Poetry Analysis Of The Poems 'Sadie And Maud'

Example Exemplary

Mrs. Atkinson

English I (H)

March 15, 2020

Sadie and Maud: Poetry Analysis

Throughout history, African American people have used art as a way of expressing their struggle. From slave spirituals of the 17th century, the genre of hip hop today, and the work of Langston Hughes and Ava Duvernay, African Americans have used their art to express their beliefs. One such artist was Gwendolyn Brooks, who was passionate about writing from the perspective of black lives. Growing up and being educated in tight-knit, predominately African American, poverty-ridden Chicago communities allowed Gwendolyn Brooks to explore the theme of struggle and what it truly means to have a successful life in the poem "Sadie and Maud."

Sadie and Maud examines

One example of such is when Sadie’s mother, father, and sister “[n]early died of shame” when she had two daughters out of wedlock (Brooks). The comparison of near-death experiences and shame indicates the devastating effects of Sadie’s choices both on her family and herself. Towards the end of the poem, Maud’s situation is further discussed for what is essentially the first time. Maud is described as being “a thin brown mouse” who lives in an entire house herself (Brooks). “Wretched, lonely Maud”, is clearly very isolated and even perhaps a cautionary tale as to the effects of pursuing an education instead of a husband (Chin 243). Despite her perceived advantage from her education, Maud is all alone and in a poor state, leaving her life not much better than that of her sister. The examination of Sadie and Maud’s lives and the disadvantages of each, expresses that success isn’t easily measured or gained and “conventional” ways to happiness don’t always ensure

In Gwendolyn Brooks’ early schooling, “she encountered teasing every other day about her complexion. Her classmates called her Ole Black Gal.” (Jackson 12) Gwendolyn said that in her early teenage years, she was “timid to the point of terror, silent, primly dressed, AND DARK”, showing the effect that this merciless teasing had on her (Jackson 12). Boys did not like her because of her complexion, therefore she wasn’t very popular. This is similar to the state that Maud was in after receiving her education and indicates the personal connection that Brook’s had to the struggles of formal schooling and the isolation that it can bring. In both the poverty that she witnessed and the isolation she experienced during her schooling, Gwendolyn Brooks was able to write Sadie and Maud and highlight the struggles in both the lives of the impoverished and educated, despite wanting to be