What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load
★ What happened to the dream use similes

1 answer

When a dream is deferred, it undergoes various transformations and consequences. The use of similes helps to illustrate these changes and provide vivid descriptions.

The speaker suggests that a deferred dream may dry up like a raisin in the sun, implying that it shrinks and loses its vitality over time. This simile highlights the withering and loss of life that occurs when a dream is delayed or unfulfilled.

Another comparison suggests that a deferred dream may fester like a sore and then run. This simile implies that unattended dreams can become painful and create a sense of discontent. The dream, like a sore, may become infected and eventually burst, symbolizing the eruption of emotion and frustration.

The speaker further asserts that a deferred dream may stink like rotten meat, emphasizing the unpleasant and foul consequences that can arise from neglecting one's aspirations. This simile suggests that unfulfilled dreams can emit a sense of decay and dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, the simile of a dream crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet suggests that dreams may superficially appear sweet and enticing when deferred. However, just like a sugary coating, this superficial sweetness disguises the underlying dissatisfaction and lack of fulfillment.

Lastly, the speaker states that a deferred dream may sag like a heavy load. This simile depicts the burden and weight that unfulfilled dreams can impose on an individual. It suggests that the longer a dream is postponed or unrealized, the heavier it becomes, weighing down the individual with disappointment and frustration.
Similar Questions
  1. 5.In the poem “Dream Deferred,” Langston Hughes asks the questions "What happens to a dream deferred?" and "Does it dry up
    1. answers icon 1 answer
  2. Read the beginning of the poem “A Dream Deferred,” by Langston Hughes.What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like
    1. answers icon 1 answer
  3. Read the lines from "Harlem [2]."What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? What central idea or
    1. answers icon 1 answer
  4. "A Dream Deferred"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore- and then
    1. answers icon 2 answers
more similar questions