Langston Hughes Harlem: A Dream Deferred
The short poem “ Harlem “ by Langston Hughes addresses what happens when
aspirations are abandoned or lost. The reader‘s mind provokes questions posed throughout the
poem allow him to reflect on the effects of postponing our dreams. Also, those questions give
us indications about Hughes'views on deferred dreams.
The speaker opens the poem by questioning “what happens to a dream deferred ?”. The
first line gives a clear idea about the poem. Also, it arises the reader’s curiosity to make him
want to find an answer to the question .L1 and L2 suggest that this dream will eventually be
forgotten or fizzled out. The image of raisin stimulates the reader’s sight and taste senses. The
following line “ Or fester like a sore _ and then run?” continue to compare the dream to a sore.
This imagery suggests that a dream may become a thing with destructive consequence. This
image of infection reflects the blacks'anger about their miserable situation. L6 and L 8 compare
dreams deferred to rotten meat. The smell of meat reflects what african Americans have to
endure. Even though the next stage is not a question as the preceded ones, it also depicts a
desperate situation. Even the speaker does not know what is coming next, but the heavy burden
refers to difficulties the African Americans faced because they can’t fulfill enen their dreams
and achieve their gools. The poem seems to have a circular pattern, it starts with a question and
ends with another one. The last stanza is a question and instead of simile it is a metaphor “Or
does it explode” (L11). An explosion refers to a destruction. This final image conveys a sense
of hopelessness about dreams.
The poem Harlem “A Dream deferred” does not only inform us about the danger of
postponing dreams and how it could have a destructive consequence but also sensitize people
about the destructive impact on them when they failed to fulfill their dreams and be equal to
others.