“Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

“Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay, first appeared in 1922 in the poetry collection “Songs of Jamaica” is known for its vivid imagery and powerful language. This poem is a poignant portrayal of the marginalized African American community in Harlem. The central theme explores the themes of poverty, alienation, and despair experienced by the residents of the neighborhood. McKay’s use of stark contrasts between light and shadow, as well as his depiction of the “longing faces of the women” and the “men with hats pulled down,” effectively conveys the sense of hopelessness and disillusionment that pervades the community.

Text: “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

Annotations: “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

Line	Annotation
I hear the halting footsteps of a lass	Introduces the subject: a young woman in Harlem, her “halting footsteps” suggest exhaustion or hesitation.
In Negro Harlem when the night lets fall	Establishes the setting: Harlem, a predominantly Black neighborhood, during nighttime.
Its veil. I see the shapes of girls who pass	The night is personified as a “veil,” cloaking the figures of the girls passing through the streets.
To bend and barter at desire’s call.	Suggests the girls may be engaging in survival through prostitution, “bartering” themselves for survival.
Ah, little dark girls who in slippered feet	“Little dark girls” emphasizes innocence, vulnerability; “slippered feet” suggests fragility and poverty.
Go prowling through the night from street to street!	“Prowling” suggests a sense of danger and desperation as they move through Harlem.
Through the long night until the silver break	Describes the long, tiring journey of the girls, waiting until dawn, the “silver break” of day.
Of day the little gray feet know no rest;	“Little gray feet” signifies exhaustion and weariness, emphasizing their ceaseless movement.
Through the lone night until the last snow-flake	Imagery of “lone night” and “last snow-flake” conveys isolation and coldness, both literal and emotional.
Has dropped from heaven upon the earth’s white breast,	Contrast between “heaven” and the harsh reality of earth; the whiteness of snow vs. the girls’ darker skin.
The dusky, half-clad girls of tired feet	“Dusky” refers to their skin color; “half-clad” emphasizes poverty and vulnerability.
Are trudging, thinly shod, from street to street.	“Trudging” reinforces their weariness, and “thinly shod” suggests inadequate clothing or shoes.
Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way	The speaker laments the cruel, unforgiving world that has led to their suffering.
Of poverty, dishonor and disgrace,	Identifies the oppressive forces—poverty and social stigma—that entrap these girls.
Has pushed the timid little feet of clay,	“Feet of clay” symbolizes human vulnerability and fragility.
The sacred brown feet of my fallen race!	The speaker elevates the girls, calling their feet “sacred,” representing the struggles of the Black race.
Ah, heart of me, the weary, weary feet	Personalizes the pain, expressing deep empathy for their weariness.
In Harlem wandering from street to street.	Returns to the image of wandering, reinforcing the cyclical, never-ending struggle.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

Device	Definition	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	The repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words.	Ah, heart of me, the weary, weary feet	Repetition of the “w” sound emphasizes the slow, tired movement of the girl.
Allusion	An indirect reference to a person, event, or literary work.	“feet of clay”	References the biblical idea of human fragility, underscoring the vulnerability of the girls.
Anaphora	The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.	“Through the long night…Through the lone night”	Repetition of “Through the” emphasizes the enduring nature of the girls’ suffering.
Assonance	The repetition of vowel sounds within closely placed words.	“little gray feet know no rest”	The “e” sound is repeated, creating a mournful, drawn-out tone that reflects the girls’ exhaustion.
Connotation	The associated or secondary meaning of a word beyond its literal meaning.	“dusky, half-clad girls”	“Dusky” connotes both physical darkness and the societal marginalization of the girls due to race and poverty.
Consonance	The repetition of consonant sounds within words, often at the end of words.	“wandering from street to street”	Repetition of the “t” sound reflects the rhythmic movement of the girls through the streets.
Diction	The choice of words and style of expression in a poem or text.	“Ah, stern harsh world”	The use of “stern” and “harsh” sets a serious, judgmental tone toward the world’s treatment of the girls.
End Rhyme	The repetition of similar sounds at the ends of lines in poetry.	“feet / street”	The end rhyme gives a musical quality to the poem, reinforcing the cyclical nature of the girls’ movements.
Enjambment	The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next.	“I hear the halting footsteps of a lass / In Negro Harlem”	The sentence runs across multiple lines, which mimics the ongoing, relentless movement of the girls.
Imagery	Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.	“half-clad girls of tired feet”	Creates a vivid image of exhausted, poorly clothed girls, appealing to the reader’s visual and emotional senses.
Irony	A contrast between expectation and reality.	“sacred brown feet”	It is ironic that these girls, who are sacred to the speaker, are dishonored and pushed into poverty by society.
Metaphor	A comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”	“The night lets fall / Its veil”	The night is compared to a veil, symbolizing secrecy and obscurity, hiding the girls’ suffering.
Mood	The atmosphere or emotional setting created by a text.	The poem’s mood is somber and reflective.	The tone of weariness and sadness pervades the entire poem, evoking empathy for the girls.
Personification	Attributing human characteristics to non-human things.	“night lets fall / Its veil”	The night is personified as having a veil, giving it a mysterious, almost sinister quality.
Repetition	The repeating of a word or phrase to emphasize an idea.	“street to street”	Repeats “street to street” to emphasize the continuous, repetitive nature of the girls’ journey through Harlem.
Rhetorical Question	A question asked for effect rather than an answer.	None explicitly in this poem, but the lamenting tone feels like a plea.	While not directly present, the tone suggests a questioning of society’s treatment of the girls.
Simile	A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”	“feet of clay”	While more metaphorical, this could be interpreted as a simile comparing the fragility of the girls to clay.
Symbolism	The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.	“feet of clay”	“Feet” symbolize both the literal movement of the girls and their fragile, vulnerable existence.
Tone	The poet’s attitude toward the subject of the poem.	The tone is sympathetic and critical.	McKay’s tone shows deep empathy for the girls and anger toward the world that forces them into such a harsh existence.
Visual Imagery	Descriptive language that appeals to the sense of sight.	“The little gray feet know no rest”	Evokes a powerful visual of tired, worn feet, helping the reader to imagine the physical toll the streets take on the girls.

Themes: “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

• Marginalization and Poverty: McKay’s poem vividly depicts the plight of African American women in Harlem, who are forced into a life of poverty and marginalization. The lines “In Negro Harlem when the night lets fall its veil. I see the shapes of girls who pass to bend and barter at desire’s call” highlight the desperation and exploitation faced by these women. The constant “trudging” and “wandering” from street to street symbolize their endless search for sustenance and their inability to escape their circumstances.  
• Sexual Exploitation: The poem also addresses the issue of sexual exploitation faced by the women of Harlem. The lines “To bend and barter at desire’s call” suggest that these women are forced to engage in prostitution to survive. This theme is further reinforced by the imagery of the “little gray feet” that “know no rest” and the “dusky, half-clad girls of tired feet.” McKay’s use of these images emphasizes the physical and emotional toll that this exploitation takes on these women.
• Racial Inequality: “Harlem Shadows” is a powerful indictment of racial inequality. The lines “Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way of poverty, dishonor and disgrace, has pushed the timid little feet of clay, the sacred brown feet of my fallen race!” express McKay’s anger and frustration at the systemic forces that have marginalized and oppressed African Americans. The poem suggests that these women’s suffering is a direct result of their race and the discriminatory practices that they face.  
• Despair and Hopelessness: The overall tone of the poem is one of despair and hopelessness. The repetition of the phrase “from street to street” creates a sense of endlessness and futility. The women’s “tired feet” and the “long night” symbolize the exhaustion and despair that they experience. McKay’s use of dark imagery and bleak language further reinforces the sense of hopelessness that pervades the poem.

Literary Theories and “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

Literary Theory	Key Concepts	Application to “Harlem Shadows”	References
Feminist Criticism	Examines how gender is represented in literature, often focusing on the experiences of women.	This theory can be applied to “Harlem Shadows” to analyze the portrayal of women as marginalized and exploited due to their gender. The poem highlights the challenges faced by African American women, such as poverty, sexual exploitation, and racial discrimination.	“I see the shapes of girls who pass to bend and barter at desire’s call”
Marxist Criticism	Examines how economic and class structures influence literature.	This theory can be used to analyze “Harlem Shadows” as a critique of capitalist society. The poem portrays the poverty and hardship experienced by the working class, particularly African Americans, who are often exploited for their labor.	“Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way of poverty, dishonor and disgrace, has pushed the timid little feet of clay”
New Historicism	Examines literature within its historical and cultural context.	This theory can be applied to “Harlem Shadows” to understand the poem’s significance within the Harlem Renaissance. The poem reflects the social and political conditions of the time, including the struggles for racial equality and the experiences of African Americans in urban environments.	“In Negro Harlem when the night lets fall its veil”

Critical Questions about “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

• How does McKay portray the intersection of race, gender, and poverty in “Harlem Shadows”?
• McKay powerfully connects the themes of race, gender, and poverty throughout the poem, particularly through his focus on the “little dark girls” of Harlem. The repeated references to their “tired feet” and the description of them as “half-clad” emphasize the physical and emotional toll of their lives. These young women, likely engaging in prostitution out of necessity, are depicted as vulnerable and worn down by a harsh, “stern harsh world” that offers them little in the way of protection or opportunity. The imagery of “the sacred brown feet of my fallen race” ties the suffering of these women to the broader struggles of the Black community, suggesting that their exploitation is a reflection of systemic racial and gender-based oppression.
• What role does imagery play in conveying the theme of exhaustion and suffering in the poem?
• Imagery is central to McKay’s portrayal of exhaustion and suffering in “Harlem Shadows.” The repetition of “little gray feet” and “tired feet” throughout the poem creates a vivid image of physical weariness, emphasizing the ceaseless nature of the girls’ nighttime wandering. The contrast between the cold, white snowflakes falling on “the earth’s white breast” and the “dusky, half-clad girls” trudging through the streets further highlights their vulnerability and exhaustion. The images of night and coldness not only paint a bleak picture of the girls’ external environment but also reflect their inner desolation and hopelessness.
• In what ways does McKay use the night as a metaphor in “Harlem Shadows”?
• McKay uses the night as a powerful metaphor for both concealment and danger in “Harlem Shadows.” The night “lets fall its veil,” cloaking the figures of the girls as they “go prowling through the night from street to street.” This veil of darkness symbolizes how society overlooks or ignores the suffering of these young women, their struggles hidden away under the cover of night. At the same time, the night is a space of peril, where they must navigate poverty and exploitation. The relentless progression of the “long night” suggests the inescapability of their hardship, as they continue to walk until “the silver break of day” offers only temporary relief.
• How does McKay use repetition to emphasize the themes of the poem?
• Repetition is a key device McKay employs to reinforce the poem’s themes of struggle and cyclical suffering. The phrase “from street to street” is repeated in several stanzas, underscoring the monotonous and unending nature of the girls’ nightly journeys. The recurrence of words like “feet” and “night” creates a rhythm that mirrors the girls’ continuous, wearisome movement. The poem’s repetition of “weary” and “tired” further drives home the point that these girls are trapped in a cycle of physical and emotional fatigue. This structural repetition reflects the broader societal cycles of poverty and exploitation that the girls are forced to endure, with little hope of escape.

Literary Works Similar to “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

1. “The Weary Blues” by Langston Hughes
   This poem shares Harlem Shadows’ focus on the struggles of African Americans in Harlem, particularly through its depiction of weariness and emotional exhaustion.
2. “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes
   Like Harlem Shadows, this poem emphasizes the themes of perseverance and hardship, with the mother offering a metaphorical journey through life that echoes the difficult lives of the girls in McKay’s poem.
3. “The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B. Du Bois (Poetic passages within)
   Though part of an essay collection, the poetic prose here reflects similar themes of racial struggle and resilience seen in Harlem Shadows, addressing the broader social issues facing African Americans.
4. “A Black Man Talks of Reaping” by Arna Bontemps
   This poem, like McKay’s, explores the themes of racial injustice, labor, and the unequal rewards that Black people face for their hard work, symbolizing unrecognized contributions and struggles.
5. “The Lynching” by Claude McKay
   Another of McKay’s works, “The Lynching”, similarly addresses the brutal realities faced by African Americans, focusing on violence, racial oppression, and the collective suffering of the Black community.

Representative Quotations of “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“I hear the halting footsteps of a lass”	Opening line, introducing the speaker’s empathetic observation of the young women.	Empathy and Social Realism: McKay immediately positions the speaker as a witness to the hardships of Black women.
“In Negro Harlem when the night lets fall / Its veil.”	Describes the setting of Harlem at night, shrouded in darkness.	Harlem Renaissance and Racial Identity: Highlights Harlem as a significant cultural and racial space for Black people.
“Ah, little dark girls who in slippered feet”	Addresses the young girls directly, emphasizing their innocence and vulnerability.	Intersectionality (Race and Gender): McKay underscores both race and gender oppression experienced by these women.
“Go prowling through the night from street to street!”	Describes the restless, cyclical movement of the girls, possibly engaging in prostitution to survive.	Marxist Criticism: Reflects the economic exploitation and commodification of marginalized women in a capitalist society.
“The little gray feet know no rest”	Continues the description of the girls’ weary, constant movement, emphasizing their exhaustion.	Existentialism: Suggests a sense of endless struggle and fatigue in the human condition, particularly for the oppressed.
“Through the lone night until the last snow-flake”	Describes the unrelenting hardship the girls endure through the night, into the coldness of winter.	Naturalism: Highlights the impact of environment and circumstance on individuals, with nature as a harsh force.
“The sacred brown feet of my fallen race!”	The speaker elevates the girls’ plight, tying their struggle to that of the entire Black race.	Black Nationalism: Asserts the dignity and sacredness of Black people, despite societal degradation.
“Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way”	Lamenting society’s role in pushing the young women into lives of hardship and dishonor.	Critical Race Theory: Critiques the systemic structures that force marginalized Black women into poverty and disgrace.
“Of poverty, dishonor, and disgrace”	Reflects the degrading social circumstances that the young women face due to poverty and racism.	Feminist Criticism: Addresses the specific intersection of class, race, and gender that compounds the girls’ suffering.
“In Harlem wandering from street to street.”	The poem ends where it begins, with the image of the girls wandering through Harlem, symbolizing endless toil.	Cyclical Time (Postcolonial Theory): Reflects a continuous cycle of oppression for colonized and marginalized people.

Suggested Readings: “Harlem Shadows” by Claude McKay

1. Smith, Robert A. “Claude McKay: An Essay in Criticism.” Phylon (1940-1956), vol. 9, no. 3, 1948, pp. 270–73. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/271218. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.
2. Keller, Frances Richardson. “The Harlem Literary Renaissance.” The North American Review, vol. 253, no. 3, 1968, pp. 29–34. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25116789. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.
3. Bremer, Sidney H. “Home in Harlem, New York: Lessons from the Harlem Renaissance Writers.” PMLA, vol. 105, no. 1, 1990, pp. 47–56. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/462342. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.
4. McKay, Claude. “HARLEM SHADOWS (1922).” Complete Poems, edited by William J. Maxwell, University of Illinois Press, 2004, pp. 152–96. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/j.ctt3fh51t.9. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.