Countee Cullen was an African American author during the Harlem Renaissance. His verse form “Any Human to Another” calls on Whites and Americans in general to set aside their racial differences and come together in harmoniousness. Cullen’s brooding and didactic tone is established through legion rhetorical dev ices.
The first thing one notices when reading the verse form is the invariably altering rhyme strategy. Cullen uses a altering metre to stress each stanza. doing them stand apart but still sound nice together – “diverse yet individual. ” The whole verse form is about this paradox and coming together despite our differences. Peoples need to link with others and non remain shut up entirely in purdah.
Many of the stanzas contain similes to lucubrate on the author’s intent. The first stanza relates sorrow to an pointer that pierces all parts of the organic structure to the deepest nucleus. “through the fat and past the bone. ”
The 2nd stanza compares inkinesss and Whites to rivers and the sea ( fresh and piquant H2O ) . The last stanza relates grief once more to a arm. naming it a “blade polishing and bare [ that ] must strike me down. ” and sorrow to a Crown of “bitter aloes wreathed. ” The similes in the last stanza mean that although it is sometimes painful and/or unpleasant to portion others’ heartache. it is still something we must make.
There is a metaphor in the 3rd stanza that compares populating our lives entirely to fliping a collapsible shelter in purdah. walled into our ain small universe. Several times. Cullen uses dualities to contrast things that symbolize the Whites and inkinesss. They are compared to “fat and… bone” ( stanza 1 ) . “sea and river” ( stanza 2 ) . and “sun and shadow” ( stanza 3 ) . Despite these obvious differences. the writer emphasizes the ability and importance of coming together. like salt and fresh H2O do in bays and Sun and shadow do in some vales.
The 4th stanza employs personification of heartache and joy. besides demoing the duality between them. While joy merely favors a few. heartache is a common factor shared by all people. and so it is a common land on which anyone can come together. Finally. the verse form contains Biblical allusions to Romans 12:15-18
Rejoice with those who rejoice ; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmoniousness with one another. Make non be proud. but be willing to tie in with people of low place. Make non be conceited. Make non refund anyone immorality for immorality. Be careful to make what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible. every bit far as it depends on you. live at peace with everyone. This transition talks about sharing others’ heartache alternatively of staying cut off and apathetic.
Cullen portions the author’s want for peace between unlike people. This ties to the last line. where “my sorrow must be laid on your caput like a crown” alludes to Christ’s Crown of irritants – because Jesus was a adult male of the people and was really empathic ; he put into pattern what Cullen is naming all Americans to make.
