Langston Hughes: life and literary significance

Langston Hughes Poetry

A Reflection of the American Dream in Langston Hughes's Poetry

The Harlem Renaissance was an artistic, literary, and cultural movement that emerged in New York, specifically Harlem, shortly after World War I and into the 1930s. One of the most prominent poets to arise from the cultural movement was Langston Hughes. Hughes's poetry explores the generational differences that have emerged and how though it may seem that there have been obstacles that have been overcome through the years, many things do not seem to change. Through his poetry, Hughes was able to demonstrate how each generation strives to be better than the last and the disappointment that may be encountered when one may not be able to achieve their dream.

In the poem "Mother to Son," the narrator encourages her son to continue to fight against the current and to not allow all her hard work to be discarded. The narrator states, "Lif for me ain't been no crystal stair," meaning that the path to success she encountered was unclear and that it was a difficult and possibly dangerous climb that she had to make in order to get to where she is. Moreover, the narrator hints at the difficulty of her journey through her description of the stairs; the stairs had "splinters/And boards torn up/And place with no carpet on the floor -- Bare" (Hughes, 4-7). Regardless of the stairs' dilapidated state, the narrator states, "all the time/I'se been climbin' on/And reachin' landin's/And turnin' corners/And sometimes goin' in the dark/Where there ain't been no light" (9-13). The narrator's journey has not been easy adn she encourages her son to continue to fight on her behalf and for the betterment of others.

"I, Too" also explores one's need to overcome adversity. "I, Too" touches upon the issue of segregation and discrimination against African-Americans throughout history. In this poem, the narrator explains how he has been treated differently and how it has affected him. Because he is labeled as the "darker brother," he has been forced to hide in the kitchen. The narrator does not appear to mind this treatment and rather sees it as an opportunity to become stronger without being under constant surveillance (Hughes, 2). The narrator also understands that the discrimination that he is subjected to is temporary and believes "Tomorrow/I'll be at the table/When company comes" (8-10). The narrator recognizes that change is inevitable, yet he continues to hope that change is more rapid and does not take too long to be put into place. He hopes that the people and institutions that have discriminated against him are able to see the wrong that they have done and hopes that they are "ashamed" for what they have done. The most poignant lines of the poem help to relay the narrator's aspirations.

While "Mother to Son" and "I, Too" show how one's hard work and dedication pay off, even if one's actions and behaviors go unrecognized, Hughes's "Dream Deferred" posits the possibility that one's dreams and ambitions may go unfulfilled. This poem, unlike the previous, is very simple in nature and explores the mortality, so to speak, of an idea. Despite the fact that the narrators in "Mother to Son" and "I, Too" are able to accomplish their goals and fulfill their dreams through hard work and dedication, "Dream Deferred" explores the possibility of failure. Because Hughes is not able to definitively describe what happens to a dream that fails, it can be argued that a dream never really dies, but instead transforms into a different dream with the original intent still intact.