Usage of the Outsider Theme in Claude McKays Poetry Essay examples --

Usage of the Outsider Theme in Claude McKays PoetryClaude McKay was an important figure during the 1920s in the Harlem Rennaisance. Primarily a poet, McKay used the arcdegree of view of the outsider as a prevalent theme in his works. This is best observed in such poems as Outcast, America, and The White House. In these poems, McKay portrays the African-American as the outsiderof western society and its politics and laws and at times, the very land that he is native to.McKayss poem, Outcast, is the most obvious example of this outsider theme. From the title to the shoemakers last line there are many references to a feeling of alienation and neglect. The voice in the poem longs for the dim regions whence my fathers came. The voice also longs for bury jungle songs and yearns to go back to darkness and to peace. This is the voice of the African-American removed from his native country and made an outsider of his own home. Alienation is also utter as I may never hope for fu ll release while to its alien gods I bend my knee. This line illustrates that the...