Sick Room, Langston Hughes: Summary & Analysis

In "Sick Room," Langston Hughes paints a poignant and contemplative scene within the confines of a sick room. Through vivid imagery and symbolic elements, the poet delves into themes of suffering, mortality, and the delicate balance between life and death. Sick Room How quiet It is in this sick room Where on the bed A silent woman lies between two lovers— Life and Death, And all three covered with a sheet of pain. Critical Analysis "Sick Room" creates a somber and introspective atmosphere within the confines of a room where a woman lies ill. The poem's imagery and symbolism evoke a sense of quiet contemplation, highlighting the delicate intersection between life, death, and suffering. The opening lines, "How quiet / It is in this sick room," set the tone for the poem's reflective and hushed atmosphere, emphasizing the stillness and solemnity of the scene. The image of a "silent woman lies between two lovers— / Life and Death" establishes a …