Claude McKays America: Old-School Formalism and New-School Protocol

Ruby Lewis English 200 Mr. Terrence Elliott April 4, 2005

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Rhythm, rhyme, word-choice, imagery, and figurative language paint a contemptuous yet loving portrait of America in Claude McKays poem, America. While many contemporary poets tend to shy from traditionalist manners of structure and rhyme scheme, McKay adopted formalities from the 16th century and intertwined them with formalities recognized today. Aiming to disclose his feelings toward the nation through metaphorical language, McKay presents an account of cultural identity, stringing lines of poetic verse along for the ride. By incorporating Shakespearean rhythm and rhyme schemes with personification, word-play and figurative language ringing of the Harlem Renaissance, McKays America presents itself as a biting example of tradition-meets-conception in the wide world of literary criticism. In explicating a poem that embodies many aspects of literary components, perhaps its best to begin at the foundation and work up. An interesting element within the poem is the authors organization of the words into sonnet form. A 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter, America rolls across the tongue like lines of Shakespeare or Baudelaire. With emphasis on every other syllable ( Al though she feeds me bread of bitt er ness...), the use of iambic pentameter as a rhythmic device makes the sonnet credible and fluid. Delving into the poem further, a reader may assess that the rhyme scheme is in the form a b a b c d c d e f e f g g. Even more intriguing is the manner in which McKay divides the two sets of seven-lines, writing an effectively discordant shift between the subjects that turns his otherwise Shakespearean sonnet into one of enclosed form (Maxwell, 2003). The tone here shifts from incriminating to appreciating, as the author changes the diction and emphasis used to describe the subject. In further analysis of the poem, it proves deserving to assess the authors use of figurative Lewis 2

language. Perhaps the most obtrusive device McKay uses is personification. Throughout the poem, the subject stands as America. However, the author speaks of America metaphorically, referring to the country as a matriarchal care giver, sometimes harsh, sometimes gentle. Although she feeds me bread of bitterness and Her vigor flows like tides into my blood are both images of a mother providing nourishment to a suckling babe, by hand or breast. The authors mixed emotions of his mother are evident in the contradicting lines, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell... and Giving me strength erect against her hate... By personifying the subject of his poem, McKay turns what would be a broad generality into a very personal, relatable topic. Another use of personification comes in the poets depiction of time. Personified as both unmarked territory and as a man, time plays an important role in McKays feelings and tone. Darkly I gaze into the days ahead is a line in which the imagery of time as a landscape to be seen is used. Metaphorically, the days ahead are in such close reach, the poet can gaze into them. The fact that McKay describes himself as darkly gazing is a clue as to what sort of tone he wishes to convey toward the future: one of apprehension or dread. Speaking of the touch of Times unerring hand, McKay personifies time in a way to describe his feelings toward American land and to make somewhat of a political statement. The full poetic sentence reads, Darkly I gaze into the days ahead and see her might and granite wonders there beneath the touch of Times unerring hand, like priceless treasures sinking in the sand. Times unerring hand, much like the steady hands of an authoritative man, covers the priceless treasures that adorn Mother Earth as they slip away, seemingly unnoticed. This extension of figurative language resolves any confusion the reader may have had before as to why the poet was darkly Lewis 3

gazing. In the days ahead, McKay speaks of destruction and aridity. Word choice played a very key part in the poets construction of the poem America. Rhyme was incorporated due to the authors intentions for the poem to be considered a sonnet. In addition, the author chose words to create alliteration and assonance, his point being to emphasize particular lines, relay his voice, or make the rhythm flow. In the first seven lines of the poem, McKay uses cacophony in his alliteration to emphasize the first two lines and establish his tone. She feeds my breads of bitterness and Sinks into my throat her tigers tooth are examples of alliteration in which the authors voice is biting, his tone incriminating. Later, in the second seven lines of the sonnet, euphony in alliteration is used to signal a change in tone. I stand within her wall without a shred- Of terror... is an example of alliteration in which McKay seeks to communicate his grateful feelings toward his mother nation. McKays use of assonance is dispersed throughout the sonnet with particular attention to vowel sounds repeated to emphasize an important aspect in the subject of the poem. A long I sound appears in assonance ten out of the fourteen lines of the sonnet. Repeatedly, the long I sound appears as the word I itself, revealing that the author is quite concerned with his own body throughout the body of the poem. This factors into the tone of the poem, and how it sounds to the readers ear. A long I sound is quite cacophonous, used in McKays case to jump out at the reader, adding to the biting tone of the sonnet. Stealing my breath of life I... and like tides into my... are examples of this use of assonance. McKays use of imagery across the fourteen lines of poetry is derived from a wonderful use of metaphors and similes. Providing multiple settings for the readers to envision America, McKay uses imagery to activate the senses, making the traditional sonnet more palatable to 20th Lewis 4

century readers. The first metaphorical reference made which paints a vivid image in the readers mind is in the line, I love this cultured hell that tests my youth. The metaphor cultured hell, as used to describe America, incites multiple senses, including sight and touch. In choosing the word cultured to describe this hell, the poet is also relaying his feelings, once again, for the subject. America, in other words, is a highly-advanced hell, one that has been worked on and perfected over the years. McKay sees this advanced, hellish place as a challenge, therefore he expresses a love for it. Another beautiful image used to describe the subject America comes in the line Her vigor flows like tides into my blood. Here, the reader takes the simile and transposes it into an image of ocean tides, crashing against the shore, forcing vigor on those that exist there. Use of the word vigor here most likely means energy which is part of the exciting challenge the cultured hell provides. Expanding the water reference, McKay goes on to say, Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood. Here, America has graduated from flowing ocean tides to a massive flood, reeking havoc on everything in its way. The image is an all-consuming one. McKay seeks to relay that America consumes his being fully, as challenging and big as it is. The final simile McKay establishes is one discussed a bit back. It is one of her might and granite wonders... like priceless treasures. After describing America in such a discrepant way, leaving the reader to wonder about his true feelings for it, McKay finally establishes his appreciative tone in this final thought. Although she feeds [him] bread of bitterness, the author realizes the worth that is in America, at the same time realizing its sad fate. There is much irony in the fact that the author chose to use such biting, cacophonous words to describe such a gentle love. Lewis 5

Rarely can fourteen lines of poetry say so much. McKay blended the elements of poetry elegantly, setting a firm foundation, filling it with imagery and topping it with ironic discernment. The Shakespearean quality of the poem, its organization into a sonnet in iambic pentameter with a patterned rhyme scheme, appeals to those who analyze poetry for its symmetry and purpose. And there are qualities which would appeal to those readers that look for deeper meanings, political stances even. Chocked full of figurative language and interesting plays on words, America was a poem that took more than the first glance to discern. Very much a look into McKays personal feelings and affections, his sonnet is a gleaming example of the type of poetry that came out of the Harlem Renaissance. It doesnt just seek to please the ears in fact it does the opposite. Through opposing stanzas, alternating word qualities and brilliant figurative imagery, America speaks volumes of the feelings and attitudes which saturated the nation during the 1920s. While it was thriving, it was dying. Claude McKay captured the essence of America, creating an imaginative, enjoyable piece of art to speak for him.

Works Cited Maxwell, William. On America. The Complete Poems of Claude McKay. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2003. 27 April 2005 <http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/ poets/m_r/mckay/america.htm>