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The story’s protagonist is Cora Jenkins, a 40-year-old African American woman living in a predominantly white, rural town. Hughes writes little of her physical appearance, apart from specifying her race. She has lived in the town of Melton all her life. The narrator’s statement that she’ll probably die there signifies her lack of resources and opportunities. Cora is the eldest of eight children, whom she helped raise. She dropped out of school in eighth grade and has worked as a “maid of all work” for the Studevant family ever since (4), where she is treated quite roughly.
Much of Cora’s characterization is revealed through authorial interpretation. The narrator calls her “an inoffensive soul” (3), humble and unashamed about life, and informs readers how Cora responds to each major event in her life, whether humbly or not. This prompts consideration of a thematic concept in the story: society’s hypocritical expectations regarding the way Black individuals should behave. Authorial interpretation paints a picture of Cora as someone wholly selfless and kind with admirable inner strength.
Cora’s actions provide a corresponding sense of who she is and what she values. From her youth, she sacrifices her own needs and opportunities to take care of her parents and siblings, leaving school to work and putting all her pay toward her family’s needs.
By Langston Hughes
Children’s Rhymes
Children’s Rhymes
Langston Hughes
Dreams
Dreams
Langston Hughes
Harlem
Harlem
Langston Hughes
I look at the world
I look at the world
Langston Hughes
I, Too
I, Too
Langston Hughes
Let America Be America Again
Let America Be America Again
Langston Hughes
Me and the Mule
Me and the Mule
Langston Hughes
Mother to Son
Mother to Son
Langston Hughes
Mulatto
Mulatto
Langston Hughes
Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life
Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life
Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston
Not Without Laughter
Not Without Laughter
Langston Hughes
Slave on the Block
Slave on the Block
Langston Hughes
Thank You, M'am
Thank You, M'am
Langston Hughes
The Big Sea
The Big Sea
Langston Hughes
Theme for English B
Theme for English B
Langston Hughes
The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain
The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain
Langston Hughes
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Langston Hughes
The Ways of White Folks
The Ways of White Folks
Langston Hughes
The Weary Blues
The Weary Blues
Langston Hughes
Tired
Tired
Langston Hughes