Before discussing the topic of freedom, we must ask ourselves: Are we really free? From early decades, the concept of freedom goes hand in hand with reaching success. Many Americans work restlessly to transform their dreams into realities. However, the evident disappointment and the lack of progress allude to the fact that, in the end, it all depends on the opportunities one is given. Langston Hughes makes this concept one of the main themes behind his literary works, especially in the poems Let America Be America Again and Dreams Deferred. He believes that making one’s dreams come true is partially influenced by one’s surroundings, while the other half of the process depends on one’s individual strive and dedication.
Langston Hughes is …show more content…
Thus, social repercussion is one of the main causes behind one’s surrendered dreams. In consequence, forgotten dreams live forever in one’s conscience. This is the main theme of Hughes poem Dreams Deferred. The author describes how deeply people carry the burden of a deferred dream, by saying: “Maybe it just sags like a heavy load”(8). Delayed dreams will always be a reminder of the sacrifices that he or she did not make in order to fulfill it. This is the same reason why the memory of one’s lost dream might be extremely annoying. From beginning to end, the poem consists of various questions, making the reader perceive a naïve and anxious tone. The reader is also able to imagine the frustration and confusion in the author’s voice. Langston Hughes manages to hide a serious topic behind simple comparisons, indulging the reader into the poem’s analysis. An example of this technique is the comparison of a deferred dream with a festering sore. The worst part of hurting oneself is the unending healing process of one’s wound. This is similar to when one postpones a dream because postponing or cancelling them is the easy part. The irritating part is dealing with the thought of it in the back of one’s mind. This creates a sort of guilt because one knows that it lies on one’s hands and effort to make it come true. In comparison to Let America Be America Again, the author does not orientate Dreams Deferred towards a specific group of people. This makes the reader understand that the concept of deferred dreams is universal, regardless of race, social status, country or age. Another reason towards associating differed dreams with disguise is the fact that it does not depend fully on us to make it come true. For example, around the 1920’s many African Americans surely have dreamed of freedom and equality, however the fact that
Langston Hughes is …show more content…
Thus, social repercussion is one of the main causes behind one’s surrendered dreams. In consequence, forgotten dreams live forever in one’s conscience. This is the main theme of Hughes poem Dreams Deferred. The author describes how deeply people carry the burden of a deferred dream, by saying: “Maybe it just sags like a heavy load”(8). Delayed dreams will always be a reminder of the sacrifices that he or she did not make in order to fulfill it. This is the same reason why the memory of one’s lost dream might be extremely annoying. From beginning to end, the poem consists of various questions, making the reader perceive a naïve and anxious tone. The reader is also able to imagine the frustration and confusion in the author’s voice. Langston Hughes manages to hide a serious topic behind simple comparisons, indulging the reader into the poem’s analysis. An example of this technique is the comparison of a deferred dream with a festering sore. The worst part of hurting oneself is the unending healing process of one’s wound. This is similar to when one postpones a dream because postponing or cancelling them is the easy part. The irritating part is dealing with the thought of it in the back of one’s mind. This creates a sort of guilt because one knows that it lies on one’s hands and effort to make it come true. In comparison to Let America Be America Again, the author does not orientate Dreams Deferred towards a specific group of people. This makes the reader understand that the concept of deferred dreams is universal, regardless of race, social status, country or age. Another reason towards associating differed dreams with disguise is the fact that it does not depend fully on us to make it come true. For example, around the 1920’s many African Americans surely have dreamed of freedom and equality, however the fact that