Harlem Dancer Analysis

Harlem Renaissance essay
Humans for centuries have always attempted to take one step forward but there is always someone trying to pull them two steps back. Anytime you want to complete a challenge you persevere and don't stop until the challenge is completed, but it wouldn't be a challenge if there wasn't someone or something holding you back from finishing what you started. That's why when someone is taking you back two steps you need to take three steps forward to take the upper hand. The work of Claude McKay and other inspirational writers of the Harlem Renaissance had a message of independence that allowed the readers to persevere. McKay’s poems “Harlem Dancer” and “America” both include metaphors and imagery to illustrate a sense of

When the speaker is describing the performer McKay writes, “She seemed a proudly-swaying palm/ Grown lovelier for passing through a storm” (lines 7-8). This metaphor compares the performer to a deep rooted palm tree that cannot be moved even in a catastrophic storm. The metaphor is trying to say that even though she’s going through a lot she is able to persevere through it and looks even stronger doing so. The tone in this section is powerful because it shows that she has some personal problems that she is fighting because she doesn't want to let anything bring her down and make her upset. She is a very deep rooted person which means that she cannot be pushed around or bothered even when thing get rough. This connects to the Harlem Renaissance because it was a time of depression for many people but she covers all of her sorrows by using her talents and trying to make others enjoy themselves. She is redefining herself despite all of the troubles that she is going through. The tone in the beginning in the book changed from being powerful to becoming more calm. When the poet says,¨Applauding youth laughed with young prostitutes/ watched her perfect, half-clothed body sway¨ (lines 1-2). This description allows the reader to be able to picture the scenario and put themselves into the situation.

McKay is describing America when he says, “Darkly I gaze into the day ahead/ And see her might and granite wonders free” (Lines 11-12). This type of figurative language is a metaphor. The author is directly comparing America to a woman. The author compares America to a woman because he is saying that they can be very fierce at times but can be kind when you really get to know them. Hope is a tone used in the lines of the poem. The writer does this because he wants to represent how there were hard parts to the Harlem Renaissance but at the same time there was still hope for change. They believed that all of their problems could be resolved. This connects directly to the Harlem Renaissance because it represents how this movement had its ups and downs but how everyone would continue to try until they met the joyful ending they were looking for. If there were any obstacles in their way they would overcome them. The tone compared to the beginning of the book is much different because the writer is describing a more gloomy setting. “Although she feeds me bread of bitterness/ And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth/ Stealing my breath of life” (lines 1-3). The piece of evidence describing imagery allows the reader to image a time where there is a lot of pain and suffering that wouldn't go away instantly. It shows how the country that they came to for change is