Picture of a Black American from the Poem, ‘I, Too, Sing America’

The persona of the poem, ‘I, Too, Sing America’ speaks out as a black American slave at a white American’s house. He gives a brief but significant picture of himself as a slave. This poem was published in 1945, about a decade before the Civil Rights Movement in America which started about the year 1955, and ended with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Nearly hundred years after the Proclamation of Emancipation, African-Americans were

Picture-of-a-Black-American-do-you-Get-from-the-Poem-I-Too-Sing-America

regarded as inferior citizens of America and denied equal rights and privileges with the Whites. In the 1940s, many black Americans were servants in the white Americans’ houses. This poem gives a short description of how the persona was treated at a white man’s house. The house master sent him to kitchen for having his meal there, when some white guests visited them. The black servant was not allowed to sit and eat with them. A clear distinction was made between the black and the white Americans.

The poet gives a very brief account of the condition of the black American slave, but though brief, the picture is significant, and representative of the conditions of the black Americans in all situations of their life in America.

What Impression do you form of Estragon in Waiting for Godot?

Impression of Estragon in Waiting for Godot

Of the two tramps in Waiting for Godot, Estragon impresses us as the earthier one. He seems to be more animal, more related to things physical. His concern with his boots symbolizes concern with his roots in the soil. He seems to be in easy communion with the darker side of human nature. He is not afraid of the instinctive, irrational, unconscious forces in himself. He is less intelligent and less able than anyone to decide which day it is. He is unable to follow Vladimir’s religious discussion, expressing ignorance and

Impression-do-you-form-of-Estragon-in-Waiting-for-Godot

bewilderment over such things as the Bible, the Saviour and Salvation. He does not even know the story of the two thieves’ on the cross. When Vladimir expresses concern over the apparent disagreement of the Gospels when they deal with this episode, Estragon finds no intellectual problem. Further he is dependent on Vladimir. Estragon has to be reminded continually that they must wait for Godot. Estragon suggests from time to time that it might be better if he and his friend parted, but as Vladimir informs us he always comes crawling back.