Chase Ruhmann
English 2328
April 18, 2011
Mother to Son by Langston Hughes
Mother to Son is one of my favorite poems written by Langston Hughes. This free verse poem about the relationship between a mother and son was published in 1922 during the Harlem Renaissance. It was an appropriate poem for the time period it was written in, because it related to all the families going through the struggle of the depression and the closeness it brought between a mother and a son. Understanding the relationship between the time period the poem was written and the content within the poem is essential to the analysis of this particular poem.
The poem itself is a piece of literature that shows an example of the love that comes from one mother to her son, but realistically represents many mothers. Through the whole poem is giving wisdom and advice to her younger son who just may go through the same struggles, trials, and hopefully triumphs that she did at one time in her life. It’s almost like one of those lectures any parent gives a child, but obviously in a more poetic structure.
The quote “Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare,” is the point of the poem where the mother is explaining to the son that she has had problems during her lifetime. “But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin’s, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light,” is in the middle of the poem where she is trying to explain to her son that although she had those trials she kept trying and pressing on no matter what. “So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps,” is a quote from the poem that demonstrates the mother telling the son that even though he may go through those tough times as she did, to just keep on striving and pushing forward.
Bare,” is the point of the poem where the mother is explaining to the son that she has had problems during her lifetime. “But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin’s, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light,” is in the middle of the poem where she is trying to explain to her son that although she had those trials she kept trying and pressing on no matter what. “So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps,” is a quote from the poem that demonstrates the mother telling the son that even though he may go through those tough times as she did, to just keep on striving and pushing forward.
The one metaphor that is present throughout the entire poem is the “crystal staircase.” The staircase metaphorically symbolizes exactly what life isn’t according to the mother. Instead she explains that life is more of a staircase with “tacks,” “splinters,” and “boards all torn up.” She clearly explains that life isn’t going to be a crystal staircase in that life itself isn’t going to be an easy walk. Then she goes on to elaborate to the child that it is going to be rough like a torn up staircase.
The poems basic message is easier to understand through the analysis of the context, content, and metaphorical meaning. Langston Hughes wrote Mother to Son with intentions of creating a story about a loving mother passing on advice and wisdom to a much younger son who may be coming into some struggles in the near future. It’s a poem that is especially appropriate for the time period it was written that shares incite into the close relationship between an African American mother and son during the Harlem Renaissance.
