Tupac/ Hughes
Gospel comes to mean some form of truth or absolute truth, then “Ghetto Gospel”
could most likely mean truth or truths coming from the “Ghetto”, or poor neighborhood,
a reality within a poor community. Good news or positive attitude, even through the most
trying situations of places.
Langston Hughes poem is a narrative about the dearth of an average man in a community,
who, although his life may have been unimportant to the people outside his circle, had a sad
reality within him. The poem describes situations that occur in poorer communities,
reminding us of some or many struggles while the character lived, “ insurance man……”,
and even sadder at his funeral where the priest was paid a mere five dollars and his
his girlfriend had to spring for it, and that the only thing that made the funeral grand were
the tears of all who beheld it. The tone of the poem is very sad, without overly analyzing the
mans years before his death. In Tupac’s song on the other hand, he relays to his audience
the same emotional state, but goes on to describe his own flaws, and shortcomings that
caused him grief. He sets to show cause for his misery, where Langston only describe the
aftermath of a sad life. As sad as both poems are, ultimately there is an undertone of hope,
perherps in life.
Generally it could mean that, in a universal sense, leaving one form of trouble to enter
another. Almost like “from frying pan into fire”. Tupac comments how, whether in poor
communities or not, our own follies and shortsightedness in situation that lead us from bad
to worse.
Langston Hughes treatment of death has the typical tone of one’s perception of death, very
sad yet with the undertone that it is expected that it is the natural procession of life, people
gathered to the funeral and burial, for some , a chance to say goodbye to someone, for others, i.e. pallbearers, business as usual and note, gives the reader the almost anticipated response; “life goes on” so does death. Tupac on the other hand, knowing the inevitability of death at least wants a memorable death to accomplish something, and to be someone upon death and be remembered. He has come to grips with the end; he just wants it under his condition. One can say that Langston’s poem is emotionally neutral yet sad depiction of something that happens indefinitely to each and all, but has a sense of normality “business as usual again”. Tupac’s treatment of death in his poem is almost a race or challenge as if he is saying I know I am going to die, but it is going to be my way. Yet he gives in and is accepting of it. Langston, sad, but expected it as a natural process. Tupac, accepting that if all goes to plan, defiant till the end, yet as if he knew he would die. Langston Hughes embraced the broad spectrum of African-American experiences in his poetry. He demonstrated the variances of different approaches and methods, while still concentrating on his position concerning the lives of common black people. This poem has great significance for its purpose, while also containing vast differences in structure, format, and poetic devices used.
Gospel comes to mean some form of truth or absolute truth, then “Ghetto Gospel”
could most likely mean truth or truths coming from the “Ghetto”, or poor neighborhood,
a reality within a poor community. Good news or positive attitude, even through the most
trying situations of places.
Langston Hughes poem is a narrative about the dearth of an average man in a community,
who, although his life may have been unimportant to the people outside his circle, had a sad
reality within him. The poem describes situations that occur in poorer communities,
reminding us of some or many struggles while the character lived, “ insurance man……”,
and even sadder at his funeral where the priest was paid a mere five dollars and his
his girlfriend had to spring for it, and that the only thing that made the funeral grand were
the tears of all who beheld it. The tone of the poem is very sad, without overly analyzing the
mans years before his death. In Tupac’s song on the other hand, he relays to his audience
the same emotional state, but goes on to describe his own flaws, and shortcomings that
caused him grief. He sets to show cause for his misery, where Langston only describe the
aftermath of a sad life. As sad as both poems are, ultimately there is an undertone of hope,
perherps in life.
Generally it could mean that, in a universal sense, leaving one form of trouble to enter
another. Almost like “from frying pan into fire”. Tupac comments how, whether in poor
communities or not, our own follies and shortsightedness in situation that lead us from bad
to worse.
Langston Hughes treatment of death has the typical tone of one’s perception of death, very
sad yet with the undertone that it is expected that it is the natural procession of life, people
gathered to the funeral and burial, for some , a chance to say goodbye to someone, for others, i.e. pallbearers, business as usual and note, gives the reader the almost anticipated response; “life goes on” so does death. Tupac on the other hand, knowing the inevitability of death at least wants a memorable death to accomplish something, and to be someone upon death and be remembered. He has come to grips with the end; he just wants it under his condition. One can say that Langston’s poem is emotionally neutral yet sad depiction of something that happens indefinitely to each and all, but has a sense of normality “business as usual again”. Tupac’s treatment of death in his poem is almost a race or challenge as if he is saying I know I am going to die, but it is going to be my way. Yet he gives in and is accepting of it. Langston, sad, but expected it as a natural process. Tupac, accepting that if all goes to plan, defiant till the end, yet as if he knew he would die. Langston Hughes embraced the broad spectrum of African-American experiences in his poetry. He demonstrated the variances of different approaches and methods, while still concentrating on his position concerning the lives of common black people. This poem has great significance for its purpose, while also containing vast differences in structure, format, and poetic devices used.
1 comment:
I really need to cite this for my project. Can you please help me give a legit source.
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