how does mother to son by langston hughes relate to monster by walter dean myers
"Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes and "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers share several themes, such as the African American experience, perseverance, and the power of hope.
In "Mother to Son," the mother uses the metaphor of climbing a staircase to represent the struggles and hardships of life. She tells her son that life hasn't been a "crystal stair," but instead, it has been full of obstacles, darkness, and challenges. However, she encourages him to keep climbing, to not give up, and to have hope for a better future.
Similarly, in "Monster," the protagonist Steve Harmon, a young African American teenager, faces numerous difficulties and hardships while being wrongfully accused of a crime. Steve is on trial for felony murder and must navigate the complexities of the justice system while being treated unfairly due to his race. Like the mother in "Mother to Son," Steve must persevere and have hope in order to overcome the obstacles in his path.
Both Langston Hughes' poem and Walter Dean Myers' novel highlight the resilience of African Americans in the face of adversity and the importance of maintaining hope even in the most challenging circumstances. They convey a message of strength, determination, and the need to keep moving forward despite the difficulties encountered along the way. Additionally, both works emphasize the power of storytelling and self-expression as a means of finding strength and identity in the midst of struggle.