Premium Essay

Harlem's Social Injustice

Submitted By
Words 876
Pages 4
Harlem’s social injustices

There are many similar but different views on Claude McKay’s “If We Must Die.” Many have noticed that Claude wrote this poem in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet, using an iambic pentameter and ending it with a couplet as well as including imagery. The speaker is a sort of leader, calling out to others to overcome the “common foe” and live and die with meaning and bravery. The theme is honor, the speaker says “if we must die, O let us nobly die” (McKay 514), encouraging the audience to go forth and fight what is holding them back. Honor is earned, a privilege that is only obtained when effort is put towards it. The poem hints towards racial prejudice which had been a social issue during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. …show more content…
The first thing that is read on line one is “If we must die, let it not be like hogs.” This is a direct statement towards self-worth, they do not want to be treated like a dirty animal that is only on the earth to be butchered and eaten. They want to be treated with dignity and be honor, like men. They are fighting for their rights and nothing is being acknowledged. There is a reaction that should come from the reader, one of not quite empathy, but at the very least, understanding.
Using a couplet at the end of a poem is a technique that was made famous by William Shakespeare. A couplet is two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme. The last two lines of “If we must die” are “Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, / pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back” (13/14)! This sentence is so powerful, drawing your attention to the fact that although they are in danger of being killed because of their race and beliefs, does not mean that they will back down. Couplets are meant to highlight and stress the theme of the poem, which in this case can clearly be interpreted as prideful and strong. Therefore, having the couplet strategically placed at the end of the poem is going to leave an impression on the reader, given that it will be the last thing that is

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Tears for the Sake of Joy

...class throughout this semester. Issues have ranged from social injustices, colonialism, and women’s rights. Some included personal tragedies concerning women of Aboriginal descent living in British Columbia. It has been quite emotional at times to actually read about the struggles that have taken place right here in British Columbia regarding immigrants and Aboriginal people. We even got to meet the author of Mercenary English, Mercedes Eng, in person to make the words of her story really come to life. However, not all of the books we have studied convey negative outlooks of certain problems being faced. There have been positive social changes, personal victories and many moments that make the reader believe things can be made right if an effort is put into it. This research essay will focus on the positive view portrayed in three books studied this semester which include: Mercenary English, Active Geographies-Women and Struggles on the Left Coast and the Unnatural and Accidental Women. The positive themes discussed will display triumphs on a personal level, meaningful change on a social stage and a look at how social activism deeply connects people together. Firstly, Mercenary English has a very unique way of showing social injustice, believed to be carried out in the eyes of its author Mercedes Eng. She writes about personal problems she faced, the negative issues surrounding aboriginal people in Canada and historical injustice against minorities. Her writing is powerful, emotional...

Words: 2501 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Music

...Music Journal Table of Contents 1-4 1. Two Trains Running................................................................………...5 2. Almost Lost My Mind.............................................................................5 3. Do You Love Me....................................................................................6 4. One Fine Day ..............................................................................................6 5. Fingertips (Part 2)..........................................................................................7 6.Mona Lisa……………………...........................................................................7 7. Shop Around......................................................................................................8 8. Please Mr. Postman...........................................................................................8 9. Save the Last Dance for Me...............................................................................9 10. Hello Stranger.....................................................................................................9 11. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Hunny Bunch)..............................................9,10 12. Stop! in the Name of Love..................................................................10 13. Love Don’t Love Nobody..................................................................................10,11 14. You Can't...

Words: 22987 - Pages: 92

Premium Essay

Cyrus the Great

...critical theory today critical theory today A Us e r - F r i e n d l y G u i d e S E C O N D E D I T I O N L O I S T Y S O N New York London Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business Routledge Taylor & Francis Group 270 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016 Routledge Taylor & Francis Group 2 Park Square Milton Park, Abingdon Oxon OX14 4RN © 2006 by Lois Tyson Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business Printed in the United States of America on acid‑free paper 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 International Standard Book Number‑10: 0‑415‑97410‑0 (Softcover) 0‑415‑97409‑7 (Hardcover) International Standard Book Number‑13: 978‑0‑415‑97410‑3 (Softcover) 978‑0‑415‑97409‑7 (Hardcover) No part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data Tyson, Lois, 1950‑ Critical theory today : a user‑friendly guide / Lois Tyson.‑‑ 2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0‑415‑97409‑7 (hb) ‑‑ ISBN 0‑415‑97410‑0 (pb) 1. Criticism...

Words: 221284 - Pages: 886