How Does Langston Hughes Use Figurative Language In Harlem

In the lyric poems, “Dreams” and “Harlem,” written by Langston Hughes, the speaker discusses the Harlem Renaissance, that Hughes thought would be successful, but backfired. A common theme for Hughes’s poems are the impediments of the American dream for African Americans. However, African Americans cannot dream or aspire to great things because of the environment of oppression that surrounds them. Although, these two poems are often grouped together, the inconspicuous contrasts in the tones, messages, and figurative languages conceal the relevance between both poems.
The subtle differences in the tones are thoroughly tenuous. In “Dreams,” the author hints at a passionate and optimistic tone: “Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly.” (Hughes 1-4). The author tries to make the point dreams are important for surviving and thriving. The author is spirited towards the fact that if we hold fast to our dreams, then lives will be meaningful and worth something. These words and phrases make the enthusiastic and

idealistic temperament in the poem; however, in “Harlem,” the speaker denotes a tone of desperation, almost futile: “Or does it explode?” (Hughes 11). Dreams come to an end; they are gone. The tone is desperate and gloomy, because without dreams, there is no chance of thriving and surviving.
The understated discrepancies in the messages are significant. “Dreams’” speaker implies
that one’s life is meaningless without dreams. If the dream dies, then life becomes like “a broken-winged bird” or “a barren field frozen with snow” (Hughes 3, 7-8). On the other hand, in “Harlem,” the speaker not only says that life is meaningless without dreams, but rather that dreams are not dreams if they are not pursued: “Or does it explode?” (Hughes 11). This can be interpreted as dreams are gone and here is no going back. If someone has no dreams or goals, they have nothing to strive for; consequently, they will not be able to reach their full potential without one.
The inconspicuous contrasts in the figurative languages are controversial.

In “Dreams,” Hughes uses figurative language to stress the importance of having dreams. The author uses metaphors to show how miserable a life without dreams becomes: “Life is a broken-winged bird, Life is a barren field.” (Hughes 3, 7). He uses personification and imagery to contrast a life with dreams and a life without dreams: “For if dreams die...For when dreams go...Hold fast to dreams.” (1-2, 4). He also uses repercussions to give unintended consequences to deferred dreams. Yet, in “Harlem,” the poet uses similes between conjectures or hypothetical situations: “Like a raisin in the sun...Like a sore...Like rotten meat...Like a syrupy sweet...Like a heavy load.” (Hughes 3-4, 6, 8, 10). Hughes utilizes a variety of figurative languages to make clear symbolism in the poem to suggest just what might happen as a result of being denied that

dream.
In summary, Hughes’ lyric poems, “Dreams” and “Harlem,” have profound diversities in the tones, messages, and figurative languages. “Dreams” contains passionate and optimistic tone versus the tone desperation, almost futility in “Harlem.” “Dreams’” main point in the theme is a meaningless life; however, “Harlem's’” is meaningless dreams. In “Dreams,” Hughes uses metaphors with conjectures, while in “Harlem,” similes are joined by repercussions.