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Dream vs Reality in “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
The poem “Let America Be America Again” radiates contrasting feelings of resentment, anger, and optimism. Throughout the piece, the poet longs for America to be America again. He laments that the country which was a “great strong land of love” has become a place where the black man is enslaved, the poor white man is fooled and pushed apart, while the red man is chased from the land (Rampersad and Roesell 189). In the first part of the poem, the poet enumerates the nectar-like dreams that have attracted different people to America. He then proceeds to outline the reality, all that has gone wrong with the American dream, before …show more content…
He comes face to face with the reality and problems that cripple America. Specifically, the speaker sardonically acknowledges that America has become a “dog eat dog” society where the slaves, the natives, the poor, and the immigrants who are weak are crushed (Rampersad and Roesell 189). At this point, a reader realizes that these refugees who have left their native countries for America in the hope of a better life have to face again “the same old stupid plan” of power, gain, and grab of the land that they fled from. One realizes that the dreams of love and huge opportunities in America have been replaced by greed, racism, discrimination, and materialism. In addition, in between the stanzas, Hughes uses the words “Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?” to depict the intimidation and silencing of those marginalized in America (Rampersad and Roesell 190). Clearly, this statement tries to capture the greedy rich people who are in the forefront in silencing the speaker who expresses his desire for equality and opportunity. Moreover, the speaker in the poem suggests that America has become a country which does not glorify values anymore. In particular, the speaker notes that the “humble, hungry, and mean” citizens do not partake of the cup of plenty, although they work hard. Although the speaker toils and makes everything possible to achieve success, he remains a servant to …show more content…
In fact, the speaker describes it as “a dream so strong, so brave, so true” to express the magnitude of hopes and aspirations that he had on America (Rampersad and Roesell 190). According to him, people from all over the world came to America to experience an equal piece of the national cake. In particular, refugees from England, Ireland, Poland, and even Africa all decided to move to America to “Build a homeland of the free” (Rampersad and Roesell 191). Despite helping to build the country to become among the wealthiest, most of the immigrants do not share in the riches. Based on this, the reader notices that the promise of American dream was freedom in all spheres, whether economic, social, legal, or political. In fact, in the latter parts of the poem, the speaker exposes his strategy of reclaiming the dream by uprooting the grafts, the stealth, the abuses, and lies in America. Certainly, a reader realizes that the speaker is not on a freefall journey of disillusionment but ready to fight for the American
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Dream vs Reality in “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
The poem “Let America Be America Again” radiates contrasting feelings of resentment, anger, and optimism. Throughout the piece, the poet longs for America to be America again. He laments that the country which was a “great strong land of love” has become a place where the black man is enslaved, the poor white man is fooled and pushed apart, while the red man is chased from the land (Rampersad and Roesell 189). In the first part of the poem, the poet enumerates the nectar-like dreams that have attracted different people to America. He then proceeds to outline the reality, all that has gone wrong with the American dream, before …show more content…
He comes face to face with the reality and problems that cripple America. Specifically, the speaker sardonically acknowledges that America has become a “dog eat dog” society where the slaves, the natives, the poor, and the immigrants who are weak are crushed (Rampersad and Roesell 189). At this point, a reader realizes that these refugees who have left their native countries for America in the hope of a better life have to face again “the same old stupid plan” of power, gain, and grab of the land that they fled from. One realizes that the dreams of love and huge opportunities in America have been replaced by greed, racism, discrimination, and materialism. In addition, in between the stanzas, Hughes uses the words “Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?” to depict the intimidation and silencing of those marginalized in America (Rampersad and Roesell 190). Clearly, this statement tries to capture the greedy rich people who are in the forefront in silencing the speaker who expresses his desire for equality and opportunity. Moreover, the speaker in the poem suggests that America has become a country which does not glorify values anymore. In particular, the speaker notes that the “humble, hungry, and mean” citizens do not partake of the cup of plenty, although they work hard. Although the speaker toils and makes everything possible to achieve success, he remains a servant to …show more content…
In fact, the speaker describes it as “a dream so strong, so brave, so true” to express the magnitude of hopes and aspirations that he had on America (Rampersad and Roesell 190). According to him, people from all over the world came to America to experience an equal piece of the national cake. In particular, refugees from England, Ireland, Poland, and even Africa all decided to move to America to “Build a homeland of the free” (Rampersad and Roesell 191). Despite helping to build the country to become among the wealthiest, most of the immigrants do not share in the riches. Based on this, the reader notices that the promise of American dream was freedom in all spheres, whether economic, social, legal, or political. In fact, in the latter parts of the poem, the speaker exposes his strategy of reclaiming the dream by uprooting the grafts, the stealth, the abuses, and lies in America. Certainly, a reader realizes that the speaker is not on a freefall journey of disillusionment but ready to fight for the American