Langston Hughes: A Biography

"I dream a world where man

No other man will scorn

Where love will bless the earth

And peace its path adorn"

Hughes, I Dream a World, 1937

When one mentions the Harlem Renaissance, the name Langston Hughes reverberates as one of the most prominent writer of the era. "He was perhaps the most original of African American poets and, in the breadth and variety of his work, assuredly the most representative of African American writers" (James Hart 201). His African American heritage sets the foundation for most of his works, including The Negro Speaks of Rivers, which literary critics had thoroughly and deliberately discussed in its entirety.

Born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902, the young Langston Hughes grew up with his maternal grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas (Bloom 189). With his Indian, French and African heritage, Hughes learned in his early age of his ancestors who fought rigorously to end slavery and racial injustice. He went to the controversial Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas as well as managing Columbia University afterward (Bloom 190). Exposed to Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman in his early teens, Hughes successfully published several poems in his university literary magazine Crisis. After college, he ventured out on his own and immediately received respect fro Harlem Renaissance's W.E.B Du Bois and Claude Mckay. Poet Countee Cullen became his close friend. Langston Hughes went to Lincoln University near Philadelphia, hoping to get his Masters in English. In 1926, at only 24, he published his first book of poetry, The Weary Blue (Bloom 193).

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Letters From Iwo Jima

War movies have always intrigued me, from classics such as All Quiet on the Western Front to Grammy Awards like Saving Private Ryan. After watching Flags of Our Father, I became intrigued about the famous battle of Iwo Jima, from which the photograph of American soldiers planting the American flag became the national symbol for triumph and patriotism. I researched extensively about the Allies' effort in taking control of Iwo Jima, the landing base for Japanese planes that if captured, could cripple supply to the mainland. I came across Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima and was ecstatic to find it to be the counterpart to Flags of Our Father. The war is told in the perspective of the few thousand Japanese soldiers who swore their life in protecting the island through a series of letters addressed to their beloved.

The time is 1944. The place is a little island off the coast of mainland Tokyo called Iwo Jima. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi has been appointed to take over the preparation to defend Iwo Jima against the invading Allies. He is a stern and unconventional leader whose experience exceeds that of the commanding officers on the island. The first interpersonal interaction between the General and Saigo occurs when he stopped the officer from beating Saigo. Saigo is just a small pawn in the military perspective; personally, he is a baker turned soldier whose only objective is to return home to his daughter and wife. The General's words "...I want my men to be fighting the war, not beaten..." revered respect for both the officer and Saigo, who somehow found an unlikely role model to look up to in the ensuing battle. Saigo is an ordinary and humble man who was drafted into the army. He easily fits in with his fellow comrades, many of whom originated from similar background. When Saigo finds out that Shimizu is one of the secrete police, unlike others, he does not single out the guilt torn military man. He offers the good sleeping ground for Shimizu, however subtle; that gesture communicates an understanding between the two that helps to unravel the war torn reality of Japanese soldiers. The Baron Nishi, a close friend of the General, flies in from mainland Japan to help his old colleague. A celebrated Olympic horse rider, the Baron commands respect as much as the General with unparallel insights into military operations. He is a true communicator who specializes in alternating the tones of his voice to get what he wants as well as employing logic to corner an opponent.

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Cyrano de Bergerac and Princess of Cleves: Passion Within Reason

The tragic lives of Cyrano de Bergerac and Princess of Cleves, though similar in their star-crossed predicaments, present different reasoning tactics. For Cyrano de Bergerac, he actively chooses to repress his love for Roxanne because he does not want to shatter Roxanne's heart, which holds dearly the image of her husband Christian. The Princess de Cleves, on the other hand, pushes the Duke de Nemours away in order to ensure her fidelity toward her husband.

However, Cyrano de Bergerac assumes the identity of a nobleman. Unlike Princess de Cleves, whose inexperience in trivial matters leads to unwise behaviors. Cyrano controls his passion for Roxanne not only out of respect for her memory of Christian but also to justify his morality. He even assists Christian in winning Roxanne's affections through a series of romantic and eloquent letters and a confession of his true feelings while in disguise as Christian. Cyrano's conscience would not let him interfere with this romance because he just wants Roxanne to be happy. Apparently, she is quite content to be in love with Christian.

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E.E Cummings: Poet, Philosopher, Thinker

E.E Cummings, a successful and immortal poet of the 19th century, has once proclaimed "...artist, a man, a failure is a naturally and miraculously whole human being, whose only happiness is to transcend himself, whose every agony is to grow" (Unger 428). The spontaneity of trying to change oneself implicates the standard of transcendentalism, Cummings' most common theme and style encrypted in his works. His father, the main supporter of most of his decisions, played an important part in molding the young Estlin into one of the most prolific poet of all time.

Edward Estlin Cummings, son of Reverend Edward Cummings and Rebecca Haswell Clarke Cummings, sprung into this world on October 14, 1894 at Cambridge, Massachusetts (Unger 429). Young Estlin grew up in a cozy and familial house on Irving Street, for the Reverend has arranged for close relatives to surround his son, chiefly to promote inspiration for Cummings. Contrary to traditional belief, Estlin, with his father's approval and encouragement, began to express his interests by drawing, sketching and making notes and observations in a journal. As early as nine years old, Cummings has comprised countless sketches and beautiful poetry pieces. His conducive childhood experience had better prepared him for the prosperous academic achievements later on. Harvard accepted such a phenomenal talent. While in college, Estlin challenged the traditional literary style of his professors, Ludicrously experimenting with form, content and diction, Estlin subjectively turned in assignments that he intended to shock and appall readers. Explicit mention of women's breasts, a repercussion of his time in Boston's strip clubs, appeared in his articles in Harvard's literary magazines. Cummings finally emerged from Harvard with a Masters Degree in English and Classical Studies. Although Estlin's rebellion in college strained his relationship with his father, the Reverend still remained Cummings' strongest foothold and support.

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