Life is Fine – Summary (By Langston Hughes)
The poem “Life is Fine” by Langston Hughes tells the story of a man heartbroken by love and on the verge of suicide. He makes two attempts to end his life but fails both times. In the end, he regains hope, chooses to live, and celebrates life with the words: “Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!”
Part 1 – Attempts to End His Life
The speaker, hurt and depressed after being deceived by his beloved, first goes to a river intending to drown himself. He jumps in but quickly comes out because the water is unbearably cold. He admits, “If that water hadn’t a-been so cold, I might’ve sunk and died.”
Still in pain, he tries again—this time climbing to the sixteenth floor of a building to jump. But the great height frightens him, and he steps back, saying, “If it hadn’t been so high, I might have jumped and died.”
These moments show that even in his depression, he is still aware of physical sensations like cold and fear, proving that his will to live is not completely gone.
Part 2 – Choosing Life
After these failed attempts, the speaker’s thoughts shift. He realizes he was ready to die for love, but now he chooses to live for himself: “For livin’ I was born.” Instead of letting his beloved’s betrayal destroy him, he decides that living happily is the best revenge.
In the end, his mood transforms completely—moving from despair to hope. He declares that life is precious and worth living, repeating joyfully: “Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!”
Main Theme
The poem is a powerful journey from heartbreak and depression to resilience and self-empowerment. It shows how even in moments of deep pain, we can overcome despair, turning thoughts of death into a renewed appreciation for life.