Comparing 'Green Memory And Lucinda Matlock'

In the first half of the twentieth century in American Literature, writers often portrayed individuals who felt trapped in their lives. In Edgar Lee Masters writing, “Lucinda Matlock”, Matlock is dead but, during her life, she was able to see what really mattered and what did not. She feels trapped in trying to communicate to today’s youth. She is trying to tell them to look at life differently and enjoy the adventures while paying attention to what is happening around you. Similarly, T.S. Eliot writes of a trapped feeling in his writing, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”. He feels like he is not able to make a difference like he wants to. He struggles to communicate with a women because he feels as if he is getting old. In Langston Hughes story, “Green Memory”, Hughes discusses the topic of war profiteers making a profit while others were dying in the war.
In Woody Gurthie’s song, “Plane Wreck at Lost Gatos” he protests about a plane crash. He feels trapped because he thinks that him and the other “deportees” are not being treated like real people. They are not called by their real names and people think it is fine if they are killed in the plane crash because they are just deportees and do not matter as much. Finally, in Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem, “We Wear the Mask”, writes about his experience being a black American during the turn of the century. He feels trapped because there are many truths hidden that he uncovers throughout his poem. In his writing, he discusses all the pains and truths that come with being a black American during this time period and the “masks” they must wear to try to cover these feelings