Cullen’s poems written in traditional formal style make it very difficult to understand them and figure out what he is saying. I find that I have to read, re-read, and read again the same lines and still I am not really sure what his point is.
It seems that he is very torn by religion. Some poems he seems to admire and look for guidance from Christianity but in other poems it seems that he is blatantly questioning Christianity and its beliefs.
We discussed in class that the Cullen writes with a universal theme of dealing with the issues of balancing race and appealing to the wider audience but it seems to me that there is a major theme of religion and balancing his beliefs between what he has been taught about a great God that had created a beautiful world and the reality of a real life filled with prejudice and inequality.
In our Cane reading Toomer was on a constant search for his spiritual roots and McKay also referred to God and spiritual awakenings. People seem to want the answer of life from God or a spiritual being, or maybe want to lay blame for life’s unfairness on someone besides mankind.
Maybe everyone is just asking the fundamental question of life, Why?
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I think your observation about how Cullen uses God in his poetry could be true, along with other authors like Toomer. I think people do look for God for answers and at times want to put the blame on someone for obstacles they have faces or things that are unfair. I like Cullen uses his religion and belief in God to answer his questions about life.
I completely agree. It seems writing was therapeutic for him, I understand why he would have felt so torn, and I’m sure other African Americans at the time felt this way also. Plus, as you said, it does seem to follow the universal why are we hear type question.
This guy Cullen did use the theme of religion alot. I also seem to get out of it that he was questioning religion an awful lot. It seemed to me he was more questioning it than embracing it, although in class on Monday Mrs. Wells talked of how he was very religious. He appeared depressed to me, and he seemed to blame all his problems on God. If he really was Gay this probably tore him apart because the bible doesnt accept this, so he found other ways to tear apart as well. I guess shouldnt take away from the fact that he was upset with how Blacks were treated unequally in real life and to him unfairly held in the bible as well.
Cullen's poems seem to jump around from understanding and embracing Christianity to ridiculing it. Like you stated, his tone clearly asks the big question, "why?" I think Cullen was a religious man, but like many believers he has his doubts and questions about the Bible and life in general. Therefore it seems like writing was his way of asking and expressing his questions and concerns.
I agree with you observation of religion in Cullen's writing. He seems to be a very religious person. In many of his poems we see biblical references. However, in others he seems to be questioning religion and the idea of God. I find it interesting that he can have two such opposite opinions on the same topic.
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