Comparison of Claude McKays If We Must Die and Gwendolyn Brooks Kitchenette Apartment - Essay Example

This essay examines the similarities and differences between Claude McKay’s ‘If We Must Die’ and Gwendolyn Brooks’ ‘Kitchenette Apartment.’ Perhaps the most pervasive question relates to the nature of the poems’ general messages. In terms of similarity, the messages both consider the nature of individuals boxed into a specific type of life; in McKay this is witnessed in the individuals facing racial oppression, whereas in Brooks this is demonstrated in closed-in nature of the housing complex.

While the poems differ in their general strength of message, with the racial oppression in McKay’s work creating a much greater sense of urgency importance, it’s clear both have a whimsical and dream element that places them on a similar thematic or even metaphysical scale. When considering the structural elements of these poems it’s clear that they also share a number of similarities and differences. Both poems implement a first person narrative structure to convey their underlining message.

While McKay’s poem function more as an appeal or call to urgency, Brooks’ poem takes on more of a contemplative stance. These elements also represent the differences in tone between the poetic works. Both poems implement rhyming, but they do so in infrequent and somewhat chaotic ways. In terms of poetic structure Brooks’ poem also takes on a more unique approach to construction, while McKay’s work is in the traditional sonnet form. . As the poem unravels, one generally begins to feel the actual unraveling of the body and the poem itself share structural similarities.

In the third stanza the poem considers the social elements of the disease, indicating how the individual begins to become an outcast in the process. The fourth stanza advances this poetic consideration. In this stanza it also becomes evident that the eyes are a cyclical image. Perhaps the symbolism behind the eyes is that they are a view on the human soul; while the body is deteriorating, the eyes demonstrate the human’s innermost concerns. In the next stanza, the emphasis shifts from the individual his friends, as they struggle to stand beside his bedside and cope with his coming death.

These closing stanzas, while not implementing any poetic devices or rhyming techniques, are extremely powerful for their narrative articulation of the situation. Consider the closing lines, “…only because, not knowing anything yet/ we didn’t know what would hurt you the least” (Williams, Lines 17-18). Ultimately, the greatest power of the poem is in its simple, yet powerful exploration of the struggle with impending death. 3. This essay considers if constructions of race are altered by geography, with reference to Langston Hughes, ‘Othello’ and ‘ XXXX’.

In considering Langston Hughes, one of the notable elements of his work is it consideration of the mixed-race individual. In these regards, elements of Hughes’ work, for instance ‘Cross’ explore not simply racial stereotypes, but the confusion that arises from ambiguity. Still, other of Hughes work, such as ‘You and you whole race,’ presents a more traditional vision of racism; In these regards, Hughes presents traditional oppressive themes; consider when Hughes