“Harlem” was used by Loraine Hansberry as the inspiration for A Raisin in the Sun. Each of the similes in the poem represents one of the main characters (The Younger Family). In your opinion which character matches up to which simile? Write an essay of at least 500-750 words minimum explaining your answer.
Harlem
BY LANGSTON HUGHES
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.
Or does it explode?
“Harlem” was used by Loraine Hansberry as the inspiration for A Raisin in the Sun. Each of the similes in the poem represents one of the main characters (The Younger Family). In your opinion which character matches up to which simile? Write an essay of at least 500-750 words minimum explaining your answer.
Characters:
Walter Lee – Lena’s son
Ruth – Walter Lee’s wife
Lena – The family matriarch
Beneatha – Walter’s little sister