The Weary Blues

Poetry | Langston Hughes

Sketch the character of the singer depicted in the poem “The Weary Blues.”

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Sketch the character of the singer depicted in the poem “The Weary Blues.”

Langston Hughes’s (1901-1967) poem “The Weary Blues” (1925) paints a strong picture of a lonely Black singer in Harlem. The poem is not only about his mu

sic, but also about his tiredness and pain. This black singer represents the African-American community. Through the singer’s actions, voice, and sad song, we see a tired man who carries the sorrow of the African-American community.

 

A Lonely Figure on Lenox Avenue: The singer first appears on Lenox Avenue at night. He plays his piano under an old, weak gas light. The place is quiet and empty. The poet sees him bending over his piano and swaying slowly. His body language shows tiredness. Hughes writes:

 

“He did a lazy sway…”

 

This line tells us that he is not full of energy. It feels like the night and the dim light match his lonely mood. His loneliness is soft, slow, and almost sleepy, like the atmosphere around him.

 

A Man Full of Deep Sadness: The black singer is full of deep sadness. His music is filled with emotion. The poet says the piano “moaned with melody.” It means the sound is full of sorrow. The singer is not just performing a song. He is expressing something from his heart. The rhythm is slow and heavy, like someone carrying emotional pain for a long time.

 

His sadness is also noticeable in his voice. Hughes describes it as a “deep song voice” with a “melancholy tone.” These words mean the singer is very sad. His sadness is connected to the history of African-American suffering. It is not just personal sadness; it also carries the weight of a whole community.

 

Honest About His Pain: One of the strongest qualities of the singer is honesty. He speaks openly about his pain. He sings,

 

“Ain’t got nobody in all this world.”

 

Here, the singer is telling the truth about his deep loneliness. He says he has no one, only himself. This shows how the African-American feels in American society.

 

His honesty continues when he says he is not satisfied with life. He admits he is not happy anymore. At one point, he even sings that he wishes he had died. These are very painful feelings.

 

An Artist Who Turns Suffering into Music: Another important part of the singer’s character is his relationship with music. He turns his sadness into art. He sings:

 

“I ain’t happy no mo’

And I wish that I had died.”

 

Through these lines, we see a man who has lost hope but still tries to release his pain through music. Even though he is tired, he keeps singing “far into the night.” His foot beats the floor, his hands press the piano keys, and his voice fills the dark street. Music becomes his way of surviving.

 

Blues is a form of music born from Black suffering and endurance. The singer represents this tradition. His song becomes the voice of African-Americans, who are tired, lonely, and struggling.

 

A Man Crushed by Life: At the end of the poem, the singer goes to bed. He sleeps like a rock or a man who is dead.

 

“He slept like a rock or a man that’s dead.”

 

This shows how exhausted he is. His body is tired, his mind is tired, and even in sleep, the sad music still echoes in his head. The final image shows a man crushed by life but still strong enough to sing his truth before resting.

In conclusion, the singer in “The Weary Blues” is a lonely and deeply emotional man. He carries the sorrow of the African-American community. His music becomes his voice. His character stands as a symbol of the tired but brave spirit of African-American life.

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Langston Hughes
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