Similarities Between I Hear America Singing And I Too

Democracy is the cornerstone of American society; however, history has shown that while the United States claims that all men are created equal, prejudices remain and prove inequality still exists. Langston Hughes’s poem “I, Too” contradicts Walt Whitman’s idealized view of American society in his poem “I Hear America Singing” to prove that democracy does not necessarily signify equality. Through both the plot and the structure of “I, Too,” Hughes reveals the flaws of Whitman’s idealized image of America and asserts his right to be considered a part of American society.
Whitman only relies on one stanza to completely describe the “varied carols” he hears. The stanza consists of one long sentence listing the different songs of America. Each

This structure makes the poem read and flow like a story, describing a personal experience of a character struggling to find acceptance in society. Rather than Whitman’s list of songs, Hughes clearly states his message at the beginning of the poem and develops it by telling a story with a complete, optimistic ending. Furthermore, separating the three stanzas shows the protagonist’s experiences over time and demonstrates that change, especially social change, is a gradual process. Ending with a single line creates a powerful statement against Whitman’s poem; Hughes directly contradicts Whitman’s idealized view of society and democracy in America and includes himself in Whitman’s narrative. Hughes states that his experiences make up American society and history, and without him, America would not be the country it is

Whitman’s speaker is a passive listener of the songs of America; instead of creating his own unique song, he simply writes the ones he hears. There is no information about the speaker himself, making the speaker seem distant from the rest of the people; he merely observes the people around him instead of actively participating in society. Additionally, while the speaker claims to hear “varied carols,” he actually gives a limited view of America from his perspective as a white man. The only songs he hears and writes are the songs from mainly blue-collar workers, such as the mechanic, carpenter, and plough-boy. He states he sees “robust, friendly” men singing together “with open mouths their strong melodious songs” and paints his view of America: an idyllic society where everyone works together. There are no sad songs, and as a result, flaws such as prejudice and discrimination are forgotten and pushed aside. Whitman’s speaker maintains a distant and inaccurate view of America from his perspective; he fails to include other minorities that make up America, and creates a false image of