America by Claude Mckay Essay

the States is a poem written by prominent Harlem Renaissance source Claude McKay. In this poem we are told about life in America through the narrators point of view. It is through the narrator experience that McKay delivers his message, America result one day lose its greatness if it continues in its evil ways. Personification and diction is used to convey this message. Personification is used to give human-like qualities to America. verbalism is used to explain how the hostility he/she experiences in America leads to the narrators ominous prediction of Americas future.Throughout the poem the verbalizer 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 prick of bitterness/And sinks into my throat her tigers tooth/ stealing my jot of life. In the first part of line 1 where it says, Although she feeds me bread, this implies that America 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 ahead. The rallying cry 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 gorgeous land are included in the narrators dark future. Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand (line 14). This line silk hat illustrates McKays message that America will one day lose its greatness if it continues in its evil ways when you take into account the definition of the news show sinking. Sinking means to be failing in health and strength. This led me to believe that line 14 means that Americas greatness and beautiful land that we cherish so much will eventually ceas e to exist.I believe the treatment the narrator receives in America by Claude McKay, is ground on his own experience during the Harlem Renaissance. The use of personification to represent America and clever 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.