Harlem: A Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Analysis:
“Harlem: A Dream Deferred”
The poem “Harlem: A Dream Deferred” interrogates the hardship of dealing
with limitations imposed upon African-Americans and others. The central subject of the
poem (and part of the title) is the notion of the “dream deferred” or the suppressed,
unfulfilled desire. Specifically, the inclusion of the word “Harlem” in the title provides
insight into the underlying meaning of what this “dream deferred” might represent.
Even though Hughes never explicitly mentions Harlem or racism in the text of the
poem, his utilization of the iconic city (which is associated with a high concentration of
African-American citizens) in the title suggests that the “dream deferred” likely refers to
the struggles of African-Americans whose dreams and hopes have been stifled by
discriminatory practices.
In keeping with this theme, Hughes employs imagery and figurative language to
heighten the impact of the subject. In addition, he establishes a tone of disgust that
permeates the text. For example, Hughes uses imagery-loaded similes to compare a
dream deferred to items that “fester like a sore” or “stink like rotten meat.”
Undoubtedly, the use of these grotesque terms highlights the speaker’s disdain and
contempt for the events that are transpiring. The speaker shifts his tone later in the
poem when he offers that these dreams may just “[sag] like a heavy load,” which implies
that the imposition of a dream deferred becomes a weight, a source of oppression. The
speaker’s hypothesis becomes even more grim when he shifts his tone yet again and
offers that these dreams may eventually “explode,” a term that connotes extreme
violence and virtual annihilation; it is as if the dream itself becomes a weapon. In all of
these instances, Hughes emphasizes the price of hopelessness and oppression.