Harlem : Themes

Harlem is a notable literary work by Langston Hughes. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Harlem.

    

        

        
Themes
       
Themes
Dreams and Delayed Justice : The major theme in this poem is the importance of dreams. Here, “dream” means the rightful demand of equality and freedom for the black Americans. The poet talks about what will happen if the dreams of black Americans are frequently neglected. He asks:
“What happens to a dream deferred?”
He compares it to a raisin drying up or rotten meat. These images show the broken promises of equality in America. The last line, “Or does it explode?” warns that if dreams are crushed for too long, they may turn into anger and violence.