How Did Langston Hughes Write Mother To Son

Not all mothers are persevering, influential, or affectionate, like the mother in the poem by Langston Hughes. In the poem, “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes, a mother narrates what she has been through in a figurative way to encourage her son. She shows him that it has been difficult for her, but even in troubling times she has continued and therefore he should too. The mother does this in a manner in which she narrates her past to show perseverance, and influences her son when she gives advice. The mother in this poem has persevered in her past and uses examples to prove that life has been difficult. She uses many figurative words and phrases that give ideas of what she has been through. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair, It’s had tacks in it, And splinters...” (2-4). Although it may seem that it has been easy, there have been many obstacles. However, she did not let those obstacles bring her down, she overcame them. The mother tells her son to not fall or give up because she kept going. “Don’t you fall now - For I’se still goin’ honey, I’se still climbin” (17-19). The

This is an important trait because not all mothers give influential advice to their children who need it. “I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landins’ And turnin’ corners” (9-11). She gives this advice in figurative words to compare life to a staircase which can be hard to climb. This quote uses the corners as obstacles which they need to overcome. The mother tells her son to not give up and take the easy way which is down. “So boy don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps ‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard” (14-16). She tells him not to sit down and rest or turn back but to keep going. The steps can just be there to provoke the person to sit and rest. The mother in this poem influences her son by doing the correct thing then using her actions as examples to teach her