“I Dream a World” by Langton Hughes

“I Dream a World” by Langton Hughes, explores racial and moral boundaries. The persona speaks in a hopeful tone and expresses their personal thoughts and dreams of a world with no boundaries. Langton uses the rhyming scheme “abcb” throughout the poem;

“A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free” (9-12)

The persona dreams of a world where no racial boundaries are apparent and we all live in harmony and freedom. The persona’s optimistic tone in this verse conveys the fact that the reality of racial prejudice in society, interferes with such a dream. The use of the “abcb” rhyming scheme allows the audience to easily follow the poem because of the rhythmic flow.

Langton uses personification to express the persona’s moral opinion of greediness;

“Where greed no longer saps the soul”

The use of personification conveys how there is a greater meaning to the line, as greed weakens one’s spirit and character. This conveys a moral boundary, knowing that greediness isn’t a fine quality in a person.

Langton uses repetition to make a clear, strong statement throughout “I Dream a World”;

“I dream a world where.....”

The use of repetition creates a deeper understanding of the persona’s perspective of the “perfect world” and emphasizes the meaning of the name of the poem; “I Dream a World.”

Personification was used again in the poem, to create a more vivid description of an inanimate object;

“Where wretchedness will hang its head”

This is an example of personification, as it is giving an abstract noun (wretchedness) a human quality (hanging its head). The use of personification enhances our mind to connect ideas and images and to think deeper of the true meaning.

By Abby Sutherland