“The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

“The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes first appeared in 1940, as part of his collection “Shakespeare in Harlem.” The poem masterfully encapsulates the stark realities of racial injustice and socioeconomic disparities faced by African Americans in the early 20th century. Through a simple yet poignant narrative, Hughes highlights the power dynamics between a black tenant and a white landlord, using their dialogue to expose systemic racism and the exploitation of marginalized communities. The poem’s ballad form, with its rhythmic structure and repetition, enhances its accessibility and emotional impact, making it a powerful tool for social commentary and activism.

Text: “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

Landlord, landlord,
My roof has sprung a leak.
Don’t you ‘member I told you about it
Way last week?

Landlord, landlord,
These steps is broken down.
When you come up yourself
It’s a wonder you don’t fall down.

Ten Bucks you say I owe you?
Ten Bucks you say is due?
Well, that’s Ten Bucks more’n I’l pay you
Till you fix this house up new.

What? You gonna get eviction orders?
You gonna cut off my heat?
You gonna take my furniture and
Throw it in the street?

Um-huh! You talking high and mighty.
Talk on-till you get through.
You ain’t gonna be able to say a word
If I land my fist on you.

Police! Police!
Come and get this man!
He’s trying to ruin the government
And overturn the land!

Copper’s whistle!
Patrol bell!
Arrest.
Precinct Station.
Iron cell.
Headlines in press:
MAN THREATENS LANDLORD
TENANT HELD NO BAIL
JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL!

Annotations: “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

Stanza	Lines	Annotation
1	Landlord, landlord,	The repetition of “landlord” serves as a direct address, immediately establishing the power dynamic between the tenant and the absentee property owner.
	My roof has sprung a leak.	This simple statement introduces the central conflict: the tenant’s neglected living conditions and the landlord’s inaction.
	Don’t you ‘member I told you about it	The informal language (“‘member”) reflects the tenant’s familiarity with the landlord, yet his concerns are dismissed.
	Way last week?	This phrase underscores the landlord’s disregard for the tenant’s well-being and the urgency of the repairs.
2	Landlord, landlord,	The repetition further emphasizes the tenant’s plea for attention and redress.
	These steps is broken down.	The deteriorating steps symbolize the broader neglect of the property and the landlord’s negligence.
	When you come up yourself	This line highlights the landlord’s hypocrisy, as he is aware of the hazardous conditions he subjects his tenant to.
	It’s a wonder you don’t fall down.	The irony in this comment underscores the landlord’s indifference to the tenant’s safety and well-being.
3	Ten Bucks you say I owe you?	The tenant questions the landlord’s demand for rent given the property’s disrepair, highlighting the injustice of the situation.
	Ten Bucks you say is due?	The repetition amplifies the tenant’s disbelief and frustration.
	Well, that’s Ten Bucks more’n I’l pay you	The tenant asserts his agency by refusing to pay rent until the necessary repairs are made.
	Till you fix this house up new.	This line signifies the tenant’s demand for basic living standards and his refusal to be exploited.
4	What? You gonna get eviction orders?	The landlord’s escalating threats expose the power imbalance and the precarity of the tenant’s situation.
	You gonna cut off my heat?	These threats reveal the landlord’s willingness to use his power to punish and control the tenant.
	You gonna take my furniture and	The threat of removing the tenant’s belongings is a stark reminder of the consequences of the power dynamic.
	Throw it in the street?	This image evokes the harsh reality of displacement and homelessness, a constant threat for marginalized communities.
5	Um-huh! You talking high and mighty.	The tenant challenges the landlord’s arrogance and sense of entitlement.
	Talk on-till you get through.	This line suggests the tenant’s exhaustion with empty promises and demands for action.
	You ain’t gonna be able to say a word	The tenant’s frustration escalates into a threat of physical violence, born out of desperation and injustice.
	If I land my fist on you.	This line marks a turning point, as the tenant shifts from a plea for justice to a potential act of rebellion.
6	Police! Police!	The landlord calls the authorities, further escalating the conflict and demonstrating the institutional power supporting him.
	Come and get this man!	This line exposes the racial bias inherent in the power dynamics, as the black tenant is immediately criminalized.
	He’s trying to ruin the government	The landlord’s accusation is hyperbolic, painting the tenant as a threat to the social order to justify his actions.
	And overturn the land!	This line further exaggerates the tenant’s actions, portraying him as a dangerous revolutionary.
7	Copper’s whistle!	The sound of the police whistle signals the arrival of law enforcement and the impending arrest of the tenant.
	Patrol bell!	The ringing of the patrol bell adds to the urgency and drama of the situation.
	Arrest.	This single word signifies the swift and decisive action taken against the tenant.
8	Precinct Station.	This line marks the beginning of the tenant’s journey through the criminal justice system.
	Iron cell.	The stark image of the iron cell represents the harsh reality of incarceration and the loss of freedom.
	Headlines in press:	This line introduces the media’s role in perpetuating stereotypes and shaping public perception.
	MAN THREATENS LANDLORD	The headline is a distortion of the truth, portraying the tenant as the aggressor.
	TENANT HELD NO BAIL	This line highlights the harsh treatment of the tenant, denied bail and facing a lengthy jail sentence.
	JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL!	The final line reveals the ultimate consequence of the tenant’s actions, a harsh sentence amplified by the racial epithet “Negro,” reflecting the pervasive racism of the time.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

Device	Definition	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	Repetition of initial consonant sounds	“Police! Police!”	Creates a rhythm and emphasis on certain words
Anaphora	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of clauses	“Landlord, landlord,”	Adds emphasis and creates a rhythmic pattern
Assonance	Repetition of vowel sounds	“roof has sprung a leak”	Creates internal rhyming and enhances musical quality
Caesura	A pause within a line of poetry	“Well, that’s Ten Bucks more’n I’l pay you”	Creates a dramatic pause, adding to the intensity
Colloquialism	Use of informal language or slang	“Um-huh! You talking high and mighty.”	Reflects everyday speech and makes the dialogue realistic
Diction	Choice of words and style of expression	“Copper’s whistle! Patrol bell!”	Sets the tone and conveys the speaker’s attitude
Enjambment	Continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end	“When you come up yourself / It’s a wonder you don’t fall down.”	Creates a sense of movement and urgency
Hyperbole	Exaggeration for emphasis or effect	“He’s trying to ruin the government / And overturn the land!”	Emphasizes the absurdity and frustration of the tenant’s situation
Imagery	Visually descriptive or figurative language	“Throw it in the street”	Creates a vivid picture in the reader’s mind
Irony	Expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite	“Talk on-till you get through.”	Highlights the tenant’s defiance and sarcasm
Metaphor	Direct comparison between two unlike things	“My roof has sprung a leak.”	Implies the house is damaged like a leaking object
Onomatopoeia	A word that imitates the sound it represents	“Copper’s whistle! Patrol bell!”	Mimics the sounds, making the scene more vivid
Personification	Giving human characteristics to non-human things	“My roof has sprung a leak.”	Makes the roof seem alive and active
Repetition	Repeating words or phrases for emphasis	“Landlord, landlord,”	Reinforces the speaker’s complaints and frustration
Rhyme	Correspondence of sound between words	“Police! Police!”	Creates a musical quality and links ideas together
Simile	Comparison using “like” or “as”	“It’s a wonder you don’t fall down.”	Compares the broken steps to something treacherous
Symbolism	Use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities	“Iron cell”	Represents oppression and lack of freedom
Tone	The general attitude or feeling of the poem	Defiant and accusatory	Conveys the tenant’s anger and determination
Theme	The central idea or message in a literary work	Social injustice and racial inequality	The poem addresses issues of unfair treatment and discrimination
Voice	The distinct personality of the speaker	The tenant’s voice is strong and indignant	Reflects the personal experience and emotions of the tenant

Themes: “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

1. Racial Injustice and Systemic Oppression: Hughes’ poem lays bare the entrenched racism within both society and the justice system. The tenant, simply demanding basic repairs, is swiftly criminalized and harshly punished. The use of the racial epithet “Negro” and the swift police response to the landlord’s call reveal a deep-seated bias that systematically oppresses African Americans. This incident serves as a microcosm of the broader systemic issues faced by marginalized communities, where even legitimate grievances are met with disproportionate force and injustice.
2. Power Imbalance and Exploitation: The stark power differential between the landlord and tenant is a central theme. The repetitive “Landlord, landlord” highlights the tenant’s pleas falling on deaf ears. Threats of eviction and disregard for the tenant’s well-being underscore the landlord’s exploitative power, illustrating how systemic inequalities can manifest in individual relationships. This dynamic mirrors broader societal structures where those in power often exploit and neglect marginalized groups.
3. Institutional Failure: The poem serves as a scathing indictment of institutions meant to protect and serve. The police, media, and courts all fail the tenant. The police, quick to respond to the landlord’s call, perpetuate the injustice rather than uphold the law. The media’s biased headlines distort the truth, further marginalizing the tenant. And ultimately, the court’s harsh sentence solidifies the systemic failure to address the root causes of the conflict.
4. Resistance and the Fight for Justice: Despite the overwhelming odds, the tenant’s refusal to pay rent and his threat of violence, while ultimately futile, represent a spark of defiance against an unjust system. This act of resistance, born out of desperation and fueled by the landlord’s disregard, symbolizes the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. Though the tenant’s individual fight is unsuccessful, the poem suggests that collective resistance is crucial to challenge and dismantle oppressive systems.

Literary Theories and “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

Literary Theory	Application	References and Commentary
Marxist Criticism	Focuses on class struggle and economic power dynamics.	The poem highlights the disparity between the landlord (representing the ruling class) and the tenant (representing the working class). “Ten Bucks you say I owe you?” emphasizes economic exploitation.
Critical Race Theory	Examines the role of race and racism in society and literature.	The poem addresses racial inequality and systemic racism. The tenant’s unjust treatment and the reference to the “Negro” being sentenced to jail highlight racial discrimination: “JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL!”
New Historicism	Considers the historical context and its influence on the text.	The poem reflects the socio-economic and racial tensions of the 1940s America. The tenant’s grievances and the harsh response from authorities mirror historical realities of that era: “Police! Police! / Come and get this man!”
Feminist Criticism	Analyzes gender roles and the representation of women, but can also be applied to other forms of social oppression.	Although the poem focuses on racial and class issues, it can also be viewed through a feminist lens by examining the intersectionality of oppression. The tenant’s marginalized position can be seen as a critique of patriarchal and racist structures. “He’s trying to ruin the government / And overturn the land!” reflects societal fears of losing control over oppressed groups.

Critical Questions about “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

1. “Incident” by Countee Cullen: A poignant poem that captures the lasting impact of a single racist encounter on a young boy.
2. “I, Too” by Langston Hughes: This poem expresses the resilience and hope of African Americans despite facing discrimination and segregation.
3. “Harlem” by Langston Hughes: This iconic poem explores the frustration and deferred dreams of African Americans in a segregated society.
4. “The Weary Blues” by Langston Hughes: A melancholic poem that captures the blues music tradition and the emotional toll of racial oppression.
5. “Kitchenette Building” by Gwendolyn Brooks: This poem vividly portrays the cramped and oppressive living conditions experienced by many African Americans in urban settings.

Suggested Readings: “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

1. Hughes, Langston. “The Ballad of the Landlord.” Shakespeare in Harlem. Alfred A. Knopf, 1942.
2. Rampersad, Arnold. The Life of Langston Hughes: Volume I: 1902-1941, I, Too, Sing America. Oxford University Press, 1986.
3. Smethurst, James. “The Power of Protest: Langston Hughes’s Ballad of the Landlord.” The Poetry Society, 2020. https://poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/
4. Shmoop Editorial Team. “The Ballad of the Landlord Analysis.” Shmoop, Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/langston-hughes/the-ballad-of-the-landlord
5. The Poetry Foundation. “The Ballad of the Landlord.” Poetry Foundation. https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai3/protest/text11/hugheslandlord.pdf

Representative Quotations of “The Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Landlord, landlord, / My roof has sprung a leak.”	The tenant is reporting the poor condition of his housing.	Marxist Criticism: Highlights economic exploitation and neglect by those in power.
“Ten Bucks you say I owe you? / Ten Bucks you say is due?”	The tenant questions the landlord’s demand for rent despite the house’s disrepair.	Critical Race Theory: Emphasizes the economic challenges faced by African Americans.
“You ain’t gonna be able to say a word / If I land my fist on you.”	The tenant expresses his anger and frustration toward the landlord’s threats.	Feminist Criticism: Examines the intersectionality of oppression and the resistance of marginalized voices.
“Police! Police! / Come and get this man!”	The tenant sarcastically predicts the landlord calling the police, reflecting the social reality.	New Historicism: Reflects historical racial tensions and the criminalization of African Americans.
“JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL!”	The poem ends with a newspaper headline summarizing the unjust sentencing of the tenant.	Critical Race Theory: Critiques the systemic racism and harsh penalties imposed on African Americans.