The Poetics of Rage: Wole Soyinka, Jean Toomer, and Claude McKay

It is a universal truth that in times of political or social uncertainties the poet usually takes on the mantle of prophet, priest or seer. He becomes not just the custodian of justice, but also the symbolic voice of the unified society. And if he becomes the voice of the masses, it is also true that vox populi vox dei. It is in these unique and peculiar roles that Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), Claude Mckay (USA), and Jean Toomer (USA) used poetry as a medium to enunciate their anxieties, frustrations, doubts, hopes, and desires about the repressive systems in their respective countries. So, the poetics of rage is like the ‘Voice of one Crying in the Wilderness.’