The man introduced is one who follows stereotypes, “I’m a bad, bad man” (1) because he is introduced to them by his social surroundings, “Cause everybody tells me so” which reinforces his beliefs. Hughes then repeats the lines to add emphasis to the man’s belief: “I’m a bad, bad man. Everbody tells me so. ” (3-4), the fact that he leaves out “Cause” this time shows the reader that the man agrees with what people are saying about him. Hughes also presents the man as wanting to live up to his expectations because he “takes ma meaness and ma licker Everwhere I go” (5-6) so he will be accepted in the role that was forced on him.
The diction used; “ma meaness”, “ma licker”, “Everybody”, “Everbody”, also help to present the man as having a lack of intelligence which corroborates the prejudice aimed towards him. Stanza 2 describes the “bad man” engaging in a bad activity, to stay with his character. “I beats ma wife an’ I beats ma side gal too. ” (7-8), again the diction not only is a product of culture but is also implemented to show a lack of knowledge that allows the character to easily identify with stereotypes. Hughes also uses repetition in this stanza for emphasis: “Beats ma wife an’ Beats ma side gal too. (9-10), he leaves out “I” at the beginning of each line during this circumstance of repetition which presents the “bad man” as not identifying his actions with himself, but with the prejudices he is exposed to and agreeing with. The rhyme used, “Beats ma side gal too… It keeps me from feelin’ blue. ” (10-12), catches the reader’s attention while presenting the idea that the man commits treacherous actions out of a sense of feeling unsatisfactory about his own circumstances. Hughes also says, “Don’t know why I do it… ”
The Term Paper on The Relationship Between Men and Women Presented in the Short Story “the Story of an Hour”
The relationship between men and women presented in the short story “The Story of an Hour”, is that men dominated society. A Woman’s freedom was nonexistent. Throughout this short story, women are presented as powerless and dependent while men were considered to be superior. Women were tied down through marriage, such as, having been expected of doing as the man pleased without having any say in ...
The third stanza also stays with repetition, rhyme and diction to present the theme of an oppressed individual identifying with the oppressive characteristics associated with him. The first 4 lines of the 3rd stanza utilize very good grammar, indicating that the man ion the poem has evolved mentally: I’m so bad I Don’t even want to be good. So bad, bad I Don’t even want to be good. ”
