Blog 3: "America"--Claude McKay

            The movement of the Harlem Renaissance brought about some very moving literary works, and really helped expose some of the issues that African Americans were facing at the time in America. I think Claude McKay’s poem, “America” is just one effective example of this. Through the use of language and emotion, McKay is able to create a piece that portrays these struggles, and I think these elements help make it relatable and relevant today to some readers.

            I think what makes McKay’s poem so interesting and effective, is the use and theme of emotion, and the confliction of emotions within it. For example, McKay talks of how he loves America, even though it imposes pain and hatred upon his daily life. McKay writes, “I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!” (McKay, 928).  These conflicting feelings help show the complex relationship that McKay and other African Americans had at the time, as they loved the country the lived in, even though they were exhausted by its racism and hatred, and yearning for better times, and better lives. The poem and speaker’s contrasting feelings of love and hate also help create the almost frustrated emotion within the poem, which also adds to the relationship between African Americans and America.

            The use of descriptive and metaphoric language also aids in McKay’s writing. I think a great example of this is when McKay writes, “Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth,…” (McKay, 928). Lines such as these create interesting imagery, but also allow the reader/audience to interpret and understand the meaning through more fascinating and thought provoking language. By using these elements, McKay is further able to add to the feeling of the poem, and to the complex relationship African Americans had with America. Furthermore, it is effective in getting his audience to realize the severity of the problem, especially to those who suffer at the hands of such discrimination, etc.  

I think McKay’s poem can still be relevant/relatable to people and society today. The whole poem has such a confliction of feelings, as mentioned, but ultimately ends things on a rather bleak note. I think there are still race issues and injustices today that leave many people in society, looking on with a sort of feeling of injustice and hopelessness over the state of present things in society. With recent events, people are left questioning when things will ever get better. I think the last line of the poem sums up these sort of feelings and scenarios rather well as it states, “Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand” (McKay, 929). For this line gives off such a hopeless feeling, and perception of the future, and it gives off the idea that we will have to dig away at our troubles and issues if things get worse.

Personal Synthesis: Religion in Uncle Tom's Cabin

It’s very apparent that Harriet Beecher Stowe relies heavily on the theme of religion in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. I think it’s interesting to see how many different ways religion turns up in the novel, and the interpretations that one can make with all the heavy religious elements and aspects. In one of my previous blog post I mentioned how in the novel, religion comes up in relation to women and their role as wives. Stowe creates female characters who are all moral and are set on expressing their disdain for slavery. As such, religion appears again as a means of justification against slavery, as opposed to some of the novel’s other characters who use religion as a means of accepting slavery. The women go by the overall message of God’s word, while it’s apparent that those who use religion to justify slavery pick certain scriptures that seem to fit their ideas.
         As we talked about in class as well, Christ figures also appear in the novel. While we made the case in class that Eva could be seen as a Christ figure I think as the novel goes on, Tom can also be seen as one, as well. One of the strongest aspects that likens Tom as a Christ figure, is that Tom suffered for others, and was willing to die for others, as well. Tom was selfless in his actions, doing things even when he knew it would bring pain and suffering his way. The best example of this is when Tom is dying as a result of withholding the plans of Emmeline and Cassy. Tom suffers for days from the wounds Legree inflicts upon him and states prior to his death, “…but the Lord’s given me a work among these yer poor souls, and I’ll stay with ‘em and bear my cross with ‘em till the end.” (Stowe, 363). As he felt it was his God given duty to stay among the other slaves and suffer for them, essentially making his death self-sacrificing, like Christ’s death for humankind. Thus showing that like Christ, both were martyrs who suffered and died so others may have a chance at life.
         Furthermore, like Christ, Tom is very forgiving and compassionate. Whether suffering abuse from Legree, Sambo and Quimbo, or being sold by Mr. Shelby or Marie St. Clare, Tom accepts his fate/predicament and turns to the Lord for salvation. While Tom was wronged on many occasions he never resorted to retaliation, as it was clear that honoring the word of his religion and a higher power was of utmost importance to him. Even as he was about to meet his death at the hands of Legree, he pronounces his forgiveness of Legree stating, “I forgive ye with all my soul!” (Stowe, 377).  For much like Jesus taught forgiveness and forgave people of their sins, did Tom continually practice this forgiveness and speak to others of the word of the Bible. Of course there are many other reasons that make Tom a Christ figure, although I don’t quite have the time to delve into all of those now. However, like Christ Tom also appears good with children (i.e. Eva), was in agony (i.e. suffering at the hands of Legree, anguish over being sent South, etc.), and it could be argued he had a confrontation with the devil if one wants to consider that to be Simon Legree.  

Because Tom is presented as a Christ figure, and is so kindhearted, he serves as a striking contrast to Simon Legree. It’s clear that Legree is by far the worst, most evil character in the book, and the good intentions and faithful actions of Tom serve to make Legree appear that much worse, and in this case- the antichrist to Tom’s Christ figure. Thus making them comparable to Jesus and the devil, respectively. For Tom appears as a selfless, compassionate, and well intentioned man willing to help and respect anyone he came in contact with, and teach others of the word of the Lord. While on the other hand, Legree represents the worst of humankind in the novel- a slavery supporter, and one who goes against the Christian word, as he taunts Tom about his religion, and continually tells him that the Lord won’t help him. Furthermore, Legree appears to have no remorse, morals, or conscience as he regards Tom and the other slaves with no compassion.

I think Stowe uses this theme most in part because it really was a way to appeal the masses, and also helps tie into the book’s almost overly moralistic qualities and message, as well. The use of religion would obviously reach the pious wives at the time, who in another article written by Stowe, were encouraged to dutifully take up the cause of prohibition of slavery. I think it was also effective in providing a striking contrast between the North and the South, as well. I believe someone in class had likened the two to Heaven and Hell, and I think that becomes evident if you make the observation like that in my previous paragraph. For if you observe Tom as a Christ figure in the more northern part of the south, and Simon Legree as the anti-Christ to Tom, in the Deep South, the comparison becomes that much more clear.

Overall I think it’s quite striking, just how much Stowe was able to incorporate religion in the novel, and in so many different ways and aspects, as well. With that being said, I think religion becomes the main foundation of the novel, as it’s rooted in the characters and the message of the novel, as well.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Tom's Cabin. Second ed. New York: Norton. Print.

Critical Commentary on Uncle Tom's Cabin

Sophia Cantave explores the representation and appropriation of African Americans and the slave experience in her article entitled, “Who Gets to Create the Lasting Images? The Problem of Black Representation in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” The main point of Cantave’s article is that Stowe’s novel does not produce an accurate depiction of slavery. For Stowe’s novel made it hard for African Americans to tell their experience of slavery, as the public was accustomed to what they had heard/read only from whites and the “Master Narrative”. Thus making it hard for African Americans to break from the stereotypes, images and portrayals that Stowe’s novel helped further cement into society.

Cantave’s piece argues that Uncle Tom’s Cabin does not completely and accurately depict slavery, something Cantave states Stowe herself admitted to.  For Cantave writes that Stowe felt such inclusion of the more horrific aspects of slavery would make the book unreadable for her audience. Missing this element, and including comical depictions of characters like Topsy, Cantave states such that, “…Stowe’s novel provided the national with a shared cultural context for it discourse on slavery, offering reductive images, phrases, and symbols that quickly became the accepted norm.” (Cantave, 582) This reinforces the statement Cantave made on African Americans, African American writers more specifically, being limited, as their stories and experiences did not fit into this established norm. With that being said, Cantave goes on to explain the struggles of African Americans stemming from what Stowe’s novel helped establish. Cantave makes note of this struggle faced by African American writers like Toni Morrison and Harriet Wilson, among others, stating, “African Americans who step outside the accepted parameters of slavery’s discourse risk shutting down discussions, arousing white defensive or apologetic barrages and black desires to acquiesce and make nice in the face of such responses.” (Cantave, 591)

I think this piece adds to our understanding of Uncle Tom’s Cabin as it gives us a different way to look at the book. I think Cantave’s article helps us understand that there’s more to slavery than just what one novel depicts, and that we can’t take it to represent the story of slaves and slavery as a whole. I also think in some ways, a reader could miss some of the points that Cantave brings up in her article. For example, Stowe includes a slave of Legree’s named Sambo.  Having learned in a Sociology class, the term “Sambo” was a derogatory reference to slaves that whites perceived to be ‘stupid’ and incredibly pleasing to their master.  Knowing something like this helps us understand the points Cantave makes, and allows us to see the ways Stowe portrays some of her characters. With that being said, I think Stowe does start to reinforce these depictions, stereotypes, and images, much like Cantave argues.

After reading Cantave’s piece, I would say that I agree with the points that she brings up. I think that it’s evident that Stowe left out a lot of the horrors of slavery, as there were truly awful cases of abuse, death, etc. within the lives of many slaves. I think Stowe presents more good and moral people in her novel in the world of slavery, than she does bad. While I do understand that adding more about slavery may have retracted people from reading it, I do wonder if it would have added to the book’s sentimental theme. Though it may have been hard to read with the inclusion of such elements, I think omitting parts of the story of slavery could have been detrimental, just as Cantave argues in her piece. At the time people in the North, who were nowhere near slavery, could not know the whole and full story behind slavery and reading a work, from a white author, would give them uninformed ideas of slavery. In some ways I feel that the inclusion of a more accurate picture of slavery would have made Stowe’s intentions and message that much more clear and effective. I also agree with the point that Cantave makes about African Americans having a hard time breaking from what has been thought of them and their images, stereotypes, etc. I think it’s evident even today that African Americans and other minorities have faced and still face more difficulties than whites.

Cantave, Sophia. “Who Gets to Create the Lasting Images? The Problem of Black Representation in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Uncle Tom’s Cabin. (2010) 582-594. Print.

Textual Background and Context

           Throughout Uncle Tom’s Cabin, many women appear within the story, unafraid to make their opinions on slavery known. Surely, at the time, women were supposed to remain quite reserved in life, as it was not their place to take up such things and topics of slavery. This ideology can be seen/reflected in an article written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, herself. In a short pieced written by Harriet Beecher Stowe entitled, “Appeal to the Women of the Free States,” Stowe writes to appeal to the women of the North to take upon the duty of having an influence on the practice of slavery, and taking up active thoughts on the mentioned matter.

                Stowe writes to encourage women to do what they can in matters of achieving more freedom/equality in light of prohibiting slavery. Much like her novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, relies on the theme of religion, in this article Stowe again uses religion, and the piety possessed by women, to convince women to take up this cause. As an example of this, Stowe is quoted within the article in her appeal to women stating, “However ambition and the love of political power may blind the stronger sex, God has given to woman a deeper and more immovable knowledge, in those holier feelings, which are peculiar to womanhood, and which guard the sacredness of the family state.” (Stowe, 459) Stowe also poses questions throughout the piece to get women to question and take interest in the cause as well, to call upon their duty. The main point of Stowe’s piece can be summed up well with the final sentence of her article, as she writes, “For the sake of both, for the sake of our dear children, for the sake of our common country, for the sake of outraged and struggling liberty throughout the world, let every woman of America now do her duty.” (Stowe, 461)

I think Stowe’s message could have been risky at the time of publishing. For Stowe was taking on two separate issues-advocating for the prohibition of slavery, and for women to in some ways become more outspoken. Changes to both of these elements could really have shaken up society at the time. I think it also goes to show how important Stowe thought it was for women to become involved in the cause. For women could have influence over their husbands, sons, etc. and as such their piety and other qualities were essential to this influence, as she states, “The first duty is for each woman, for herself thoroughly to understand the subject, and to feel that as mother, wife, sister, or member of society, she is bound to give her influence on the right side.” (Stowe, 461) Furthermore, I think this article adds to our understanding of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, as clearly her message in this article, can be seen in her novel and the characters themselves, as well. 

               The ideas of Stowe's piece are reflected in her novel as well, as the morality of women is a prevalent theme within Uncle Tom’s Cabin. As such, Stowe’s short piece helps us understand some of the female characters in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In the beginning of her short piece she talks of how there’s no good Christian woman that would want their family to suffer, and as such how any woman could understand the struggles of those in slavery. This is reflected most apparently in the character of Mrs. Bird when she aids Eliza on her journey. Mrs. Bird also tries to influence her husband on the matter of slavery, like Stowe encourages in her article. I think that Miss Ophelia is also a good example to use. For Miss Ophelia is from the North, and in many ways depicts everything Stowe writes about in her short appeal. For Miss Ophelia is opposed to slavery, is religious, and has rid herself of racial prejudice by the end of the novel, as well. It was likely Stowe’s intention to again use this character to appeal to the women of the north. By the end of the novel, Miss Ophelia essentially becomes the role model for readers, as Stowe basically uses this character to further project her message, and encourage women to me more like this character.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher. "Appeal to the Women of the Free States." Uncle Tom's Cabin. (2010) 459-461. Print.

          

"The Yellow Wallpaper"

       There’s so many themes in “The Yellow Wallpaper” that it’s hard to pick just one or two to write about. However, the theme of descent into a sort of madness/psychosis is a strong theme that really emerges as the story goes on. While we are aware that the narrator is suffering from mental illness in the beginning of the story, it becomes evident that her confinement and isolation slowly begin to contribute to her downward spiral, rather than her recovery.

       I feel that the character’s descent can partially be seen by the content and way in which her journals are written. While the narrator is suffering from depression in the beginning of the story, it seems that she is much more lucid, as she describes the home and the situation that she finds herself in. For her writing, and thoughts, seem to be rather rational, but slowly they begin to become much more frantic and delusional. Looking at the structure itself, towards the end of the story she writes in short, clipped sentences, switching between thoughts in the process.

      Her descent can be seen even in the way she looks at the wallpaper. The wallpaper goes from something that was simply “a smoldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sun,” (Gilman, 487), to something that is a confusing pattern, with a woman trying to escape from it. While she did suffer from an illness, it is likely that her confinement and inability to do anything stimulating fueled this downward spiral. For the wallpaper slowly goes from something creepy, to something she cannot escape. The more the wallpaper envelops her, the stranger her behavior becomes, as she begins to gnaw on the bed, and see creeping women outside. The pinnacle point of her descent is when she states, “I’ve got out at last.” (Gilman, 497), as she convinces herself that she was the woman stuck within the paper.

       I think that the room is comparable to the narrator’s mind. The bars and gates that keep the room closed off from any activity, are a lot like how the character’s mind is kept from any sort intellectual stimulation or creativity. Both are basically closed off from the outside world. Furthermore the room is rather barren, save for a few belongings. So like the room, her mind is left with nothing but the remnants of her thoughts to consume her in her isolation. The longer it goes untouched the more distressed it begins to become. Given this, I think her descent was almost inevitable.

       I think in writing “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Gilman shows how women, at the time, were looked at as being fragile, and how such treatment just left women consumed by their illness and thoughts. Gilman’s message was crucial at the time, as certainly treatments of such confinement and isolation had the potential of making things much worse for women who were already suffering. I think it also shows how women would go along with this treatment to appease their husbands, because while this treatment wasn’t ideal, it was better than having to be sent to a strict doctor for treatment.