The deeper meaning of Mckay’s word choices and sentence structure is revealed in the poem “?We Must Die?”. It starts at the beginning of Mckay’s poem. This poem is notable for its eerieness and haunting images. Claude Mckay reveals a theme of death throughout the poem and then expands on that idea by using lines from the poem to show his feelings.
Lines 1 and 2 are written by Claude Mckay. They say, “If we have to die, let it be not like hogs Hunted, penned, and buried in an inglorious spot.” These lines communicate the importance of dignity and show how important it is in people’s lives. In the real world, dignity refers only to being worthy or respected. He asks for respect when it comes to our deaths. He does not want to be considered an animal and be denied the opportunity to live as human beings. In line 5, he writes “If necessary, O let us noblely die” to emphasize the idea of asking for respect in the timing of our deaths and that we would like to be remembered only by the good. The author wants readers to see that life is not all about the material. There are many opportunities and experiences. These opening sentences show the mortality of people and help them to see that life is not all bad. The inevitable death is inevitable. Therefore, it is important to live life to its fullest. The tone of the text and the emotion behind it are key. These connect the reader to the poem and help them make connections with their audience. Mckay uses metaphors to illustrate similar meanings. To help you visualize what Mckay is talking about, the author uses symbolism. Line 9 reads “O Kinsmen!” We must meet our common foe!” The author writes in line 9 “O kinsmen!” This is the expression that says everyone must work together to find common enemies and resolve conflicts. “Though far outnumbered, let’s be brave and deal one deathblow!” Claude Mckay wrote lines 10 and 11. These two lines indicate that people are willing put their best foot forward to make a difference and to prosper.
Claude Mckay reveals a central theme of death and continues to expand on it throughout the poem by making connections and making comparisons that help to illustrate the point. The text is a reminder that humans are not things and should be respected. It also contains a hint about segregation, racial superiority and the like. This poem was composed in the 1920s during Harlem Renaissance. African Americans had to face hardships and learn to overcome them as laws and acts were passed. This time, social aspects included creativity and expression. You can also see the decline of freedom in the poem. Mckay states that Mckay is urging you to overcome all obstacles in your life. He also suggests that it is important to keep working hard because nothing comes easy. The poem’s time period is hinted at by Mckay’s choice of words. However, Mckay also suggests the possibility that it could have a hidden significance due to the racism in that time. The author can be seen putting together many meanings, but they all come back to a common theme. The author asks the rhetorical “What though there lies the open-grave?”, meaning that you may find your life abruptly ending.
In line 13, Claude Mckay ends the poem with the words “Like men we’ll face the cowardly murderous pack, pressed up against the wall dying but fighting to win!”. This two-liner is chilling. The willingness to give up everything for something you believe in, or something that has been so hard earned is a sign of a human’s worth. These lines show a society that faces all of the judgments, stress, and criticisms every day as it tries to make happiness. These ideas are communicated by the author throughout the story. He uses figurative language to connect points.
The poem “If you must die?” by Claude Mckay demonstrates the themes that acknowledging mortality and the overcoming challenges. It connects with readers. You can use metaphors to understand Mckay’s meaning. By imagining what it means, you can also interpret the symbolism. As you continued reading, it became apparent that society is connected to racial time periods. All humans want in life was to be loved and accepted. It speaks a lot about the death of people and how they want to be remembered for their good times, and that they have lived life to its fullest. You can’t avoid death.
