Similarities Between I Hear America Singing And I Too

The poems I Hear America Singing, by Walt Whitman, and I, Too, by Langton Hughes, both convey ideal American societies in which to live in. However, while Whitman’s poem focuses on the present American society and highlights the positive attributes of it’s culture, Hughes’ poem is based on the American ethos’ current flaws, while also looking to the future for a more optimal society in which to live.
In his poem, Whitman clearly depicts an ideal American society through a metaphor of harmonious singing. Throughout the poem, Whitman describes different equal roles in society, such as “the shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench” (Whitman, I Hear America Singing). The rendered community in the poem exemplifies a society in which all members

have equal and unique roles in the community, illustrating a strong and ideal society. Whitman goes on to show the community’s unity and friendliness: “At night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs” (Whitman, I Hear America Singing). Through the metaphor of a song, Whitman’s poem exemplifies an ideal American society, and the poem only focuses on the present because there are simply no flaws in the society.
While Hughes’ poem is also centered around the notion of an ideal American society, Hughes focuses on the flaws of the current society he is a part of, and looks to the future to find his optimal society. The main flaw Hughes points out in American society is inequality: “They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes” (Hughes, I, Too). Hughes uses the metaphor of having guests over for a meal to depict a major flaw in his society, and continues to use that metaphor when hoping for the future: “Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table when company comes” (Hughes, I, Too). These lines show that although Hughes also wants to live in an ideal ethos similar to Whitman’s depicted society, Hughes’ current community is majorly flawed with inequality.
While Whitman’s poem focuses on the present American ethos to exemplify an ideal society, Hughes’ poem highlights the extensive negative aspects of current American society, and instead looks to the future in hope of an optimal society. In fact, the negative aspects highlighted by Hughes that are seemingly overlooked by Whitman demonstrate Whitman’s naivety and ignorance when depicting American society, as he neglects unfavorable parts of the American ethos.