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Often depicted as a melting pot, America is always being put on a pedestal by the rest of the world due to the large amounts of successful immigrants in the United States. Millions of people have packed their bags and moved to America in hopes of achieving their dreams. While some succeed, others fail and are let down by the dim reality that not everyone can achieve their goals. This essay will compare the poems, “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes and “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus to exhibit my perspective on both works. Both poems portray people’s hopes that America will be great, however, due to the different eras and the authors’ backgrounds, the poems have different meanings. Lazarus’ poem was written in the early stages of America, as it describes her cheerful …show more content…
and enthusiastic future expectations, while Hughes illustrated a dismal portrayal of people’s experiences during the Black America era. The authors’ backgrounds is the biggest distinction between the poems that most influences their meaning.
Emma Lazarus, a Jewish-American poet, wrote “The New Colossus” in 1883. Her poem was selected out of a competition to be placed on the Statue of Liberty. She depicted the United States as the land of opportunity for all. She even compared the great ancient Greek monument, the Colossus of Rhodes, to the Statue of Liberty and asserted that the Statue of Liberty serves as a constant American symbol, a welcoming, but powerful woman, who provides millions of people safety and saves them from persecution and death. In comparison, Langston Hughes notes America as no longer being the welcoming America of old in the poem “Let America Be America Again”. Throughout Hughes’ poem, he describes his personal opinions towards the America he lives in. He feels like America is not the dreamland people once sought out. Instead, he feels like many Americans feel oppressed and think they can no longer reach their hopes and aspirations. However, he still has hope that one day America will once again be great and redeem itself regardless of his current disappointment with the modern state of
America. Another difference in the poems is who the authors are describing. “The New Colossus” concentrated more on the immigrants going to America whereas “Let America Be America Again” gave more consideration to the general population residing in America. Lazarus’ poem reached out to the people that wanted a fresh start to their lives. Using the Statue of Liberty as her voice within the poem, Lazarus says, “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.” She is explaining how she wants all people, rich, poor, black, white, to come to America for a new beginning to their lives. Whereas Hughes is explaining the current state of life among the people who live in America. He feels oppressed by his country to the audience and often relays those feelings like when he said, “There’s never been equality for me”. Furthermore, “The New Colossus” reads more so like an open armed welcome from the United States to the impoverished and persecuted people of the world and expresses hope for their bright future that is possible in America. In “The New Colossus”, Lazarus said, “Give me your tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Overall, she is saying America is a safe haven for all, where the endless opportunities provided will enable you to have a stable and happy life, away from the oppression and persecution they suffer under their current countries. On the contrary, the lines of welcoming and hope turn into real life once you read “Let America Be America Again” which grasps the reality in the United States. Many immigrants do not get to fulfill their hopes and dreams and were shocked by the reality of America. It was not a utopia, where success was easy to come by like Lazarus portrayed it as. Instead, America was more so how Hughes pictured it as. Regardless of Lazarus and Hughes’ descriptions and opinions on America, the poems describe the United States as a safe haven that provides people freedom and opportunity and although it may not be given equally, it’s still given. America is symbolized in Lazarus’ poem as a “mighty woman” who towers over the rest of the world and holds a torch to light the way for all people. Hughes firmly thinks that America eventually will regain the hope it once gave to all Americans. Apart from “The New Colossus” and “Let America Be America Again” holding promising hope for America, both poets expect that all American citizens will once again fully trust that the United States is the best place to be because it makes good on the promise of freedom and equality for all. In conclusion, “The New Colossus” simply depicts the early beginnings of American history due to its opportunistic and welcoming description of America. “Let America Be America Again” is in the midst of a developmental era where the United States is growing from its faults. During this time, many problems throughout the country arise and momentarily tarnish the reputation of America. Nevertheless, both authors truly believe that America, and its reputation for being a land full of chances, will once again become the dreamland, that is portrayed through “The New Colossus”, and is expected in the poem, “Let America Be America Again.”
“America” by Claude McKay is a poem dealing with McKay’s thoughts as he processes through his inner turmoil as he faces the reality of being rejected from a country that he loves. As Claude unveils his feelings to the reader, a creative description of America is presented. The poem deals with love and loyalty and the vicious rejection when you aren’t accepted in a society’s culture. In the short poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus showcases and contrasts the ancient Greek statue Helios and the Statue of liberty. Lazarus lets the reader compare the ancient Colossus of Rhodes, representing traditional masculinity in contrast with the New Colossus a feminine symbol of unity and refuge for those in need. Both poems are social commentaries
.The New Frontier and the Great Society both were good ideas by two good former presidents and that both of their Policies focused on two different sides of the scale. First John F. Kennedy who’s intentions were to mainly to build up the U.S. in 1960 he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination and introduced a program that would Jump-start the economy and trigger the social progress (pg.1008), Then Lyndon Johnson intentions were more on aiding those who were in poverty by providing health insurance and financial aid through the use of the Medicare Act and Economic Opportunities Act. in 1964 announced that he was going to create new programs that would create a “Great Society” that would end poverty and racial justice and provide “abundance and liberty for all” (pg.1030)
Imperialistic Europe differed strongly from that of the United States. Europeans focused on Social Darwinism; politicians felt that conquering underdeveloped territories was the best thing for the human race. The United States did not have as strong of views on imperialism that were expressed by Europeans. The United States imperialism differed from Europeans by the lack of pressure to join the movement from neighboring countries, sheer size, and the economic importance of conquering other territories.
While the picture of Statue of Liberty gives a visual image on who the Statue of Liberty looks like a lady holding a torch and the plate has the date of July 4, 1776, which in American was declared independent. Emma Lazarus gives an emotional response to the audience by showing how a lady is a symbol of peace and unity to send the immigrants to her as the last sentence of Emma Lazarus poem states. The Statue of Liberty portray a landmark of liberty in the United States of American it gives an emotion that unity in America with other countries.
This poem is often compared to Walt Whitman’s I Hear America Singing because of the similarities of the two poems. In this poem, Hughes argues that the African American race is equal to whites. Hughes even declares that one day the African American race will be equal to whites. Hughes proclaims, “Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed-I, too, am America.” Hughes was very bold and daring when he wrote these lines in this poem. He is implying that the white people will regret what they have done to blacks. That they will be ashamed of how they treated them. Undoubtedly, this poem expresses Hughes cultural identity.
Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes were two great of America’s poets who believed in the American Dream. The American Dream was the ideal that every U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. The American Dream meant everything to Whitman and Hughes during that time. Whitman’s poem was titled “I Hear America Singing’’ and Hughes poem was titled “Let America Be America Again.’’ Although Whitman and Hughes agreed that America was the land of opportunity, they had very different perspectives on who had achieved liberty and success.
Idealism in Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes In the poem "Let America Be America Again," Langston Hughes paints a vivid picture of a depressed America in the 1930's. To many living in America, the idealism presented as the American Dream had escaped their grasp. In this poetic expression, a speaker is allowed to voice the unsung Americans' concern of how America was intended to be, had become to them, and could aspire to be again. Using a conversational style, the author allows the speaker and listener to interact with each other.
Hughes, Langston. "Let America Be America Again." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
...nly country to force the race into slavery, they were just the last to free the slaves, and also had the worst treatment for the blacks. For years races were discriminated in the country of America, and it still this way today. Poets such as Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, and Colleen McElroy were evolutionary poets who wrote about their desire for freedom and equal treatment. Langston Hughes poems were more about the building up of the tension that existed in all of his people who were ready to start fighting for their freedom. Colleen McElroy wrote about how the blacks in America still were apart of there past because of the color of their skin and simply just because of where they were from. Lucille Clifton wrote about the desire for the recognition her race and all of the other races of America, besides the Whites, would finally be appreciated for their work.
The poem America by Claude McKay is on its surface a poem combining what America should be and what this country stands for, with what it actually is, and the attitude it projects amongst the people. Mckay uses the form of poetry to express how he, as a Jamaican immigrant, feels about America. He characterizes the bittersweet relationship between striving for the American dream, and being denied that dream due to racism. While the America we are meant to see is a beautiful land of opportunity, McKay see’s as an ugly, flawed, system that crushes the hopes and dreams of the African-American people.
Poems are expression of the human soul, and even though, is not everyone’s cup of tea when the individual finds that special poem it moves their soul one with the poet. There are many poets in the world, but the one that grab my attention the most was no other than Langston Hughes. It would be impossible for me to cover all the poems he wrote, but the one that grab my attention the most is called “Let America Be America Again.” It first appeared in “1938 pamphlet by Hughes entitled A New Song. Which was published by a socialist organization named the International Worker Order” (MLM) and later change back to its original name. I have never felt such an energy coming out of a poem like this one which is the reason that I instantly felt in love with it.
In Langston Hughes' poem, "Freedom," he emphasizes the struggle to enjoy the freedoms that he knows are rightfully his. He reflects the American desire for freedom now when he says, "I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread." He recognizes the need for freedom in its entirety without compromise or fear.
The era of the American Revolution was a time of great nationalism, hope, and unity. People who were once only colonists were now citizens of a new and exciting nation. As the years wore on, however, the citizens of the United States were faced with the reality of building a country. The nation strove to find a place for itself, to become secure against the power of the rest of the world. Industry grew along with the population, but what the new country gained in strength it lost in spirit. Regional tensions emerged as well as burning political issues. In the aftermath of the civil war the still young nation attempted to regain this nationalism that was once the strength of the country. One area this attempt was prominent in was literature. Two poets specifically sought to find a national mythology by examining what American's value and why it is necessary to pass it on through tradition. The poems by John Greenleaf Whittier and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow are a call for preserving the roots found in the land of America and in the heart of an American.
It is quite ironic that these "nativists" came to America for the same reasons as the immigrants who came in the time period of 1880-1925; however, they do not accept the immigrants who came in that period, just as they had once wanted to be accepted. Emma Lazarus’ "The New Colossus", which is on the Statue of Liberty, reads "Give me you tired, your poor, Your huddled mass yearning to breathe free," but in fact, many Americans, nativists, did not want these poor, huddled mass at all.
“The New Colossus” and “The Melting Pot” both have similar opinions about immigration. Emma Lazarus’s poem and Anna Quindlen’s short story both share some similarities. In “The New Colossus,” Emma Lazarus writes the poem about the Statue of Liberty, welcoming immigrants from all over the world. As boats enter the borders of the United States, Lady Liberty opens her mouth and says, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.” The Statue of Liberty wants all the immigrants who come from all over the world to breathe fresh and free air. Quindlen’s short story showed the reader about her diverse community. As Quindlen is giving you a tour on her neighborhood, she says, “We are friendly with the