Analysis of Dream Deferred Essay

Dreams

Most of us have dreams that we one day hope to fulfill. They could be little dreams that will take little time and effort to accomplish, or they could be big dreams that will take more time and energy to fulfill. Each dream is also equally painful when it is taken away, or if we never have the opportunity to make the dream come true. In the poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes, the different emotions that people feel when a dream is "deferred" is presented through Hughes' unique style of language use, and imagery.

In the poem, there are various examples of imagery that one can relate to. Turning words into images can relate them into common experiences. Hughes uses very vivid images to convey his point throughout Harlem, Or fester like a sore (4). Everyone can relate and cringe to the image of a gash that has not been correctly taken care of. It oozes puss and is very gross to look at. Hughes uses this likeness to suggest to people they should not delay their dreams because the more they defer them, the more the dreams will change and the less likely they will become true.

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? (2-3), the sun is a very important part of this line. It accentuates time, which we used to measure by the sun. Like the raisin, the dream has been on hold for a long time. As a result, it has altered into something very different than what it was. Because they look so different, few would believe that raisins were once grapes. Similarly, a dream that continues to be postponed will go through an evolution as wellit wont be the same as the original.

Does it stink like rotten meat? (6), refers to a smell that follows you around. The rotten smell gets stuck in your nose hairs which will be there for a while. Hughes is portraying a dream that is always there. Throughout your whole life the dream is there and will always be there until you accomplish it. If not accomplished, the rotten meat smell will be there for a short time. This will make you feel disappointed at the loss of your dream.

In lines 9-10, Hughes does not ask a question like in all the other lines. He simply makes a possible suggestion, maybe the dream just sags to carry something heavy. A heavy burden slows someone down. If someone does not realize their dream, it will become heavy to bear because it will be on the persons mind. Someone may ask what if or if only. These questions will be on ones mind, sagging like a heavy load.

Or does it explode? (11), Hughes makes this line more mind boggling than all the other lines. He stresses this line due to the italics. There are many ways one could take this line. Exploding can mean a lot of things. Being in italics makes apparent harshness of a dream deferred. Putting a dream off will make one become frustrated and anger the person, which will eventually create an explosion of emotion or action. This person may become miserable or depressed because their dream did not come true.

Although Hughes asks simple questions in each of the stanzas, the questions have a much deeper meaning. Hughes portrays what will happen if one puts off a dream with a lot of images. Putting of dreams have many repercussions. It may irritate, disgust, or bring down ones self.