Assignment #3 Analyze A Poem

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?

Analyze

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes is a poem about Langston experiences, his hardships, and his successes. Hughes poses the question, "What happens to a dream deferred?" (1). to the reader. Deferred means delayed therefore, his question is asking what happens to a dream delayed.  Langston Hughes was the first African American who lived off his writing (Reuben). Knowing this the poem can be seen in a better light, the dream Langston could be referring to is that of African Americas, to be able to live freely, having a career that suits them. This dream was long delayed due to the slavery movement across the world particularly America. Hughes explores what really happens to a dream that is postponed, never coming to a conclusion in his poem. That part is left to the reader's opinion on the topic, though Hughes does give suggestions.

Langston Hughes asks, "Does it dry up/ like a raisin in the sun?" (2-3). This is nice imagery; the reader can visualize a plump raisin drying out when left out in the hot, blazing sun. When dreams are put on hold, it is hard to image them staying the fresh, ripe raisin; instead they lose some of their juice and become sour. However, Hughes also suggests, "Or fester like a sore--/ And then run?" (4-5). Dreams have a healthy, exciting surface, but when those dreams are left on the back burner maybe the bother you, nagging you, until they run their course, leaking out of you slowly. He then plays on the reader's sense of smell by asking, "Does it stink like rotten meat?" (6). With this description the reader can nose turns up, sending their brain whirling into their memories reliving their experience with stinky rotten meat. Hughes continues his poem by

writing, "Or crust and sugar over --. like a syrupy sweet?" (7-8). Dreams, however, could also crust or rust over, becoming sweeter, by the sugar, the longing for the dream, to come true. Lastly, Hughes ends the poem wondering if dreams deferred "Or does it explode?" (9). The main point of this line is to get the reader thinking of, when dreams are delayed for so long do they blow up in your face and soul?

Taking each line separately helps you break down the poem into pieces, and then you have to rebuild the puzzle. On the whole, the poem is referring to the African America fight for rights, citizenship, and equality in the United States since this poem was written during 1951. Others, however, could look at this poem and see only Hughes discussing dreams in generally, but knowing his background a little allows for a better understanding that this poem intent is most likely discussing African Americans in the United States.

Work Cited



Rueben, Paul P. "PAL: Langston Hughes (1902-1967)." California State University Stanislaus | Home. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/hughes.html>.