Analysis of a Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes Essay

This poem by Langston Hughes is a very complicated. In it the speaker paints a picture of what might happen to someone’s dream if it is postponed too long. This idea is the overall theme of the poem and it is what unifies and connects each line to the poem as a whole. There are also indirect references that this is not only the dream of an individual, but an entire race’s struggle to achieve peace and liberation. This poem consists of a series of answers to the question, â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred?† All of the lines following this first question are presented as different similes. The first line of this poem is the most crucial because it develops and sets the direction for the poem itself. It makes the reader think about what happens to a dream when you put it aside for an uncertain amount of time. It is not referring to the dreams someone might have when they are asleep, but rather the goals they have set out for themselves and wish to accomplish. The poem does not choose or assign a dream to the individual or group, but leaves it up to the reader to decide what they feel is important to them. There are two levels of interpretation that can be seen at this point in time. There is the dream of the individual person and what they wish to achieve themselves. There is also the dream of an entire race and what they hope to achieve as a group. The word â€Å"deferred† was a wonderful way to articulate the idea of a postponed and possibly overdue dream. This line is followed by a series of rhetorical questions that indirectly answer themselves. The speaker firmly states the idea that delaying any dream could lead to damaging effects. Each line describes what these destructive effects and to what end it could lead. The second line asks if the dream dries up â€Å"Like a raisin in the sun.† This metaphor of a dream as a raisin forces the reader to think about the changes that might occur to a dream if it is left alone too long. Does it dry up and wither away? Even though a raisin is already dried, if it is left out in the sun for an extended period of time it would become hard and tough which would make it much harder to enjoy. Thus, if a  dream is left to wither or is unused it could shrivel away to something that is no longer useful or capable of being enjoyed. Someone’s aptitude would surely grow stiff and dry up if it was not allowed to be used. This line creates the allusion that if you don’t achieve your dreams they could dry out and leave you feeling unnourished. As the poem progresses the images and comparisons made evoke more emotion from the reader. The poem suggests that if the dream does not dry up it could â€Å"fester like a sore- / And then run.† This creates an image and reminds the reader about the pain that is felt when you are injured. This line means that the dream could become irritating like a fresh sore that you wish would dry up so it can heal, but instead lingers and runs. The uncompleted dreams effects could become frustrating and the external wound would be a constant reminder of the things you have not yet attained. The line â€Å"fester like a sore-† creates a tender image and illustrates the exasperating and slow healing process the body must undergo in order to recover properly. This question alludes that when you don’t accomplish your dreams it can be like a sore that never completely heals and always appears fresh. The damaging effects of not completing your dreams becomes more explicit as the poem progresses. The speaker asks if the dream deferred stinks â€Å"like rotten meat.† It reinforces the previous grotesque question and the idea that if you leave a dream out too long it will eventually begin to fester and rot like meat. The idea that a dream has the potential to become rotten is an interesting concept. The dream could begin to rot in the person’s mind or heart, which would cause them to become sick. This line could also be an indirect reference to the lynching that occurred during the speaker’s era. It could be referring to the rancid smell of the dangling lifeless bodies. This reinforces the idea that the speaker is talking about the struggle of an entire race and how important it is to rise up as a group to accomplish your dreams because if anything is left alone too long it will eventually begin to decay. At this point the poem begins to talk about the lighter, but still negative effects of not completing a dream. The speaker implies that if the dream does not begin to rot it could â€Å"crust and sugar over- / Like a syrupy sweet.† This line compares not accomplishing a dream or goal to a sugary substance. If either  of these is exposed for too long it would begin to form a rigid and stale crust along the surface. This hard crust would make the substance more difficult to use and could make the dream more difficult to achieve. A dream that is hard and separated is much harder to achieve, and this could lead to feelings of depression. These feelings would make the dream appear more complex and create a bigger struggle for the person to obtain their goals. The other image this line depicts is a scab crusting over. Everyone has or will have some sort of injury that will result in a scab sometime in their life. This is a powerful image that connects the reader to the image the speaker is trying to portray. Although a scab is not typically thought of as something sweet it eventually crusts over â€Å"like a syrupy sweet† and becomes solid. Even though these two images are not typically compared, it reinforces the crusty and hard image this line is trying to convey. This question insinuates that you should savor and protect your dreams so they do not become old, sour, and stiff. They should be preserved properly so that they remain obtainable. In the second stanza the speaker proposes the idea that if the dream does not crust over â€Å"Maybe it just sags- / Like a heavy load.† This suggests that not following through with your dreams could weigh you down, which would be another damaging effect. It implies that maybe your dream sags, like when a person is carrying something heavy, causing them to move at a sluggish pace. This unhurried pace could lead to clumsiness, which could cause the load to appear heavier than it really is. The word â€Å"Maybe† reinforces that this line is not a question, but rather a suggestion. This suggestion implies that the dream could become hard to bear due to the mental uncertainty that could lead people to ask â€Å"what if† questions. Asking these questions is often a form of self-sabotage because they can never be answered. The development from line to line becomes more intense and graphic as the poem progresses. The last line asks the reader if none of these previous affects have happened, would the dream just â€Å"explode.† This word creates an image of a bomb that could cause a great deal of destruction. This idea is the most devastating effect of not accomplishing your dream because not many things are salvageable after an explosion and it is usually used as a last resort. This suggests the idea that if a dream is postponed too long it would eventually turn into a bomb. This explosion could potentially cause more damage to the person than if  they had attempted to accomplish the dream and failed, due to the fact that it could never be pieced back together. After a dream has been shattered it is no longer achievable. This line is more powerful than the others because it has a deeper message behind it. I think it is a threat on the level of the whole race. If a dream is deferred too long, then it could explode into violence. If this occurred, it would do an unspeakable amount of damage to the righteous cause and make the whole race appear barbaric. It could also cause an individual or an entire race to lose hope and â€Å"explode† with grief causing them to fall apart and feel helpless. These feelings could make someone feel that suicide is the only escape or might lead them to become more aggressive towards others. These two ideas are by far the most damaging affects that could happen if you don’t strive to accomplish your goals and dreams. This poem is very intricately woven and pieced together. The speaker uses comparisons in every line to reinforce and emphasize the main theme of the poem. The indirect references added to the overall complexity of the poem. Each line highlights and unifies the poem because every line relates back to the detrimental effects of what could happen if a dream is deferred. What happens to a dream deferred?

Christian and Hopeful’s escape from Doubting Castle Essay

Write a critical analysis of the extract (Christian and Hopeful’s escape from Doubting Castle) discussing the characteristic features of Bunyan’s Style. Bunyan uses allegory and symbolism throughout Part one. This symbolism is used very effectively in this extract; we can see the powerful images that relate to the spiritual nature of the characters. Doubt is powerful and Bunyan emphasises the danger and trappings of doubt through dramatic phraseology and strong physical images: ‘A very dark Dungeon, nasty and stinking to the Spirit of these two men.’ Bunyan’s dramatization of these events reflects also on the escape from the castle. Bunyan epitomises the ultimate despair in order to generate the joy and delight produced in the escape. This allows the reader to view the hope and joy that is present in the promises of God: ‘there to condole their misery, and to mourn under their distress.’ ‘And the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Bunyan also implements the use of dynamic verbs such as ‘flew’ this makes the reader aware of the ease with which doubt is broken. The discovery of the key of promise, which frees Christian and Hopeful from Doubting Castle; shows the reader the hope that remains even in the toughest of situations. Bunyan tries to make the reader aware of the danger of doubt through symbolism. This allows the reader to be cautious of doubt in his or her own life. This is typical of Bunyan, as his work tends to guide to correction, encourage and to issue caution: ‘ That’s good news, good brother, pluck it out of thy bosom and try.’ Christian’s realisation of foolishness has the effect of reinforcing the promise of Hope. Bunyan’s representation of this in the form of a speech allows Christian to persuade the reader to correct their foolish ways: ‘What a Fool, quoth he, am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty?’ Bunyan’s use of rhetorical questioning through Christian’s speech have the effect of encouraging the reader to question themselves. They also challenge the institution of doubt. Throughout part one we see the use of dialogue to encourage or reassure the characters. In this extract we can also view this as Hopeful speaks to Christian and questions his doubt over the situation: ‘; My brother, said he, rememberest thou not how valiant thou hast been heretofore?’ This has the effect of not only giving reassurance and encouragement to the characters but also to the reader. The use of pausing ensures that it is well understood. Bunyan uses imagery to create Giant Despair, ‘a large and imposing figure’ this has the effect of showing the powerful and controlling nature of doubt. However Bunyan also recreates the image of the giant to facilitate the ideas and concepts he wishes. As the escape progresses the reader sees that the large and powerful image is not all that is seems and indeed it eventually leads to its own downfall. Bunyan uses this situation to warn and encourage the reader. It allows them to see that even though trials engulf they never actually succeed. ‘Giant Despair, who, hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his fits took him again, so he could by no means go after them.’ Bunyan uses the Giant’s wife, Mrs Diffidence, to show the lack of direction that doubt has. It is created by the person and has no power. This has the effect of showing the reader that there is nothing that is worth doubt – it is a formality and should be regarded as such. This dramatic characterisation helps to indicate that hope is important and in the setting of this journey it is hope that eventually conquers the situation. Bunyan shows the despondency and discouraging nature of the castle through Hopeful’s speech however he also corrects their self-indulgence later in the speech with desire for patience and reliance on God from Hopeful: ‘†¦Also cut off the bread and water from my mouth, and with thee I mourn the light. But let us exercise a little more patience; remember†¦.’. The use of such dialogue relates also with Bunyan’s reliance on the bible as these descriptions may have also linked with the spiritual needs of a Christian. Bunyan uses the very low nature and despair created by doubt and allows the reader to see that hope was always present even if it was not always obvious to the characters. Bunyan’s use of dialogue extends beyond the pilgrims to the Giant and his wife, Mrs Diffidence. ‘Then he asked her also what he had best to do further to them. So she asked him what they were, whence they came, and whither they were bound; and he told her. Then she counselled him that when he arose in the morning he should beat them without any mercy’. This gives insight to the reader and creates dramatic irony, as the reader is aware of the weakness of the trials. One of Bunyan’s aims when writing The Pilgrim’s Progress was the instruction of Christians and throughout this extract we can see the encouragement and warnings that he provides and the way in which his writing reflects the authorial intention of the didactic purpose. Hopeful relates the experience of doubting castle to some of the earlier events in the book such as; the meeting with Apollyon and the valley of the Shadow of death. This has the effect of providing a link between the episodes of the dream, it helps to emphasise the representation of a journey and creates a development within the characters. Bunyan combines many different techniques and forms in the extract but the most effective of these is the dialogue between the pilgrims and also between their tormentors. ‘Then, with a grim and surly voice, he bid them awake; and asked them whence they were, and what they did in his grounds. They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way.’ This speech allows the reader to be aware of the characters thoughts and emotions; and to immediately identify the characters’ motives. This also has the effect of furthering Bunyan’s didactic purpose. The combination of the many effects within The Pilgrim’s Progress allows it to be enjoyable to all and make it still appreciated from a literary perspective.

Marketing transportation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Marketing transportation - Essay Example One way that firms can save is through the reduction of plastic bags, as they have a detrimental effect on the environment. One strategy that a firm could use is to encourage recycling among its customers. The benefits would be mutual is this instance because both parties would be helping to contribute. 12. Carrier tariffs and classification go a long way to improving the performance of logistics systems. This is because a packing firm must try to take advantage of equipment’s weight and volume capabilities. Also, there is less chance of products being damaged because of the way the goods are packed in. 18. Of the 10 materials handling principles in this chapter, the two that are the most surprising to me is the ergonomics principle and the environmental principle. For the first one, I would have thought that machines would have been in charge of this process and not human workers. For the second principle, I would have thought that the fast and most efficient systems would be used and not the most environmentally-friendly. 2. The most obvious difference between a fragmented logistics structure and a unified logistics structure is that the former involves logistics being managed across multiple departments, whereas a unified logistics structure only uses one department. One downside to a fragmented logistics structure is that logistics activities are organized by individual departments based on their own needs rather than those of the firm. On the other hand, a unified logistics structure has more cooperation through an organization. 5. Relevancy focuses on satisfying current and future customer needs, and this is done through mutually beneficial relationships. Responsiveness shows how an organization reacts to an unexpected or unplanned change. For this one, it is important that the key players in an organization are given correct information from which to base decisions from. Flexibility is a mix

Report on the Corporate Communications at Toyota Motor Corporation Essay

Report on the Corporate Communications at Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) - Essay Example Report findings indicate that the corporation has adopted corporate communications structures aiming to brand itself as a leader in the automobile industry, setting the pace of appeal for automobiles, and trends of the industry across the world, while earning recognition as a global enterprise with a profound appeal. Toyota applies both product-led communications, based on its specific products and corporate-led communications, which revolve around the themes in its Global Vision. Advertorials promote Toyota’s environmentally friendlier cars while the leaf care logo conveys its commitment to environmental goals. Toyota also communicates through sponsorships and CSR programs in communities it serves by offering financial grants, and social welfare services through the volunteer time of Toyota associates. The corporative uses multi-cultural marketing strategies and diversity awareness panels to address the cross-linguistic communications barrier that lead to shortcomings in comm unications, to promote its global integration and diversity goals. The report recommends that Toyota should leverage on the new Information Technology outlets such as social media platforms to reinforce both its internal and external communications functions (The Wall Street Journal, 2013), to achieve optimum benefits and to address its information communication deficit. Introduction This report will examine the internal and external communications functions of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), the Giant Japanese automobile manufacture, highlighting both the best practices in communications functions, as well as communications shortcomings. Additionally, the report analyses the effectiveness of Toyota’s communications functions, and makes recommendations on how to improve them to achieve optimum benefits for the corporation TMC: Overview Headquartered at Toyota Aichi in Japan, Toyota Motor Corporation is a giant Japanese automobile maker that offers full range of vehicle models from mini-vehicles to large trucks; the corporation became the largest automobile manufacture in 2012 by production. Kiichiro Toyoda found TMC in 1937 as an offshoot from his father’s company Toyota Industries to manufacture automobiles (Flaccomio 2011, p.1); the Toyota Group is one of the Leading Conglomerates worldwide today. The Toyota Way, the corporation’s philosophy and strategy has evolved over the years, with a focus on core principles such as Lean Manufacturing and Just in Time Production; Toyota aims to achieve respect for people and continuous improvement. The company’s corporate goal is to keep improving its corporate value while continuously growing through global operations and innovative technology; Toyota’s strategy is enhanced technology, production, and marketing, as well as improved quality control, cost-competitiveness, and personnel development. Toyota pursues environmental goals, which influence corporate strategies (Menon & Menon 1 997, p.51), through improvements of its unique hybrid technology to create environmentally friendly products; Toyota’s goals entail pursuing sustainability at three levels, research and design, manufacturing, and social contribution. TMC Communications overview In 2002, Toyota took a new strategic direction articulated in the Company’s 2010 Global Vision program, which set out its long-term operational and strategic policies (â€Å"

Nato and United Nation on the Conflict in Kosovo Essay

Nato and United Nation on the Conflict in Kosovo - Essay Example Kosovo is located in Southern Serbia and has a population of majority Albanians. Until 1989, the region was autonomous within Yugoslavia. Kosovo conflict refers to armed struggles in Kosovo province, Yugoslavia. From 1998 to 1999, there was an armed clashes caused by the Kosovo Liberation Army who wanted independence from the Yugoslav Military and Serbian police (Singh 2009). Between March and June 1999, NATO launched an air strikes and patrols on FR Yugoslavia while the KLA continued with their wars with Yugoslav Security Forces. This led to a large population displacement. NATO’s intervention in Kosovo was to stop the humanitarian crisis and restore peace stability in the region. Despite numerous challenges during 78 days of aerial strikes, more than 37,000 excursions occurred and 10,484 of the strike attacks happened without any fatalities. NATO’s objectives were to help for the achievement of a peaceful resolution to the crisis at hand and to promote security in nei ghboring nations especially in Albania and Macedonia. The involvement of NATO's was to settle the war in the most peaceful way. Their involvement, however, brought more problems than solutions. Albanians not only fought amongst each other but also NATO soldier (Kaplan 2010). The world's involvement in the conflict angered both sides of the conflict. Other objectives of NATO and the UN in Kosovo were; to stop to all military action and end repression, the withdrawal of the military and paramilitary forces from Kosovo, the setting up of international military in Kosovo, the unconditional return of all refugees and displaced persons and unstoppable access to them by humanitarian organizations and the establishment of a political agreement in conformity the Charter of the United Nations and international law. To show that NATO and UN did not act objectively in the conflict, in Kosovo, there were claims by Yugoslavia that NATO raids caused between 1,000 and 6000 civilian casualties. NATO 's secretary general, Lord Robertson, admitted after the conflict that the exact human lives claimed will never be known. Figures in Human Rights Watch reports estimate between 490 and 530 civilian demises, 80 to 140 resulting from cluster bombing. Kosovo attacks were deadly due to many confused refugee movements. On the ground, there was ethnic cleansing by the Serbians that led to 300,000 Kosovo Albanians fleeing to Albania and Macedonia with thousands more internally displaced in Kosovo. The United Nations reported that 850,000 people had fled their homes. The choice of targets to hit was highly controversial. The destruction of bridges at the Danube disrupted shipping on the river after the war causing economic challenges to countries along the river. The attack on industrial facilities damaged the economies of many local towns. These examples show that the organization did not act objectively in pursing their objectives. Moreover, the Serbian government and a numerous internati onal pressure groups accused NATO of carrying out war crimes during the war. For instance, the bombing of a Serbian television headquarters in Belgrade on April 1999 led to 16 deaths and numerous injuries. This was a deliberate attack on a civilian property hence constituting war crimes. The argument for NATO’

Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Final - Essay Example Democrats were of the opinion that there should be a proper democracy everywhere in US, rather than a division amongst tribes and their rule at various places. So US is bound to expand and to spread democracy everywhere across the continent. That would be very natural for Americans and would be in very much favor of country. During those times, every American was full of nationalism spirit and wanted the country to prosper more and more by acquiring other areas of the continent. This air of rather a selfish kind of nationalism was very much in air particularly after freedom war in 1812. There were many aspects behind this motivation. Religious sector was in favor of making the Indian tribes Christian so that the Christian population becomes more and the souls get satisfaction. They say that God wanted all these things to happen with US. The economic factors were also present as the trade would grow more so there had been the greed for making great entrepreneurs. So overall, there had been a great importance of the concept of Manifest destiny in US history (manifest dynasty. 2011 ). Returning to the discussion that is this concept divides us or unite us, we must keep in mind that Manifest destiny contains the concept of superiority of American over other races or people of color. There was also the concept of cultural superiority that Hispanic people and the native tribes are backward and are not able to move in the world on their own behalf. It’s the people of Texas who represent US in the whole world so they should be the ones who rule over it, alone. This concept eventually caused a lot of slavery in the area after the Mexico war particularly, when many locals were made slaves and were treated badly. This racism and color bias is still present in our society in other forms. Today, most white people consider themselves superior than people of any other race in comparison of culture, social

Analysis of Very Painful Questions about New Orleans Essay

Analysis of Very Painful Questions about New Orleans - Essay Example Who will have the answers and who will break out of silence to defend the thousand’s of victimized families of that area? Sadly, no one came out and every one amongst the people in the Bush administration including Bush himself either kept defending his government or kept playing the blame game. The then President was of the view that they were not aware that such a catastrophe would upheld such a large area in a matter of hours and that their rescue efforts were in time for the rescue operations. As expressed by a famous American actor, Robin Williams about politics that in, â€Å"politics: â€Å"Poli† a Latin word meaning â€Å"many†; and â€Å"tics† meaning â€Å"blood sucking creatures†.† says it all about them. Politicians are actors by nature and politicians by default. They just know how to read scripts and how to divert an on going situation in their favor. They have the ability to listen to their critics and have the mechanism to res pond to them as well. Now coming on to the painful events that lead to this outrageous water flow in the area of New Orleans. No one can deny the fact that there were leadership flaws in the rescue operation. Was there a delay because of the cast and color of the residents of that area or was there an actual delay by the rescue authorities? This is a question that remains to be answered. Questions have also been raised about the break down of the pumping station # 6 in connection to the breach of the Industrial Canal levee. There have been speculations of the involvement of a barge in accelerating the flooding of water and there have been queries about the inter locking of explosive charges and the destruction caused by the Katrina Hurricane. Explanations and clarifications to every question are very important and vital to avoid any future un-happenings. One un-relishing fact is that there was almost a one day gap between the Katrina Hurricane and the break down of the levee in the New Orleans. (University of California) The time phase between the two happenings have certainly raised doubts in the minds of the truth seekers that how can a levee cut loose after surviving winds of over 100 mph? The federal government responded and answered that it could have been the second gust of strong winds that took apart the levee? On the other hand the meteorologists saw the funny side of it and replied back that a hurricane can never create a â€Å"secondary storm surge† especially after the initial burst and destruction caused by the Katrina Hurricane. Therefore, this question certainly raised some suspicions over the levee break and the set of events that took place on the 29th and the 30th of August in drowning hundreds of people that took them to the land of no return. Light has also been thrown on the presence of a barge besides the floodwall. Queries have been raised that no sensible person would park a barge in a state of a Hurricane, when he knows that the barge would be butchered by the Hurricane into dozens of pieces. This skepticism lead the nitty-gritty people to look out for any self seeking piece of information that proves that apart from the Katrina Hurricane, the breaking of the levee was a planned episode runned by the government. The belief of the people strengthened when they examined the past and saw that such vicious and unethical acts have been carried out and supervised by the government itself which included the destruction of the Murrah Building and of the downfall of the