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?
When reading this poem I feel that the question that are asked each rise up in the severity of what will happen. The first question "does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" shows that the hope or goal will just go away and will end up like a useless struggle (a dried raisin is not edible and it becomes small)
The next question "fester like a sore" this is showing the goal, movement or dream as a festered sore. Festered sores disappear and then close up and they take a while to completely heal. In this case the dream will do the same BUT there is an interruption... "And the run" this show that there will be a sudden end to the problem and it might not came back into consideration again.
"Does it stink like rotten meat?" This show that the thought and/or the movement (to fulfill that dream) might be ends up like rotten meat leaving a permanent gross smell. This can be an example of resentment, hatred, malice or other feelings like that.
"Does is crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?" What happens when something sweet crusts over? It becomes hard and it cakes a surface on whatever it is on. A struggle can have people hard and the goal is so important it is caked on to them. Then "A Syrupy sweet" is mentioned...now its not just caked on sugar this is stickier and messier.
The second to last line talks abut sagging like a heavy load... Something that sags can have a breaking point for instance in a coat closet there is s bar to hold the coats. If there are too much coats added the bar will start to sag then over time it will break and there will be a big mess. If pressure is held on people or on anything they/it will break?
The last line asks "does it explode" this can be total destruction.
Do you see the chain of events/question rising in significance (of what can be the outcome)?
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The poem progresses in the different possibilities that "a dream deferred" can have. The first possibilities are somewhat less intense and get more dramatic as the poem continues. At first the dream could just become smaller than it initially was but in the end the poem suggest that the dream could be completely destroyed and forgotten. Although none of the things that are listed as what could happen are good, the dream becoming small like a raisin is a much better option than the dream exploding. these negative possibilities bring us to the realization that nothing good can come from deferring a dream and therefore encourage us to keep concentrated on our dreams and continue working to achieve them.
ReplyDeleteThe questions do rise in significance of what can be the outcome. Each question shows a negative effect of what happens to a dream deferred but that effect gets more destructive as the poem goes on.
ReplyDeleteI think that this poem is saying that if we have a dream or a goal we need to go after it. If not if will eventually not remain. I think the poem eventually goes on to give examples of what can happen to your future if you don't make the most out of your life by living your dreams.
ReplyDeleteIn the line that says,
"Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load,"
I think that this is saying our dreams will either sit there and wait for us to catch on and finally achieve them, or because the word maybe is used, our dreams will give up and not be attainable anymore.
I agree with what Becky said. It makes sense that people in general need to go after their dreams. But then again, maybe it's the person I am. I would much rather believe that going after dreams is worth it than to believe that dreams mean nothing and will only fade away overtime. The poem itself seems very dark, but when looking at it, one can see that it IS asking the questions so maybe it's asking instead of actually stating such things so we can ask ourselves said question and figure out what WE want out of our dreams...to pursue them, or let them disappear?
ReplyDeleteI used this poem as part of my poetry portfolio. I mainly like the way that with each mental picture, the poem builds in intesity. When it's read out loud I think it's kind of a let down, maybe I'm more of a visual person, but seeing and reading it allows me to focus more on the word choice.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the whole pursuing dreams deal. This poem has a lot to do with the effect that a repressed dream has on a person, even a tried and failed dream is better than a repressed one.
I think Hughes was asking what happened to people's dreams, and where do they go when they're lost; do they lose substance and age? Does it begin to hurt or irritate and simply vanish? These questions progress as the frustration builds; building because dreams have been written off, abused, aged. No one embraced them, and as time passes, they become stale, broken, withered. The thought of it exploding relates to the uge capacity of a dream, its power and intensity, unable to be left sitting around without action. The explosion could be a wave of action, the dream coming true finally, after so much time delayed, spiling on to everything and everyone. Or it could be an explosive death of the dream, caused by an excessive build of hope, wasted on people unable to grasp it.
ReplyDelete