On The Themes Of Langston Hughes's Poetry

Langston Hughes is well-known as the"Negro Poet Laureate"and"Dean of Negro Writers in America". His poems are universally lauded for their insights into the minds and lives of black people because they most typically depict the black's despair, pessimism and tough experiences in the midst of an oppressive white mainstream culture. He experimentally integrated unique elements of black music into his poetry, expressing his sympathy with oppressed race and awakening Blacks'racial pride.Based on the precedent research material as well as personal understanding and interpretation, this thesis, focuses on the themes of dreams, history and culture, politics and nature, and presents a relatively comprehensive analysis of Hughes's poetry with a view to offering a further comprehension of social significance of his poetry.Firstly, the thesis introduces Hughes's life experiences and Harlem's influence on him, the relevant literature review and the structure of the dissertation.Secondly, the thesis mainly analyzes Hughes's poetry about Afro-American dreams as well as black history and culture. The theme on Afro-American dreams is discussed in the light of three consecutive phases: Afro-American dreams of freedom and equality, dreams deferred and awakening. In addition, Hughes aroused the reminiscence of black history by the form of poetry and accordingly expressed his deep sympathy with his black race. More importantly, he innovatively integrated Afro-American culture or Negro soul into his poetry to convey his racial pride.Thirdly, the thesis makes an exploration of Hughes's poetry about politics. Politics is inseparable with literature throughout the human history. As the voice of an oppressed race, Hughes's poetry is inextricably linked with politics as well. Greatly influenced by communism and leftist politics, Hughes, with keen political vision and his own wisdom, associated his discriminated people with the working class, and accordingly upgraded the social significance of Afro-American struggles. In radical poetry, he conveyed his sympathy with working class and global oppressed people, and enthusiastically supported their fight with oppressors and exploiters. Furthermore, his abhorrence for fascism and the war indicated his love for peace. As a peace-loving poet, his political inclination to social protest, in fact, implied his yeaning for peace and equality.Fourthly, the author tentatively attempts to explore Hughes's nature poems. Although his nature poems are no more than thirty, many of his other poetry are also tinged with natural ingredients. As an eminent lyricist, his lyrical imagination was endowed with an implied theme: aspiration for freedom, equality and democracy by contrasting and comparing the nature with the brutal reality.The study of Hughes's poetry shows the fact that freedom is the motif of Hughes's poetry, which juxtaposes with other themes, and penetrates his whole literary life, reflecting the oppressed race's aspiration for freedom and equality. What really matters is that the understanding of revolutionary poetry and his internationalism deepens his literary contribution and promotes his international literary status further. In a word, by analysis of the themes of Hughes's poetry, we can better comprehend the courage, creativity, and genius of the most widely recognized black poet of the 20th century and the social significance that his poetry has reflected.