Summary Of Harlem By Langston Hughes
“Harlem” by Langston Hughes is a short poem with only eleven lines, that uses similes, symbolism, and imagery to represent the deterioration of dreams. Although the poem does have moments of rhyming there is not a consistent rhyme scheme. In the poem “Harlem”, Langston Hughes tells us to follow our dreams, for without them, we are destined for despair.
I think most of us can relate to “What happens to a dream deferred?” (1) and the different emotions that accompany the loss of unfulfilled dreams. For me, there was an instant connection to this poem, because I have been on this journey before. The loss of a dream makes you different than you were before “like a raisin in the sun?” (2) that over time withers and decays from its former beauty
as a grape. Resentment starts creeping in “Or fester[s] like a sore- / And then run[s]?” (4-5). Once afflicted, the resentment grows and takes over with exponential speed, and, “Maybe it just sags / like a heavy load / Or does it explode?” (9-11) it creates a debilitating depression that you are unable to carry, until finally, when you can’t take anymore, it detonates and comes screaming out.
I think most of us can relate to “What happens to a dream deferred?” (1) and the different emotions that accompany the loss of unfulfilled dreams. For me, there was an instant connection to this poem, because I have been on this journey before. The loss of a dream makes you different than you were before “like a raisin in the sun?” (2) that over time withers and decays from its former beauty
as a grape. Resentment starts creeping in “Or fester[s] like a sore- / And then run[s]?” (4-5). Once afflicted, the resentment grows and takes over with exponential speed, and, “Maybe it just sags / like a heavy load / Or does it explode?” (9-11) it creates a debilitating depression that you are unable to carry, until finally, when you can’t take anymore, it detonates and comes screaming out.