False Hope 

In life as in literature, an individual’s hopes and dreams are bound to be changed based on their ability to attain the American Dream. As defined by James Truslow Adams, the ‘American Dream’ states that individuals can achieve equal opportunities whether a man or a woman according to their own unique abilities or achievements. It is a dream of social order in which both men and women should be able to obtain the fullest stature and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their birth or position (Clark 2007). However, this definition of the American Dream does not apply toward African-Americans because of the blackness of their skin color. A perfect example of the limitations of the American Dream towards African Americans can be found in Langston Hughes 1951published poem “Harlem”. In 1619, approximately twenty African-Americans were purchased from a Dutch slaver to work for the English colonies in Jamestown. From the beginning, the slaves were denied their natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness because of the white (African American History Timeline 2017). Preceding the years of having a “deferred dream”, the blacks were unable to have access to education and employment because of their societal status and racism. Therefore, Hughes uses denotation and connotation in this poem to shed a light of the effects that having a ‘dream deferred’ as on African-Americans.  

A ‘deferred dream’ is when a dream has been either delayed or placed on hold by an individual. In the poem “Harlem”, it states, “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore…” (lines 2-4). These rhetorical questions imply that one’s perception of a dream that has been deferred can be compared to that of raisins because the once juicy, fresh, and delicious grape is now shriveled because it has been placed in the sun. This can be compared to the dreams of African-Americans having a ‘deferred dream’ because they did not have access to the necessary resources needed to allow them to achieve their dreams. Therefore, not being able to achieve their dreams has caused them to put their dreams on hold or has given it up when they realized that it is no longer obtainable. In addition, the word ‘soar’ means to cause severe or intense pain or being in distressed. Based on the denotation of this word it has a negative connotation because when one thinks of the words ‘fester like a sore’ especially when it is pertaining to a dream one would think of a sore that has become infected and is causing one pain and distress since they were unable to accomplish their dream. Thus, the pathos behind Hughes word choices is to advocate for the African-American communities by letting his feelings behind wanting to achieve the American Dream be known. Therefore, to prevent the continuation of a ‘deferred dream’ people should fight against the obstacles that they face to attain their dream.    

Furthermore, the characteristics of having a deferred dream can be different depending on the individual and their dream. Hughes poem described many characteristics of a deferred dream. For instance, in the poem, it states, “Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over like a syrupy sweet?” (lines 6-8). These lines describe that when an individual has a deferred dream it can carry a stench of ‘rotten meat’ because they have been carrying around their dream for a long time. The word ‘stink’ has a negative connotation because when an individual thinks of the word they think of a revolting smell that burns their nose. The literal definition of the word stink is having a strong, unpleasant smell. Thus, when one regards a deferred dream as ‘stink like a rotten meat’ then it means that the dream has been chased after for too long and it now has had a negative impact on the health of the owner. This is what ended up happening to the black individuals that were trying to accomplish their dream because they carry their dream around as if it was a shadow. However, some people might have a dream that is enticing and sweet when accomplished so it is considered ‘syrupy sweet’. The word sweet means having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey; not salty, sour, or bitter. This suggests that a deferred dream can sometimes be sweet even if must be delayed. Additionally, sometimes when one has a dream that they really want to achieve it can be mouthwatering although it has not been accomplished yet. Overall, the syntax Hughes uses helped to convey the effects of having a ‘deferred dream’ on a black.  

In the journal article, “The Harlem of Langston Hughes’ Poetry” by Arthur P. Davis he stated, “When he depicts the hopes, the aspirations, the frustrations, and the deep-seated discontent of the New York ghetto, he is expressing the feelings of Negroes in black ghettos throughout America,” (283). I would have to agree with Davis’s conclusion for this poem because his purpose of writing this poem is to inform the world of both his hopelessness and anger towards America’s system because African–Americans has been a large presence in America for over four hundred and plus years but it seems as if nothing has changed since the black community are still suffering from having deferred dreams. Just imagining the oppressive period in which this poem was written is depressing because even though the people may have hopes and dreams in life, they were unattainable. Hence, having the desire to achieve something in life but knowing that it cannot be accomplished can be maddening.   

Works Cited 

Humanities Washington. “African American History Timeline.” The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed | An Online Reference Guide to African American History by Professor Quintard Taylor, University of Washington, 2017, blackpast.org/timelines/african-american-history-timeline-1600-1700. 

Clark, Jonas. “In Search of the American Dream.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 1 May 2007, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/06/in-search-of-the-american-dream/305921/. 

Davis, Arthur P. “The Harlem of Langston Hughes’ Poetry.” Phylon (1940-1956), vol. 13, no. 4, 1952, pp. 276–283. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/272559. 

Hughes, Langston. “Harlem by Langston Hughes.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46548/harlem.

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