Deferred Dreams

 The poem 'Harlem is about the possible negative outcomes that could occur when a person's dream doesn't work out. The poem is about the frustration and hardships experienced by African Americans during the early 20th century. The anticipatory tone in this poem reveals the theme of deferred dreams and the resulting sadness that arises from unfulfilled wishes. In the first line of the poem, Langston Hughes refers to dreams as "deferred". From this, we know that the poem is about something that is delayed or postponed. When he uses similes like "festers like a sore" and "sags like a heavy load", he thinks of dreams being burdensome, and not something that makes a person happy. The imagery of the "raisin in the sun" also reveals the theme of unfulfilled dreams. It implies that when dreams are left unattended, they wither and shrink like a raisin, losing their growth potential. His constant use of words like deferred also shows his disappointment and frustration. The word "explodes" in the last line of the poem intensifies the theme of the explosive emotional impact of suppressed dreams. It conveys the frustration and anger that can no longer be contained. This leaves readers with a lasting impression of the consequences of not letting individuals pursue their dreams. Through his selection of words and imagery, Langston Hughes conveys the theme of the negative effects of deferred dreams.