"Mother to Son' Analysis

The poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes is a metaphorical poem or a conceit about the struggles a mother has had to endure and her quest to keep going. She discusses these with her son in order to help him be a better individual. It can also be consider a monologue because the voice of th e poem is that of the mother speaking to her son. Therefore it is written om secpmd [erspm [pomt pf view. The poem is also filled with rich imagery. Langston allows the reader to see the contrast between the beautiful clear crystal stair and the dinginess of the broken down wooden one. As a result the reader is able to make a comparrison of her life the one she hasn't been able to experience. The "splinters" show the obstacles she has faced.