sore”(4), and “Or crust and sugar over”(7) are both symbolic of the hard manual labor that African-Americans had during the early 1900’s. Historical studies have recounted the work that many men did during this time period, in the cotton and sugar fields, or working with crops. “Maybe it just sags / like a heavy load”(9-10) is a powerful illustration of a dream that sits within a person and weighs there making everything else one does never enough. Yet it also seems to relate again to the heavy work that men did during the time from of Hughes' life. As the reader puts all of these illusions together, one’s own dreams and ideals are brought to the surface just as Hughes brings his poem to a close with flair. “Or does it explode”(11) is the most powerful line of the poem. It is separated from the other lines of the poem and italicized, adding emphasis to it visually. The concept of a dream exploding is a powerful conclusion of what could happen to the poet's or reader's dreams if they are pushed aside or unable to be pursued. All in all, this poem is a very universal poem. Written by a talented African-American man in a time when people of his ethnic group were denied many freedoms, this poem has lived on for years even with the changes in society. There are still many struggles for Americans, of every ethnic group, today to recognize hopes and dreams, but society has come a long way from when this poem was written. “Dream Deferred” is a poem that will never be outdated. Analysis of "Dream Deferred" Dreams are the driving force of America today. Every person has some sort of dreams and or goals. Although in life everyone has dreams and goals, there are obviously more struggles for some ethnic groups than for others. The poem, "Dream Deferred," by Langston Hughes, is one man's expression of his dreams during a difficult time period. As a black man in a time period where Afri...
