Literary Analysis of “Why You Reckon?” by Langston Hughes

Identifying with a character in a literary work and his intrinsic or extrinsic motivation is

fundamental to understanding the themes. Characterization or motivation is a major literary

aspect in the “Why You Reckon?” by Langston Hughes. This is a short about two African

American men who were poor and living in the street and a white man with money yet so

unhappy. This literary analysis explores how Langston Hughes used characterization to

communicate the key themes in the story. The author characterizes the narrator, the colored

fellow, and Edward the white man helping readers understand their character traits and the

intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to their actions. In “Why, You Reckon,” Langston Hughes

uses characterization to introduce the narrator, his colored fellow, and Edward to the reader and

create an image or character traits and communicate different themes such as wealth and

happiness and poverty.

Discussion

Hughes uses characterization and motivation to help understand the narrator and his

colored fellow. In other words, the author explains the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to their

actions. For instance, the author starts by explaining the intrinsic motives of the narrator. ”I was

hungry that night. Indeed I was depression” (Hughes 253). The narrator is characterized as one

who has no inner motive for doing wrong and who never intended for wrong actions, but he is

both hungry and depressed. Likewise, the other colored fellow asks the narrator whether he

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wasn’t hungry. Hughes shows the reader that the narrator and his colored fellow were about to do

something wrong because they were hungry. Also, the use of the phrase ‘colored fellow’ helps the

reader understand the race of the narrator and connect to the motivations based on the context of

the story. Characterization and motivations thus play a vital role in setting the stage for the plot

of the story.

Hughes also uses characterization and motivation to introduce Edward to the writer to

enhance understanding of the themes of wealth and social disparities between White and Black.

Relative to the narrator and his colored fellow Edward is characterized as rich with a fancy

lifestyle. ‘‘He took out a wallet, gold watch, and cigarette… and other things colored fellow

never use” (Hughes 255). Here Hughes helps the reader to understand the differences between

the characters since the narrator and his colored fellow are poor without food and shelter, yet

Edward can afford fancy products. Also, Hughes helps the reader understand how the narrator