Madam and the Rent Man
The rent man knocked.
He said, “Howdy-do?”
I said, “What can I do for you?”
He said, “You know your rent is due.”I said, “Listen. Before I’d pay, I’d go to Hades.”
And rot away!
The sink is broken,
The water doesn’t run,
And you ain’t done a thing
You promised you’d done.Back window’s cracked,
Kitchen floor squeaks,
There’s rats in the cellar,And the attic leaks.
He said, “Madam, it’s not up to me.”
I’m just the agent, don’t you see?I said, “Naturally. You pass the buck.”
He said, “Madam, I ain’t pleased!”
I said, “Neither am I. So we agree!”
Summary of Madam and the Rent Man
- Popularity of “Madam and the Rent Man”: Langston Hughes’s poem is a poignant depiction of a tenant’s conflict with a rent collector, capturing the realities of housing struggles for many, especially during the early twentieth century. The poem was first published in 1918 and has since become a classic example of Hughes’s social commentary.
- “Madam and the Rent Man” as an Illustration of Unresolved Conflict: The poem presents a woman tenant who refuses to pay rent until necessary repairs are made. She lists a litany of problems—a broken sink, non‑running water, cracked windows, squeaky floors, rats, and a leaky roof—highlighting the collector’s inability to intervene. The collector insists he is only an agent, but the tenant stands firm. The poem ends with an ironic “agreement” in which both parties acknowledge their dissatisfaction while remaining at a stalemate.
- Major Themes: The poem explores injustice faced by tenants in substandard housing, the power imbalance inherent in rental agreements, the cycle of unfulfilled promises, and the breakdown of communication. It concludes by suggesting that merely acknowledging mutual dissatisfaction can feel like a form of resolution, even when it is unsatisfying.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used In Madam and the Rent Man
Langston Hughes masterfully employs a variety of literary devices to enhance the poem’s impact and authenticity. These techniques breathe life into the dialogue and underscore the themes of the poem.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds adds a musical quality. In the lines “He said, ‘Howdy-do?’ I said, ‘What can I do for you?’” the short “u” and “a” sounds create a conversational rhythm that mirrors the back‑and‑forth exchange between the characters.
- Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds enriches the poem’s auditory texture. In the line “There’s rats in the cellar,” the repeated “r” and “s” sounds contribute to a slightly unsettling atmosphere, emphasizing the deplorable conditions of the house.
- Colloquialism: The poem is rich in colloquial language, grounding it in everyday speech. Phrases like “ain’t done a thing” and “you pass the buck” capture the voice of the characters and the cultural context.
- Enjambment: Hughes uses enjambment, where a phrase continues onto the next line without punctuation. For instance, “The sink is broken, the water doesn’t run, and you ain’t done a thing, you promised you’d done.” This technique creates urgency and builds momentum, mimicking the rapid exchange of complaints.
- Imagery: Vivid imagery paints a picture of the dilapidated state of the house. Descriptions such as “back window’s cracked,” “kitchen floor squeaks,” and “rats in the cellar” appeal to the senses and amplify the tenant’s frustration.
- Personification: The house’s failures are personified; for example, the “kitchen floor squeaks” suggests a complaining, living entity, adding pathos to the description.
- Symbolism: The state of the house symbolizes larger societal issues of neglect and inequality. The broken sink, leaky roof, and rodent infestation represent the tenant’s struggles and the landlord’s indifference.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Madam and the Rent Man
Beyond literary devices, Hughes employs various poetic devices to shape the poem’s rhythm, sound, and meaning.
- Diction and Tone: The diction is deliberately informal and colloquial, reflecting the characters’ everyday language. The tone shifts from polite greetings to heated accusations and finally settles on weary acceptance. The ironic tone in the final line, “So we agree,” underscores the unsatisfying nature of the resolution.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem largely follows an ABAB rhyme scheme in the opening stanzas, creating musicality that contrasts with the chaotic argument. Hughes occasionally breaks the scheme, mirroring the unpredictable flow of conversation.
- Stanza: The poem is divided into stanzas of varying lengths. The initial stanza establishes the scene and introduces the characters. Subsequent stanzas are shorter, increasing pace and intensity. Stanza breaks provide pauses for reflection, allowing readers to absorb the dialogue.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines from “Madam and the Rent Man” are particularly impactful and representative of the poem’s themes:
The sink is broken,
The water doesn’t run,
And you ain’t done a thing
You promised you’d done.
This excerpt effectively illustrates the tenant’s frustration and the collector’s negligence, embodying the core conflict of the poem.
Furthermore, the final line:
So we agree!
perfectly encapsulates the poem’s ironic resolution—a reluctant acceptance of an unresolved situation.