Sylvester's Dying Bed

Louis Ramirez
Sharon Ballentine
English 1302
19 July 2012
Sylvester’s Dying Bed Poetry Essay
Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, novelist, social activist, columnist, and a playwright from the Harlem renaissance period that composed several memorable pieces throughout his lifetime. The majority of his work was aimed towards racial consciousness. In the poem Sylvester’s Dying Bed, the main character (Sylvester) is an African American lover, from the same Harlem Renaissance time period that is portrayed to be in a self-assured state of mind that accepts death peacefully because he does not seem to be afraid of death. The theme of the poem is death; however it is not a dark, lonely, or depressing poem. Sylvester, the main character, translates his “death day” in a calm and composed manner as if it were just another day in the cycle of life. The question is why is Sylvester in this self-assured state of mind? The author, Langston Hughes, gives no direct indication of Sylvester’s state of mind. However, the reader can predict his mind state from the poem’s calm and composed mood and the fact that Sylvester is talking to the reader from beyond the grave. The second to last line, “Then everything was darkness” (Hughes 521) suggest that Sylvester dies at that point in the poem. In the last line, “In a great…big…night” Sylvester is still talking even though he is already dead. Death came but life continues; this is assurance. From the beginning of the poem Sylvester is in this self-assured state of mind. When he wakes up early in the morning, all the town’s women are gathered around his bed moaning, sad, and crying because Sylvester will soon die. It is safe to assume that it would be illogical for all the towns’ women to be gathered, crying over his impending death, this is not feasible. This suggests that Sylvester is imagining these women gathered around him in the morning and throughout the rest of the poem. This is a form of self-reassurance that Sylvester uses on his dying day to add meaning and fulfillment to his life. The author does not give any indication that Sylvester was a bad, mean, ugly or un-loved man but, for some reason or another there was no one there with Sylvester on this day other than the doctor as the author mentions in the eleventh line. “De doctor ‘n’ undertaker’s Both at ma do’” (Hughes 521) this will lead the reader to believe that Sylvester is imagining the undertaker but not the doctor because the undertaker is a fictional character. Sylvester seems to know something the average person doesn’t know; ordinarily people are afraid, sad, or angry when faced with death. Sylvester doesn 't seem to be any of those. He calmly and coolly describes his final day. Sylvester seems to be OK wherever he is and portrays this assurance on the day he died. The twenty-sixth line “When de Lawd put out de light.” (Hughes 521) Suggest that Sylvester had faith in his god. This is why Sylvester accepts death peacefully. The author, Langston Hughes, is way ahead of the crowd with his ideas as mentioned in MEMORY TELLING AND PRAISE SINGING OF THE GENIUS OF LANGSTON HUGHES, “While Hughes was ahead of his times with his idealism and truths, many of his contemporary critics, readers, and even fellow writers could not comprehend his sense of place and social justice performativity.” At the beginning of the poem Sylvester is explaining his final day step by step; the passing of time, the attention of the sorrowful women and the inevitable ending. Sylvester momentarily remembers his “muddy past” but quickly focuses back on himself being “sweet papa Vester”. He then shifts his attention to the off spring that are gathered to show their love, and reached out to hug them. During this clarifying moment “But I felt ma times’ a-comin’.” (Hughes 521) Sylvester accepts his death peacefully. At that point there is no doubt in Sylvester’s mind that he will no longer inhibit this earth however, he remains “sweet papa Vester.” (Hughes 521) Throughout the entire poem Sylvester does not seem to be afraid of death. From the wee hours of the morning when he first wakes, he already envisioned all the women gathered around him. Then during his second wakening he imagines the undertaker at his door. Sylvester then imagines brown skinned babies crying and begging him not to go. It was during that time that he then proclaims his time’s a coming, and lastly he envisions the Jordan River passing him up, “I seed de River Jerden A-creepin’ muddy past.” (Hughes 521) Even though this is going on around him, Sylvester remains calm and composed till the end.
As mentioned before Sylvester seems to know something the average person does not know, this is why Sylvester is not afraid of death. He imagines leaving behind his legacy in the form of children as well as being missed and loved by many women. Sylvester seems to be at peace with his past and at peace as well as with where he is heading in the afterlife. Hughes is known to empower the central character as mentioned in MEMORY TELLING AND PRAISE SINGING OF THE GENIUS OF LANGSTON HUGHES, “Hughes also creates a natural environment that challenges social justice and that sustains the ambitions and spiritual journey of the central character.” There are several different possible interpretations for this poem for example, in lines twenty seven through twenty eight Sylvester’s vernacular changes causing the mood to change as well. This could mean several things, perhaps someone other than Sylvester is speaking to the reader at this point, maybe Sylvester changed identity, or changed into a spiritual form or being. Crossing the River Jordan symbolizes a transformation from an earth bound viewpoint to a transcendent one or being born again. In the poem Sylvester’s Dying Bed, the River Jordan symbolizes the bridge in which Sylvester crosses on his last day. This symbolic event leads the reader to believe he has left behind his physical body and being reborn possibly in an afterlife ideally heaven because of the calm and relaxed mood throughout the poem.

Louis Ramirez
Sharon Ballentine
English 1302
19 July 2012

Works Cited
Reyes, Angelita D. “MEMORY TELLING AND PRAISE SINGING OF THE GENIUS OF LANGSTON HUGHES” Spring 2009: Vol. 94 Issue 2, p266-273. EBSCO Host Academic Search
Complete. 19 July 2012
Kennedy X.J., Dana Gioia, Literature, An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. United States of America: Longman Publishers. July 19, 2009. Print.

Louis Ramirez
English 1302
Sharon Ballentine
19 July 2012
Sylvester’s Dying Bed Poetry Essay
I am writing this essay because I want to show that in Sylvester’s Dying Bed, by Langston Hughes, Sylvester is in a self-assured state of mind and accepts death peacefully because Sylvester does not seem to be afraid of death.

In Sylvester’s Dying Bed, by Langston Hughes, Sylvester is in a self-assured state of mind and accepts death peacefully because Sylvester does not seem to be afraid of death.

IV. Sylvester is in a self-assured state of mind. a. Why is Sylvester in a self-assured state of mind? b. When is Sylvester in a self-assured state of mind?
V. Accepts death peacefully. a. Why does Sylvester accept death peacefully? b. When does Sylvester accept death peacefully?
VI. Sylvester does not seem to be afraid of death. a. When does Sylvester not seem to be afraid of death? b. Why does Sylvester not seem to be afraid of death?

Cited: Writing. United States of America: Longman Publishers. July 19, 2009. Print.