In the short story Cora Unashamed, Langston Hughes uses food to symbolize Coras personal growth throughout the story. Cora at the beginning is a vulnerable women to the Studevants. Towards the end, she dramatically shapes into becoming an independent strong African American women, reflecting the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance.
The writer uses food to symbolise the personal growth of the main character, Cora. At the very beginning of the short story, Langston Hughes shows how vulnerable Cora is to the Studevants. “Cora stinted, and Cora saved, and wore the Studevants’ old clothes, and ate the Studevants’ leftover food¨, (6). Langston Hughes shows us how defenseless Cora is to the Studevants’, by only receiving the leftovers of the Studevants. She is …show more content…
On page 18 Langston Hughes writes, “Now she and Ma live from the little garden they raise.” (18). Throughout this quote Langston Hughes is explaining the environment Cora is living in after leaving the Studevants. He also explains the independence and strength that she had learned from the hardships that she had faced throughout her time living there. The garden is used to symbolize how Cora is in the capability of taking care of herself, a sign of independence. In order for one to raise a garden you first have to make sure that you’re capable in taking care of yourself first. You have to care for it, water it, pick it’s weeds. You have to know how to care for it and allow it to grow in order for it to provide for the resources you need. The same way a person is. Everyone throughout life goes through difficulties and challenges that shape them into who they are today. The people who help you through every difficulty is the water that helps you to continue flourishing. The way you face that problem are the weeds, taking out the negatives. Shaping you into an exceptional new person, but most