what if I say that the tone of 'Legal Alien' is uncomfortable and complicated as she describes the harships being faced?

And for Harlem, can I just say that the tone seems calm as he compares the deffered dreams to unpleasant things? ..I really need help with this...

Thanks
-MC

2 answers

Are you clear on what tone is?

"Tone is the attitude that an author takes toward the audience, the subject, or the character. Tone is conveyed through the author's words and details."
from (Broken Link Removed)

http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_T.html

http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/
You need to think a little deeper.

Does Harlem "feel" calm....Look at these words -
dry up, fester sore— stink rotten
crust sags heavy explode

Uncomfortable...yes definitely. Again look at the words

perhaps exotic,
perhaps inferior, definitely different,
a handy token
sliding back and forth
between the fringes of both worlds
by masking the discomfort
of being pre-judged