Langston Hughes, probably the most famous of all Harlem Renaissance writers, played an very important role in Richard Bruce Nugent´s life, especially in regard to his career as an artist. He introduced him to Harlem´s artistic circles; through Hughes, Nugent made acquaintance with many contemporary luminaries, was introduced to the movement´s elite (Wirth, 4). Hughes, amongst others, an temporary inhabitant of “Niggeratti manor” and also directly involved in the creation of Fire!!, made the following remark about the Niggeratti´s landmark publication (Wirth, 15):
None of the older Negro intellectuals would have anything to do with Fire [sic]. Dr. Du Bois in the Crisis roasted it. The negro press called it all sorts of bad names, largely because of a green and purple story by Bruce Nugent, in the Oscar Wilde tradition, which we had included. (Wirth, 83, emphasis added)
Hughes quintessential statement about Fire!! clearly places the responsibility for the reception of the magazine on Nugent. But did Fire!!/Smoke, Lilies and Jade really have such a negative impact on the black community? Is it due to the fact, that Nugent´s short story stands in the Oscar Wilde tradition? In how far does it actually stand in the Oscar Wilde tradition? In order to fully comprehend the statement by Hughes, these questions need to be answered. Thus, I will point out the consequences of the publication of Fire!! with special regard to Nugent´s short story. In doing so, I will arrange the paper starting from the quotation above.
Hence, I will first explain the components of the quote, meaning to give an definition of the Oscar Wilde tradition, as well as some background information and contextualizaing Fire!!; moreover a live and work acount on Richard Bruce Nugent, limited to the information that is necessary for the scope of this paper. Having established this information, I will return to the quote again and discuss the literary influence on and the significance of Smoke, Liles and Jade, as well as the reception of Fire!! and Smoke,Lilies and Jade in relation to the results obtained by analyzing the short story.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Oscar Wilde's Heritage
- Harlem on Fire!!
- Oscar Wilde's Successor (?)
- His Life
- His Work
- The Controversy of Smoke, Lilies and Jade
- Contextualizing Smoke, Lilies and Jade
- Smoke, Lilies and Jade and the Oscar Wilde Tradition
- Smoke, Lilies and Jade and Modernism
- The Reception of Fire!! and Smoke
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze Richard Bruce Nugent's short story, "Smoke, Lilies and Jade," within the context of the Harlem Renaissance and its relationship to the Oscar Wilde tradition. The paper investigates the impact of the story's publication in the literary magazine Fire!! and explores the controversy it generated within the Black community.
- The Oscar Wilde tradition and its defining characteristics.
- The context of the Harlem Renaissance and the magazine Fire!!
- The literary analysis of "Smoke, Lilies and Jade" and its stylistic elements.
- The reception and critique of Fire!! and Nugent's contribution.
- The significance of homosexuality in the context of both the Oscar Wilde tradition and the Harlem Renaissance.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the analysis by introducing Langston Hughes's assessment of Fire!! and its controversial reception. It highlights the central question of the paper: to what extent did Nugent's story, "Smoke, Lilies and Jade," contribute to the negative reaction to Fire!!, and how does it relate to the Oscar Wilde tradition? The introduction lays out the structure of the paper, promising to define the Oscar Wilde tradition, provide background on Fire!! and Nugent, and ultimately analyze the literary influences and reception of Nugent's story.
Oscar Wilde's Heritage: This chapter explores the elusive "Oscar Wilde tradition." It examines Wilde's association with Aestheticism and Decadence, two literary movements that prioritized art for art's sake and challenged bourgeois norms. The chapter also touches on the importance of Wilde's homosexuality in shaping the reception of his work, drawing parallels between the movements' stylistic elements (such as dandyism, specific imagery, and mood) and Wilde's own life and writing.
Harlem on Fire!!: This chapter delves into the history and context of the literary magazine Fire!!. It describes its creation as a reaction against the established Black literary magazines that promoted racial uplift, highlighting its radical departure from those conventions. The chapter introduces the "Niggeratti," the group of young artists associated with Fire!!, and emphasizes the magazine's aim to establish a new, more experimental aesthetic within African American literature and art. It underscores Nugent's contribution through drawings and the inclusion of his homoerotic story, "Smoke, Lilies and Jade," which played a significant role in the magazine's controversial reception.
Oscar Wilde's Successor (?): This chapter offers biographical information about Richard Bruce Nugent, relevant to his work and its relation to the Harlem Renaissance. While not explicitly stated, it likely examines his life in the context of his artistic contributions and his relationship with other notable figures of the Harlem Renaissance.
The Controversy of Smoke, Lilies and Jade: This chapter will likely offer a detailed contextual analysis of "Smoke, Lilies and Jade," exploring its themes, stylistic choices, and its relation to the Oscar Wilde tradition. It is expected to analyze the story's homoerotic content and its impact on the reception of Fire!! within the Black community, likely comparing and contrasting its style to the works of Oscar Wilde and other authors associated with Decadence and Aestheticism.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Richard Bruce Nugent's "Smoke, Lilies and Jade"
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This paper analyzes Richard Bruce Nugent's short story, "Smoke, Lilies and Jade," within the context of the Harlem Renaissance and its relationship to the Oscar Wilde tradition. It investigates the story's publication in the literary magazine Fire!! and the controversy it generated.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes: the Oscar Wilde tradition and its characteristics; the context of the Harlem Renaissance and Fire!!; a literary analysis of "Smoke, Lilies and Jade" and its style; the reception and critique of Fire!! and Nugent's contribution; and the significance of homosexuality in both the Oscar Wilde tradition and the Harlem Renaissance.
What is the structure of the analysis?
The analysis is structured into chapters covering: an introduction setting the scene and outlining the central question; an exploration of Oscar Wilde's heritage and its relevant literary movements; a detailed look at the Harlem Renaissance magazine Fire!!; a biographical overview of Richard Bruce Nugent; and finally, a deep dive into the controversy surrounding "Smoke, Lilies and Jade," its contextual analysis, and its connection to the Oscar Wilde tradition.
What is the significance of Oscar Wilde's tradition in this context?
The analysis examines Wilde's association with Aestheticism and Decadence, focusing on how these movements prioritized art for art's sake and challenged bourgeois norms. It draws parallels between Wilde's life, his work, and the stylistic elements of these movements, ultimately relating them to Nugent's work.
What is the role of the magazine Fire!! in the analysis?
Fire!! is presented as a radical departure from established Black literary magazines. The analysis explores its creation, its association with the "Niggeratti," its experimental aesthetic, and its controversial reception, emphasizing Nugent's contribution through both his drawings and his story, "Smoke, Lilies and Jade."
What is the significance of "Smoke, Lilies and Jade"?
"Smoke, Lilies and Jade" is central to the analysis. The paper analyzes its themes, style, relationship to the Oscar Wilde tradition, and its homoerotic content, exploring its impact on the reception of Fire!! within the Black community.
What aspects of Richard Bruce Nugent's life are relevant to the analysis?
The analysis provides biographical information about Richard Bruce Nugent, relevant to his work and its relation to the Harlem Renaissance, likely examining his life within the context of his artistic contributions and his relationships with other notable figures.
What is the overall argument or conclusion of the analysis (as previewed)?
The analysis aims to determine the extent to which Nugent's "Smoke, Lilies and Jade" contributed to the negative reaction to Fire!! and how it relates to the Oscar Wilde tradition. It promises to define the Oscar Wilde tradition, provide background on Fire!! and Nugent, and ultimately analyze the literary influences and reception of Nugent's story.
- Quote paper
- Christoph Ruffing (Author), 2006, Richard Bruce Nugent´s "Smoke, Lilies and Jade": The Relation to the Oscar Wilde Tradition and its Significance for "Fire!!", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/64952
