"Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes

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Langston Hughes was a prominent figure in writing about the struggles of African Americans. In his work, "Dream Deferred," he ponders the question what happens when a person's dreams are destroyed.

The opening line of Hughes' poem asks the question, "What happens when dreams are deferred" or postponed? He refers to several possible scenarios, all with a negative effect.

His first scenario is "a raisin in the sun." This symbolizes a hardening. If a dream is destroyed it hardens the heart. It becomes useless just the like the dried up raisin.

The second situation describes a festering sore symbolizing infection. Dreams that are left to die will infect or poison the mind.

Thirdly, Hughes uses the image of rotten meat to describe dashed dreams. This conjures up images of stinch and sourness. The conquered dreamer is left with a sour disposition.

Fourth, Hughes describes demolished dreams as "crust and sugar(ed) over." This again symbolizes a hardening or a shell being formed. The person develops a shell and isolates themselves.

Fifth, Hughes suggests that maybe unrealized dreams are a "heavy load" which symbolizes a burden, something to heavy to bear, something that weighs a person down always.

Lastly, Hughes asks "or does it explode?

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