"Cross"

Thesis:  Langston Hughes uses colloquialism, imagery, and tone in his poem “Cross” to highlight the profound contrast between his mother and father, and his relationship with each them, leading to an identity crisis.

Colloquialism

            “My old man died” (Hughes 9).

The lack of colloquialism in reference to his father shows the type of relationship that he has with his father, especially when compared to his mother.  By calling his father “old man,” it shows that he has a strict relationship with his father based on a required respect, similar to a relationship between a member of the armed services and their commanding officer or a slave and his master.  The title old man has a more respectful and formal connotation than the more informal “dad” or “pop” giving insight into the nature of their relationship. 

            “My ma died” (10).

The use of colloquialism while referencing his mother by calling her “ma,” which is more informal than “mother,” shows how his relationship with his mother is much more relaxed and loving than his relationship with his father. Also, in line ten, he addresses his mother as “ma” instead of as “old mother” showing how he feels more remorse and sadness with her death as opposed to his father’s death when he doesn’t change what he call his father.  The contrast between the formal and informal titles he uses for his mother and father highlights how his relationship with his mother is more enjoyable and loving than with his father.

Imagery

            “A fine big house” (9).

When reading the description “a fine big house” in reference to a white man and a black woman, there is the image of a slave owner and his plantation.  It also portrays the idea that the white man is quite affluent due not only to the use of fine to describe the house but also big, because to have a fine and big house you need to have money.  The contrast is drawn with the economic situations of his mother and father based on where they died.

            “A shack” (10).

Using “a shack” to describe where his mother died gives the image of a black slave living in poor conditions.  The idea that his father doesn’t care about his mother also starts to appear since his father and mother die in completely opposite conditions.  The image of a poor black woman adds to the contrast between his mother and father and starts to portray this idea that he is lost in between both of his parents, not belonging to ether social or racial group.

Tone

            “I take my curses back” (4).

In reference to insulting his father, the speaker says how he had to take them back.  However, the tone in which he said this was not remorseful at all; it seems like he was forced to take his insults back as his father continued to use his power over him.  The angry and forced tone used by the speaker in line four shows the nature of the relationship between father and son and how it does not seem to be a loving relationship that the son enjoys.  Also, the use of the word curse has the connotation that the son intended and wanted his father to be cursed, because those with the power to use curses use them intentionally to harm others.  The son does not like his father very much and wishes that he was actually able to curse his father and shows no remorse when saying that he takes them back.

            “I’m sorry for that evil wish / And now I wish her well” (7-8).

Every child has those moments when they are angry with those they love and wish them harm, especially early in life.  However, they tend to feel remorse for those thoughts and realize that they never actually wanted their loved ones hurt.  In the case of the speaker’s father, this was not true; he had no remorse.  However, in the case of his mother, he felt quite remorseful for his thoughts.  The tone set by the speaker when talking about his mother is one of genuine remorse and sadness when apologizing for his thoughts and with wishing her well.  The speaker has a much better relationship with his mother than his father and loves her much more and wishes her well.