Dreams, By Langston Hughes
Dreams are tools that can help people change their world in a positive or negative way. Hughes says, “Or does it explode?” (Hughes 11), just like the first line of the poem, this final line is a question directed to the reader making another connection. Unlike the rest of the lines in the poem, this one is italicized making the reader pay more attention to it and gives it more meaning. Hughes uses the word “explode” in a way that it can be seen as both a harmful and a peaceful way, but is determined by the reader. It creates the image of a bomb going off leaning an area in ruin or fireworks that make people excited to see, but can scare others. When it is thought as a bomb the thoughts of riots and violence come to mind saying that dreams that are ignored leads to suffering and chaos, while fireworks leave
…show more content…
thoughts like celebrations and people joining together to see them.
It makes the readers think of pressure being stored over time and can no longer suppress this energy and just erupts. The final line feels almost like liberation, but also violence.
In Hughes other poem "Dreams" is an extremely short poem with two stanzas but still captures the importance of dreams. Hughes begins the first stanza of the poem with “Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” (Hughes 1) Hughes instructs the readers to hold on tightly to their dreams because without them, life is full of struggle or is one not worth living. The image of an injured bird symbolizes the struggles that many African Americans like Langston Hughes faced in life like racial discrimination. Hughes also leaves the idea that dreams are not physical objects implying that they can last as long the dreamer has faith in it and has the will to move forward. Hughes also tries to make the reader understand that to never limiting oneself will lead to one’s downfall. The second stanza Hughes says “Hold fast to dreams for when dreams go
life is a barren field frozen with snow.” (Hughes 2) Hughes illustrates that dreams are important for maintaining faith as they provide comfort and hope in a brutal world. He describes life without dreams as “a barren field frozen with snow” saying that dreams are like a field that could be full of life but can be suppressed by snow, which is the negativity found in the world and cripple someone’s faith. In this way, "Dreams" is related to “A Dream Deferred” because it also demonstrates the importance of dreams and ambitions. “Dreams” is also quite different because “A Dream Deferred” is more cynical in its assertion that if dreams are not fulfilled they might become a literal or psychological explosion bringing nothing but negativity by the people who caused the dreams to be suppressed. In "Dreams," Hughes tells the readers that even if one's dreams do not come true, a life without hope is desolate and sad but leaves a sense that having faith is always needed. Hughes also illustrates the idea that dreams are the driving force that gives the people hope.
In another poem of Langston Hughes, “I Continue to Dream”, Hughes asserts that his dreams are strong and will never leave him even if others try to tear them down. Hughes begins the poem by saying, “I take my dreams and make of them a bronze vase and a round fountain with a beautiful statue in its center.” (Hughes 1) this means that he takes his dreams and creates something incredible, which allows his dreams to be remembered create happiness and joy. He also compares his dreams with bronze saying that they are strong and durable. Hughes continues with, “And a song with a broken heart and I ask you: Do you understand my dream?” (Hughes 2) Hughes describes himself as “a song with a broken heart” to say that he is vulnerable and weak. He builds his dreams up as strong and durable but removes it to show that he still cares of what others have to say. He follows with the question “do you understand my dream?”(Hughes 3) to imply that he wants to know what someone else is thinking or feeling. Hughes continues with, “sometimes you say you do and sometime you say you don’t” (Hughes 4) to say that he has told people of his dreams, but knows that there will be people who agree with him and some that won’t. Hughes demonstrates in this line that no matter if the feedback is positive or negative he will have an open mind. Hughes ends the poem with, “Either way it doesn’t matter. I continue to dream.” (Hughes 5) Hughes knows that he has dreams that many people will not agree with but he knows that others will and continues to have such dreams. Hughes tells the reader that he is not scared about what others think of him because he will continue to dream no matter who tries to crush his dreams. Hughes tries to make others have another perspective and maybe others will want to have the same stance on their dreams instead of being held back. “I Continue to Dream” is related to “Dream Deferred” in the way that there will be dreams that will be suppressed but differ in the message they give. In “I Continue to Dream” Hughes tells the reader to keep an open mind and continue to have dreams. He made sure that the reader realizes that there will be obstacles, but hope will give them the strength to move forward. “Dream Deferred” tells the readers that if their dreams are suppressed only results in negativity. He warns the audience to never let their dreams to be ignored and to prevent their minds from being clouded with regrets.
thoughts like celebrations and people joining together to see them.
It makes the readers think of pressure being stored over time and can no longer suppress this energy and just erupts. The final line feels almost like liberation, but also violence.
In Hughes other poem "Dreams" is an extremely short poem with two stanzas but still captures the importance of dreams. Hughes begins the first stanza of the poem with “Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” (Hughes 1) Hughes instructs the readers to hold on tightly to their dreams because without them, life is full of struggle or is one not worth living. The image of an injured bird symbolizes the struggles that many African Americans like Langston Hughes faced in life like racial discrimination. Hughes also leaves the idea that dreams are not physical objects implying that they can last as long the dreamer has faith in it and has the will to move forward. Hughes also tries to make the reader understand that to never limiting oneself will lead to one’s downfall. The second stanza Hughes says “Hold fast to dreams for when dreams go
life is a barren field frozen with snow.” (Hughes 2) Hughes illustrates that dreams are important for maintaining faith as they provide comfort and hope in a brutal world. He describes life without dreams as “a barren field frozen with snow” saying that dreams are like a field that could be full of life but can be suppressed by snow, which is the negativity found in the world and cripple someone’s faith. In this way, "Dreams" is related to “A Dream Deferred” because it also demonstrates the importance of dreams and ambitions. “Dreams” is also quite different because “A Dream Deferred” is more cynical in its assertion that if dreams are not fulfilled they might become a literal or psychological explosion bringing nothing but negativity by the people who caused the dreams to be suppressed. In "Dreams," Hughes tells the readers that even if one's dreams do not come true, a life without hope is desolate and sad but leaves a sense that having faith is always needed. Hughes also illustrates the idea that dreams are the driving force that gives the people hope.
In another poem of Langston Hughes, “I Continue to Dream”, Hughes asserts that his dreams are strong and will never leave him even if others try to tear them down. Hughes begins the poem by saying, “I take my dreams and make of them a bronze vase and a round fountain with a beautiful statue in its center.” (Hughes 1) this means that he takes his dreams and creates something incredible, which allows his dreams to be remembered create happiness and joy. He also compares his dreams with bronze saying that they are strong and durable. Hughes continues with, “And a song with a broken heart and I ask you: Do you understand my dream?” (Hughes 2) Hughes describes himself as “a song with a broken heart” to say that he is vulnerable and weak. He builds his dreams up as strong and durable but removes it to show that he still cares of what others have to say. He follows with the question “do you understand my dream?”(Hughes 3) to imply that he wants to know what someone else is thinking or feeling. Hughes continues with, “sometimes you say you do and sometime you say you don’t” (Hughes 4) to say that he has told people of his dreams, but knows that there will be people who agree with him and some that won’t. Hughes demonstrates in this line that no matter if the feedback is positive or negative he will have an open mind. Hughes ends the poem with, “Either way it doesn’t matter. I continue to dream.” (Hughes 5) Hughes knows that he has dreams that many people will not agree with but he knows that others will and continues to have such dreams. Hughes tells the reader that he is not scared about what others think of him because he will continue to dream no matter who tries to crush his dreams. Hughes tries to make others have another perspective and maybe others will want to have the same stance on their dreams instead of being held back. “I Continue to Dream” is related to “Dream Deferred” in the way that there will be dreams that will be suppressed but differ in the message they give. In “I Continue to Dream” Hughes tells the reader to keep an open mind and continue to have dreams. He made sure that the reader realizes that there will be obstacles, but hope will give them the strength to move forward. “Dream Deferred” tells the readers that if their dreams are suppressed only results in negativity. He warns the audience to never let their dreams to be ignored and to prevent their minds from being clouded with regrets.