Langston Hughes' excellent poem "Ballad of the Landlord" deals with a number of important societal themes. First published in 1940, and written in the late 30s, "Ballad of the Landlord" focuses on cultural and racial injustice while also touching on themes of political paranoia.
The poem follows a dissatisfied tenant who repeatedly asks the landlord to fix a number of problems in the home—a leaking roof and broken steps—only to be ignored. Once rent is due, the tenant refuses to pay, citing the landlord's unwillingness to fix the houses' damages as a justifiable reason,
"Ten Bucks you say I owe you?Ten Bucks you say is due?Well, that's Ten Bucks more'n I'l pay youTill you fix this house up new."
The landlord cuts off the heat, sends an eviction notice, and removes the tenant's furniture. Once the tenant talks tough to the landlord, the police are notified, and the tenant is thrown in jail and considered a treasonous traitor.
It's important to note the last lines of the poem:
MAN THREATENS LANDLORDTENANT HELD NO BAILJUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL!
The fact that the tenant is an African American is vital to understanding the poem. As we see repeatedly in history classes, the treatment of minorities, especially in the 30s and 40s, was far less than admirable. In the poem, the tenant is arguably an honest, hardworking citizen who becomes disgruntled when the home begins to fall apart. The tenant is imprisoned most likely due to their race, considering the justice system at the time of the poem's publication was immeasurably biased in favor of whites. The landlord's refusal to help is further proof of the racial strife found in the poem.
In the poem, the landlords hold all the power. They are able to charge rent, ignore requests for necessary services, and, once the tenant refuses to pay in protest, evict or even imprison the tenant. This shows Hughes' intended theme of class division. Landlords held the power, class, and money, where working-class citizens who rent rather than own get the proverbial short end of the stick.
Lastly, the poem touches on the idea of political paranoia. The "Red Scare" or irrational fear of domestic Communism, really first began towards the end of the 1910s. Here, the landlord is successful in jailing their tenant by tossing false accusations of anarchism, communism, or general treason, all of which are accusations that were frequently used to silence political and social opponents.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
I want the theme of balley of land lord
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