Hughes, Dylan and Auden Poems

Paper Summary:

Dylan's "The Times they are a Changing", Hughes' "Harlem: A Dream Deferred", and Auden's "The Unknown Citizen", all investigate the themes of human goals and the impact of society upon these goals. This paper explains how Hughes's poem provides an analysis of how the deferment of life goals by society can result in great destruction to both the individual and society. It then shows how Auden's poem also looks at the loss of life goals, this time through the overarching control of a mechanized, soulless state and conformity. In contrast, Dylan's lyrics provide hope for the realization of dreams and hopes through social change.

From the Paper:

"In his poem, "Harlem: A Dream Deferred", Langston Hughes investigates the theme of the destructive impact of deferring dreams. In his first sentence, Hughes sets up a rhetorical question, "What happens to a dream deferred?", and then sets about determining the effect of life goals that are delayed or put off. Clearly, Hughes wants to impart the idea that any life goal that is delayed gives a negative outcome. Further, his inclusion of the word Harlem in the title is indicative that the poem reflects the destruction of life goals in the African American community that is symbolized by Harlem itself. Hughes' poem describes the effect of life goals that must be put off until society changes, and laws and institutions are ready to accept African Americans. Until the time that an African American's goals can be fulfilled, Hughes' lists several alternative possibilities for the reactions of African Americans."

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