In Langston Hughes' poem "Mother to Son," the mother uses the image of a staircase to symbolize the hardships and challenges in life. The staircase is described as being old and rickety, with tacks and splinters, dark and without a light. This imaginary staircase represents the struggles and difficulties that the mother has faced in her own life, and she uses it to impart wisdom to her son, encouraging him to keep moving forward despite the obstacles he may encounter. The mother's message is one of resilience and perseverance, reminding her son that in spite of the hardships, he must continue to climb and not give up.
