The Deferred American Dream Depicted in Harlem by Langston Hughes and A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Syaila Nur Amaliyah Syahbur, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, M.Hum

2024 | Tesis | MAGISTER PENGKAJIAN AMERIKA

This study analyzes how the American Dream is represented and why the depiction of the dream is written as a "deferred" dream in Langston Hughes's poem Harlem and Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun. Systemic racism and economic limitations have historically prevented many African Americans from achieving the American Dream, in this case, having equal opportunity and financial stability. This research uses qualitative methods, based on the Sociology of Literature theory of Rene Wellek and Austin Warren, to analyze how Hughes and Hansberry depict the American dream and the effects of African Americans' challenges in pursuing their aspirations in the 1950s.

The study found that the American dream in these two works is depicted as a deferred dream. Both works criticize the ideology of the American dream that promises prosperity and happiness for all Americans through depictions of the struggle of African Americans against racial discrimination and economic injustice. In addition to being a social critique, both also show hope for change, depicting the American Dream as an aspiration that can still be realized through persistence, hard work, family harmony, and resilience against obstacles. Obstacles such as racial discrimination and economic limitations are the main factors in depicting the American dream as a "deferred" dream. These obstacles have an impact on the difficulties of African Americans in achieving the prosperity and welfare that have been promised in the ideology of the American dream. Both of this work highlights the racial discrimination that hinders access to educational opportunities, decent jobs, and decent housing, as well as the economic constraints that limit the ability to change the social and economic conditions of African Americans. However, behind these difficulties emerged strong bonds of brotherhood and a sense of solidarity among African Americans.

This study analyzes how the American Dream is represented and why the depiction of the dream is written as a "deferred" dream in Langston Hughes's poem Harlem and Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun. Systemic racism and economic limitations have historically prevented many African Americans from achieving the American Dream, in this case, having equal opportunity and financial stability. This research uses qualitative methods, based on the Sociology of Literature theory of Rene Wellek and Austin Warren, to analyze how Hughes and Hansberry depict the American dream and the effects of African Americans' challenges in pursuing their aspirations in the 1950s.

The study found that the American dream in these two works is depicted as a deferred dream. Both works criticize the ideology of the American dream that promises prosperity and happiness for all Americans through depictions of the struggle of African Americans against racial discrimination and economic injustice. In addition to being a social critique, both also show hope for change, depicting the American Dream as an aspiration that can still be realized through persistence, hard work, family harmony, and resilience against obstacles. Obstacles such as racial discrimination and economic limitations are the main factors in depicting the American dream as a "deferred" dream. These obstacles have an impact on the difficulties of African Americans in achieving the prosperity and welfare that have been promised in the ideology of the American dream. Both of this work highlights the racial discrimination that hinders access to educational opportunities, decent jobs, and decent housing, as well as the economic constraints that limit the ability to change the social and economic conditions of African Americans. However, behind these difficulties emerged strong bonds of brotherhood and a sense of solidarity among African Americans.

Kata Kunci : American Dream, Harlem, A Raisin in the Sun, Sociology of Literature, Social Justice