seem. The mother's perseverance and determination serve as an example for her son and remind him that he too can overcome any obstacle he may face.
Throughout the poem, the mother uses imagery and descriptive language to convey the challenges and triumphs of her journey. She speaks of "places with no top" and "dark as a dungeon," suggesting that life can be overwhelming and confusing at times. However, she also speaks of the "stars" that she has reached and the "light" that has guided her, reminding her son that there are always moments of hope and beauty to be found in life.
In the final lines of the poem, the mother tells her son that the journey of life is worth it and that he should "hang on" to his dreams. She encourages him to keep climbing and to never give up, just as she has done. The mother's words of wisdom and encouragement serve as a reminder to her son and to readers that no matter how difficult life may seem, we can always find the strength and determination to keep moving forward.
Langston Hughes' Mother to Son. Poetry Explication
Instead, in this stanza of the poem, she tells her son that the reality is that life is hard, full of brick walls that are trying to stop you, but one must keep on going, one cannot turn their back or sit down, because one will catch a break eventually. It may be assumed that the woman wants her son to be a strong person ready to face the possible threats the stairs may offer. First Hughes uses imagery to present a picture of the metaphorical staircase. . She tells him that she has been through some tough times in her life, but he should never give up hope.
Mother To Son
Therefore, he needs to be careful about the choices he makes to ensure some of those obstacles are prevented. A splinter, which is a painful inflammation deep within the skin that is difficult to remove and alleviate, is used to symbolize a period of her life. The poem represents a number of symbols and each symbol has a meaning has a number of symbols depending on the person and what he gets from it, in meaning terms. For the informal language to be present in the poem portrays a middle aged women that has been through many life experiences with valuable advice to share with her son. The second comment shows the ideologically simple thinking of child.
Mother To Son Analysis Essay Free Essay Example
The book is written in a journal format and there are scattered poetry and haikus from other poets and herself throughout the book. The poet, Langston Hughes, was born in 1902 and died in 1967. With tattered stairs, the mother also illustrates her floor as being bare. However, my sister and I are very different from each other. She clearly believes that we need to be fighters in our lives, as life will often be difficult. By reading the history of the poet, Langston Hughes, the reader has a general idea that his own mother could have been a slave or had grown up during the time that slavery was being abolished and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments came into effect.
Langston Hughes’ “Mother To Son” Essay
Hughes serves the audience with a lovely scene of a devoted parent speaking to her child. In the two stories there is many similarities and differences, one similar thing is both characters are trying to teach their son a life lesson. This play seems to be a diary of sorts, in which Hansberry expresses her feelings and emotions through her characters. Even though this poem tone is rather serious and sad, there is an indication of optimism because she never gave up on herself. The mother tells her story of the hardships that she was forced to endure in order to motivate her son to become the best that he can be. Just by reading the title, the reader may wonder what type of poem this is going to be.
