"Mother To Son" (Langston Hughes) Anaylsis

     

    The word choice in the poem “Mother To Son” builds the theme of persevering through the inevitable challenges of life, which is expressed through a mother’s advice to her child. Thus, Langston Hughes uses familial words such as “son” and “honey” to not only highlight the emotional connection between the narrator and her child, but to also show how the narrator has the boy’s best interests at heart, having experienced the same hardships her child will soon face or is facing. Therefore, the narrator is trying to give the best advice for her son as she emphasizes the importance of pushing through adversity.

    Additionally, Langston Hughes, through the narrator, uses words that relate to the function/usage of a stair, a main metaphor referenced throughout the entire poem. Therefore, the staircase references the path of life and its struggles, as the narrator uses words such as “a-climbin’ on” and phrases such as “I’se still climbin’” to show how she prevailed through the hardships of her life. She thus uses the metaphor of a staircase to encourage her child through the trials and tribulations he will face. Consequently, the words that are usually used to describe someone walking up the stairs are used to describe her will and tenacity. She uses her experiences and her endurance throughout her life as an example of why her child should also be persistent and steadfast through their own personal struggles.

    The words used to describe the staircase are also utilized in teaching the child what not to do. Thus, the mother seeks to encourage, but not lie. Her advice, which correlates with the theme, is not sugar-coated, but stated bluntly and honestly. As she gives her guidance, she does not shy away from telling her child that problems lie ahead. To further explain, the boy is advised to not “turn back,” to not “fall now,” and to not “set down on the steps” or in this case, give up. Thus, the mother utilizes the metaphor of the stair to not only acknowledge the struggles of the future, but to also teach her child to not falter in his step and to push through turmoil and difficulties. This further reinforces the theme of persevering through life and the unavoidable problems that sprout from it.