Rotten Meat By Langston Hughes Essay

There are so many different opinions about racism. In today’s world, racism still exists African Americans are still targets to get picked on for any little thing. There are some interesting literary elements Langston Hughes points out. Hughes uses literary devices such as simile, imagery, and anaphora to show the reader the theme of ill effects on African Americans in society. Through the use of simile, the author reveals the comparisons of a dream to rotten meat. In the poem, it says, “Does it stink like rotten meat?” (Hughes 6). This quote shows that a dream can sometimes be like a rotten meat unpleasant and never good for people. People’s attitudes and the way they treat other people can also be unpleasant and never good for people. Another
Hughes writes, “Or fester like a sore- And then run?” (Hughes 4, 5). From the fester of the sore running, the reader can see and visualize the festering sore that someone’s emotions are hurting on the inside and out. People’s emotions can build up and explode in a matter of seconds from being picked and bullied on. Another use of imagery is when the author reveals the realistic connection to a heavy load weighting someone down. Hughes writes, “Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.” (Hughes 9, 10). From the heavy load sagging, the reader can see and visualize someone’s emotions are getting to them. The emotions can be weighting that person down until it affects their outer look to other people. The poem uses anaphora, which shows the reader the understanding and points that Langston Hughes was trying to make the reader think. For example, Hughes describes anaphora by saying, “Dose it dry up” and “Does it stink like rotten meat?” (Hughes 1, 5). By using anaphora, the reader understands that Langston Hughes really want the reader to understand the concept of poem by repeating the word “Does it” (Hughes 1, 5). Langston Hughes want the reader to think hard and really grip an understanding of the