How Does Langston Hughes Use Figurative Language In Mother To Son

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In “Mother to Son,” by Langston Hughes, the poet uses figurative language and diction to convey a tone of persistence. When the poet likens his life to being a “no crystal stair,” Hughes establishes that his earlier life was never easy or rich through the comparison to a beautiful, and valuable object. The poet initiates an idea that he kept at it and didn't give up, even though his life wasn't pretty or full of wealth. Later on, the poet utilizes the imagery of “boards torn up,” and “no carpet on the floor,” illustrating a decrepit home life and revealing another difficulty he had to endure in his youth, but he pushed past it and persevered. When the poet likens his life to something with “tacks in it,” he uses the image of something sharp,