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I Too Sing America, By Langston Hughes

1666 Words7 Pages

In “I too sing America”, Langston Hughes explores the idea of “the others” and their desire to be part of a society that seeks to destroy them. It is a poem written in response to “I Hear America Singing” By Walt Whitman, which categorizes African Americans as the outcast, by obliterating any mention of their role in American society. “I Hear America Singing” mentions all who struggle and uplifts them by glorifying their role in society, but African Americans seem to not exist in Walt Whitman’s America. Langston Hughes wrote his poem as a reminder that African Americans also sing America while being part of an American society that constantly tries to keep them hidden by being “the other”. The concept of “the other” is often used to refer …show more content…

The monster has often been suspected to represent African Americans by experiencing the same seclusion from society for his appearance. The monster is immediately defined as the outcast by his appearance, “His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black … his watery eyes,... his shrivelled complexion, and straight black lips”. (Shelley, 35) The monster experiences his first rejection from human society when his creator, Frankenstein, runs away from him. He proceeds to go to a village, where all villagers also flee immediately from him. The monster then decides to hide in a hovel next to a cottage, away from human company. The monster discovers there is occupants residing in the cottage next to the hovel, he then spends his time observing this family. Safie, a Turkish woman, who like Frankenstein is unable to speak the De Lacey’s language nevertheless ends up being accepted and brought in by the family. The monster, like Safie, tries his best to adapt to the family, the human society. He notices they are able to communicate with each other, he decides to learn their languagr. While still living in the hovel, the monster sees his reflection in a pool,” At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror, and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification.” (Shelley, 112) The sentiment of shame in “I Too Sing America”, is seen once more by the monster himself. He understands the rejection from the human society, and becomes ashamed of his own being, However, he still doesn’t understand the effects of his appearance on being “the other”. He still believes that he will receive the same treatment as Safie. He, therefore, continues

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