The poem “In Japan Beyond” by Yone Noguchi, talks about the issue of immigration that goes on in America. It deals with the struggle all immigrants have when they leave their homeland to venture off to a new land in hopes for finding opportunity and a better lifestyle; which can summarize the situation for many other immigrants from other countries as well. In this case, it deals with a Japanese immigrant who has to deal with the unknown upon arriving to the Unites States.
The line that states, “in the voice of a wind searching for the sun lost” (120) indicates the voice is that of the immigrant who is searching for the “sun” or the light of hope. It is a difficult road to get to America and with the help of the sun guiding his way, it will give him the reason for why he is headed where he is headed, for a better life. Then, the author uses a rhetorical question that asks, “For the old dreams of a twilight tale? (121) points out how some of those immigrants never had a chance to realize their dreams because sometimes in their native country, they are restricted from or not given the chance to make their dream a reality.
Often, years or even decades pass by and think that they are too old to realize their dream, they simply give it. The author is trying to encourage that immigrants should not let their dreams die out, they will always exist and it will never be too late to make them come true.
Later, “in the voice of a river in quest of the Unknown,” (121) means that Japanese immigrants travel through many physical barriers to get to this found land called America and often they do not know what to expect upon arriving. However, one thing is for certain, they know that freedom exists there, so once stepping on ground, they will seek that treasure no matter what they face in the new land. The poem “America,” by Claude McKay deals with how individuals of color are faced with racism and prejudice in the United States.
The author utilizes diction and personification to communicate the message across that it is difficult of a person of color to live comfortably in America. Diction such as “bitterness” and “sinks into my throat” (454) gives the audience a sense of despair and disgust and makes them feel a sense of sadness for these individuals. Those words is what the author feels everyday he walks out of his house. Either he is faced with such foul words where he then has to digest them into his body, or he is physically neglected in society “of terror” (454) where he is not allowed to do the same activities as others who are a different color to him.
The word such as terror makes America be depicts as a frightening place to live, however the author personifies it as women, making the country be then seen as a motherly figure. Diction such as “she” and “her” helps to emphasize that America is a loving and nurturing country and not an evil one as citizens who live there see it. “She feeds me bread” indicates that the author and many other people of color, are dependent on America even when it continuously puts them down. These individuals understand that leaving to another county, they will not have the same opportunities they can have here, somewhere else.
America gives “me strength erect against her hate” (454), pointing out that even though there are factors he does not like in the country, he knows that this is the country that will offer him a better life economically and even socially if racial issues get fixed. But the most important reason to continue living in the United States is because of the “priceless treasure” that exists, and that treasure is called freedom, but that treasure is “sinking in the sand” (454) because it is difficult for African Americans to have that freedom fully.
Their freedom, in a sense, is buried, not seen but the author has high hopes that the problem of race in America gets resolved as “I gaze into the days ahead” (454). McKay hopes the future is brighter for blacks to come as he feels that they deserve freedom just like everyone else. The poem “Susie Asado” by Gertrude Stein deals with the issue of gender as women are not granted the same rights as men, and this poem sheds a light on how women should be treated better in society. The author uses diction to emphasize how women are seen in patriarchal society.
For example, the word “sweet”(96) which is repeated various of times, refers to how men see women out in public sight as they crave them physically not even considering her has a human but simply as a treat for the eye. “Sweet tea” and “tray” (96) refers to women’s traditional roles in the Unites States, as they are used solely in the kitchen and home. Society does not see women as capable of performing anything else, they are meant to stay at home and care for the children and her husband’s needs, thus accentuating their restarted lives. Incubus” alludes to the man as being the devil that has intercourse with women.
When intercourse is performed, this action sucks the little power and dignity women have and leaves them vulnerable and weak right after. Male figures use their wives for their own pleasure and does not give her the needed respect she deserves. The men are those who are making women believe they are incapable and not appreciated enough in the country. The line that says, “Lease a sash hold” (96) indicates that women are just seen as property and not has individuals.
Men compete to see who has a physically better looking wife, but lack the emotional attention she needs to make her happy. However, the author believes there is a sign of hope and advancement for all women as he “see it shine” (96), expressing that women shall come to see the say they have the freedom to do whatever they want and not be told what to do. The day will come when women will be seen as equal to men. These poems varied in social issues such as immigration, racial prejudice and gender roles, nevertheless the aspect that ties them together is the thing that is called freedom.
Freedom is difficult to define and every American citizen has their own definition but they all do know that freedom is restricted heavily in other countries and that anyone will pay any price to experience that sense of liberation. America is often said to the land of opportunities. The chances are there, but it is us as the individual to go out and seek it. We must go out of our ways to change laws and social trends to make freedom fit to our terms. The United States is the land to make your voice heard and be granted that freedom the whole world seeks.
