America by Claude Mckay Essay

the States is a poem written by turgid Harlem Renaissance writer Claude McKay. In this poem we be told about carriage in America by the narrators point of view. It is through the narrator experience that McKay delivers his message, America give one day sustain its greatness if it continues in its evil slipway. Personification and diction is used to vex this message. Personification is used to give human-like qualities to America. Diction is used to explain how the antipathy he/she experiences in America leads to the narrators ominous vaticination of Americas future.Throughout the poem the vocalizer refers to America as her. By doing this Claude McKay uses personification to give America the human-like qualities of a female. This is shown in lines 1-3 Although she feeds me saccharide of bitterness/And sinks into my throat her tigers tooth/ stealing my breath of vivification. In the first part of line 1 where it says, Although she feeds me wampum, this implies that Americ a is something like a mother figure. However, the fact that America feeds the narrator bread of bitterness, bites his/her throat, and steals his/her breath of life, its obvious that America does not treat the speaker well.In line 11, it states, Darkly I gaze into the days frontwards. The word darkly implies that as a result of the hostility he/she experiences the narrator has an ominous view of the future. When McKay says, her might and granite wonders there (line 12), it can be inferred that Americas global power and beautiful land are included in the narrators dark future. Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand (line 14). This line best illustrates McKays message that America go away one day lose its greatness if it continues in its evil ways when you take into account the definition of the word sinking. Sinking means to be failing in health and strength. This led me to intend that line 14 means that Americas greatness and beautiful land that we love so much will eventua lly cease to exist.I believe the treatment the narrator receives in America by Claude McKay, is based on his own experience during the Harlem Renaissance. The use of personification to represent America and skilful word choice allow McKay to deliver his message. This message is that America will one day lose its greatness if it continues in its evil ways.