What are the possible interpretations of the title of Langston Hughes’ poem “Cross,” and how do these interpretations affect the way we read the poem?
There are many possible interpretations for the title “Cross” of this poem. One interpretation is about the speaker’s anger that he is of a mixed racial descent. He is a “cross breed” between a white and a black race. The speaker is undergoing an identity crisis. Another possible interpretation of the “cross” is that the speaker considers being a product of a mixed race a cross or a burden. He probably considers himself like Christ who was crucified on a cross. Like Christ, he has not done anything wrong but he is suffering the consequences of not being of a pure white heritage or a pure black race.
The third possible interpretation of the “cross” is that the speaker is probably in a stage of his life where he is in a crossroad. He does not know whether the path that he should take is that path taken by white people or the road taken by the black people. He wonders what the future holds for him. The speaker also points out that white and black men have different lifestyles. Another interpretation of the “cross” pertains to the change in the emotions of the speaker. At the first part of the poem he feels angry at his parents, even cursing them. However, in the later part of the poem the emotions of the speaker “cross over” from hatred to that of being apologetic for feeling anger towards his parents.
The interpretations affect the way one reads the poem by feeling sorry for mulattos who might have the same feelings as the speaker of the poem. One also wonders whether it is really difficult for mixed race individuals to find their true identity and whether they have the right to be angry at their parents.
Free Literature Review On Reading Response
Type of paper: Literature Review
Topic: Art, Literature, Communication, Poetry, Perception, Race, Interpretation, Poem
Pages: 1
Words: 275
Published: 2020/02/01
Cite this page
- APA
- MLA
- Harvard
- Vancouver
- Chicago
- ASA
- IEEE
- AMA
Warning: This sample is available to anyone.
If you want unique paper, order it from one of our professional writers.
Note: this
sample is kindly provided by a student like you, use it only as a guidance.
Finished papers: 1090
This paper is created by writer with
ID 2242
If you want your paper to be:
Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate
Original, fresh, based on current data
Eloquently written and immaculately formatted
Our services
- 100% Free Essay Papers
- Buy Custom Essay Online
- College Application Essay Writing Services
- Help Writing Term Paper
- Write A Book Report For Me
- Help Writing Scholarship Essay
- Personal Statement Service
- College Essay Writer
- Purchase College Essay
- Help Write A Research Paper
- Help Me Write My Research Paper
- College Essay Helper
- Best Research Paper Writing Service
- Professional Term Paper Writing Services
- Buying Term Paper
- Do My College Essay For Me
- Best Site To Buy Research Paper
- Pay Someone To Do My Research Paper
- Personal Statement Writing Help
- Buy Personal Statements
- Help Me Write My Term Paper
- Help With My Personal Statement
- Cheap Research Paper Service
- Buy A Research Paper For College
- Custom Research Paper Writing
- Buy Custom Term Paper
- Custom Research Papers For Sale
- Custom Term Papers For Sale
- Professional College Paper Writers
- Pay For College Essay
- Buy College Paper
- Custom College Paper Writing Service
- Write An Essay For Me
- Essay Writer Help
- Cheap Custom Essay
- Case Study Analysis Help
- Buy Essays Online
Related Essays
Related Topics
- Art Literature Reviews
- Interpretation Literature Reviews
- Race Literature Reviews
- Poem Literature Reviews
- Perception Literature Reviews
- Literature Literature Reviews
- Poetry Literature Reviews
- Communication Literature Reviews
- Speaker Literature Reviews
- Anger Literature Reviews
- White Literature Reviews
- Parents Literature Reviews
- Family Literature Reviews
- Feeling Literature Reviews
- Emotions Literature Reviews
- Identity Literature Reviews
- People Literature Reviews
- Jesus Christ Literature Reviews
- Love Literature Reviews
- Path Literature Reviews
- Affect Literature Reviews
