Astrology Essay -- essays research papers

The basic astrological assumptions are not hard to grasp. For if astronomy is the study of the movements of the heavenly bodies, then astrology is the study of the effects of those movements. The astronomers of the ancient world assumed a division of the universe whereby the superior, immutable bodies of the celestial worlds ruled over the terrestrial or sublunary sphere, where all was mortality and change. It was assumed that the stars had special qualities and influences which were transmitted downwards upon the passive earth, and which varied in their effect, according to the changing relationship of the heavenly bodies to each other. They were led to postulate a single system in which the seven moving stars or planet shifted their position in relation to the earth and each other, against a fixed backcloth of the twelve signs of the zodiac. There was nothing obscure about these general assumptions. At the beginning of the sixteenth century astrological doctrines were part of the educated man’s picture of the universe and its workings. It was generally accepted that the four elements constituting the sublunary region (earth, air, fire & water) were kept in their state of ceaseless transformation by the movement of the heavenly bodies. The various planets transmitted different quantities of the four physiological qualities of heat and cold, dryness and moisture. Therefore astrology was less a separate discipline than an aspect of a generally accepted world picture. During the Renaissance, even more than in the Middle Ages, astrology pervaded all aspects of the intellectual framework in which men were educated. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries there were four main branches of judicial astrology. First, there were the general predictions based on the future movements of the ravens and taking note of such impending events as eclipses of the sun and moon. These forecasts related to the weather, the state of the crops, mortality and epidemics, politics and war. They indicated the fate of society as a whole but not that of particular individuals. Secondly, there were nativities, maps of the sky at the moment of a person’s births either made on the spot at the request of the infants' parents' or reconstructed for individuals of stature, those who could supply the details of their time of births. The horoscope at b... ...nglish churches and may have helped to shape popular religious attitudes. Pictures of the sun and moon were found in several Suffolk churches and the churches themselves were built to face the rising sun. How far such practices affected men’s basic beliefs it is difficult to tell. Anne Bodenham, who was executed for witchcraft at Salisbury in 1653 was a former servant of the astrologer John Lambe, she had long practiced as a cunning woman, claiming to be able to do more than Master Lilly or anyone whatsoever. When she dealt with a maid who had convulsive fits, she is reported to have proposed a frankly pagan remedy -prayer to Jupiter, the best and fortunatest of all the planets'. Even more striking is another Wiltshire case, which came before the quarter sessions in 1656. A Lacock weaver, Wllllam Bond was charged with atheism and blasphemy, and in particular with publicly affirming that ‘there was no God or power ruling above the planets, no Christ but the sun that shines upon us'; and 'that the twelve patriarchs were the twelve houses'. "This was astrology run wild; and it is tantalizing not to know how many of William Bond's contemporaries may have held similar vie ws.

Economic Development In Zimbabwe Essay -- essays research papers

Economic Development in Zimbabwe The country of Zimbabwe is one of the most economically developed on the African continent . A fairly young political entity, Zimbabwe has only enjoyed recognized autonomy since 1980, the year in which the United Kingdom repealed its imperialistic claims to the African nation . Despite its youth the country has achieved a level of economic development uncharacteristic of sub-Saharan African nations. Second only to South Africa in economic development, Zimbabwe's economic system is one indicative of a transitional country, a country making the transition from dependency underdevelopment to self-reliant industrialization. The purpose of this essay is to make a cursory but adequate examination of Zimbabwean socio-economic and political system, as means to analyzing the countries economic development. The ultimate purpose of this study is to provide a model of the structure necessary to achieve economic development where none previously existed. Zimbabwe is an appropriate model because the dynamics of underdevelopment to development in this country are readily apparent. This model can be useful in understanding underdevelopment in other so called "third-world" countries and in determining what is necessary for these countries to make the transition to industrialization. Geography Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in the southern, sub-Saharan area of the African continent bordered by South Africa to the South, Botswana to the West, Mozambique to the East and Zambia to the North. With an area of 391,090 km2 Zimbabwe is only slightly larger than the state of Colorado. Harare is Zimbabwe's capital and largest city with a population of 1,100,000. Containing vast amounts of rare mineralogical resources and possessing a favorable growing climate Zimbabwe's economy is drawn almost equally between the mining of minerals ($2.2 billion) and the production of staples and cash crops ($2.1 billion) . People Zimbabweans are comprised of two primary ethnic groups, the Shona, comprising 74% of the population and the Ndebele comprising 20%. Other ethnic black groups and Asians make up 4% of the population while whites make up just over 1% of the population. Zimbabwe has a population of 10.35 million people with a population density of 24 persons per km2. 1992 census figures estimate Zimbabwe's growth at 3.0% with 90% of this growth ... ...ble workforce. Finally, Zimbabwe participates in non-aligned trade for non-strategic products such as textiles. This greatly reduces the countries chance of becoming dependent on a trade partner. Conclusion In many ways Zimbabwe is a model for third-world economic development. Although not yet fully developed Zimbabwe clearly has the potential to be a full fledged developed nation. Beyond its vast resources Zimbabwe is structured in a way to promote development. This fact in and of itself distinguishes Zimbabwe from most other Lesser Developed Countries (LDC). Zimbabwe's economic structure is one in which they are essentially self-sufficient and trade only for profit or for consumer goods. Also they perform trade with many partners with no single partner comprising garnering more than 15% of import or export goods. By structuring the Zimbabwe's economic system in a way that keeps its partners diversified and its imports non-strategic, Mugabe has successfully led his nation to the path of development. The barriers left to full development are quite minimal compared to the ones already dominated, The structure of Zimbabwe's economic system is truly a model of economic development.

Enjoying King Lear :: King Lear William Shakespeare Literature Essays

Enjoying King Lear If there was ever a historical King Lear, his memory has faded into mythology and/or been conflated with others. Llyr and his son Manannan are Celtic ocean-gods; Manannan reappeared in Yeats's plays and the "Dungeons and Dragons" games. The "children of Lir / Llyr" were transformed into waterbirds in another Celtic myth. Anglo-Israelite lore describes ("Llyr Lleddiarth "Half-Speech", king of Siluria / the Britains, father of Bran the Archdruid, who married Anna, the daughter of Joseph of Arimathea; his close relatives included Cymbeline (Cunobelinus, fictionalized in Shakespeare's later play), and Caractacus (Caradoc), a well-attested historical figure better-known today from the children's song ("It's too late... they just passed by"). In the Mabinogion, one of Llyr's two wives is Iweradd ("Ireland"). Geoffrey of Monmouth ("History of the English Kings", around 1140), who provides our oldest written reference to King Lear (spelled "Leir"), describes him as a pre-Christian warrior king in what is now southwest England. (Click here to read it yourself.) This area now includes Cornwall (origin of cornish game hens.) Saint Albans ("Albany", for which the capital of New York State is named, is farther away. In the old story remembered by Geoffrey, Lear asked his three daughters whether they loved him. Two claimed to do so extravagantly, while the third said she loved him only as a daughter should. Lear disinherited the honest daughter. The story appears elsewhere in world folklore; there is an Eastern European version in which the honest daughter says she loves her father as much as she loves salt. Lear went to live with his first daughter, bringing a hundred followers. She demanded that he reduce his followers to fifty. Lear then went to live with the other daughter, who reduced the n umber to twenty-five. Lear went back and forth between the daughters until he was alone. Then the third daughter raised an army, defeated the other two, and restored him to his kingdom. (The story appears in Holinshed, who adds that Cordelia succeeded her father as monarch and was deposed by the sons of her sisters.) This tale about how actions speak louder than words had recently been played on the London stage in "The True Chronicle of King Leir.

Rainy Days

Rainy Days Essay By Taylor Chance 11/20/13 Rainy days are wonderful to me. Sometimes they can be a hassle but I still love them. The only time I usually have rainy days is when it is July though. Rainy days are awesome to me sense I can do a lot of things in my own house. The reasons why I like rainy days mainly is because I can sing, listen to music, relax, and eat comforting food. First of all, the reason I like rainy days is because I love to sing.During my rainy days sense the air is usually moist and the temperature is usually cold, it is my favorite time to practice. The climate actually helps my voice by making it very moist instead of dry. If I sing with a dry throat, it will damage my vocal chords and it would also damage my tonsils since I would be straining my voice. So I like to play it on the safe side and practice the most on rainy days. Nonetheless, I love to listen to music on rainy days. I mostly listen to sad or calm music because it relaxes me and brings out my emo tions.It gets even better when I look out the window and I see the gloomy, wispy, and foggy roads and the grasshoppers, birds, and squirrels take cover under big, green trees or leaves with dew from the rain on them as I see the whitish, greyish rain splatter all over the place. My favorite song that I like to listen to most is called â€Å"How to Avoid the Sun† by Bi Rain; it is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard or at least one of the nicest songs I’ve listened to.Music also makes me realize new things and wonder about the world especially when it is raining. Another reason is that I love to relax during rainy days. Hearing the pitter patter of the raindrops going on the ground while there is loud thunder as little cool, white or yellow strikes in the sky that looks like a crack in the dark, grey clouds called lightening flash all over the place. I could just flop down on my bed and cuddle under my warm, soft blankets to be nice, cozy, and comfy.Anothe r thing I like to do is take a nap to the sounds of the rain or daydream. It makes me feel like it is winter or something because the cold temperature also relaxes me. Finally, the last reason I love rainy days is because I can eat as much fattening food as I want. Ice cream, hot chocolate, tea, you name it and I will eat it. Eating is one of my favorite things to do even though I do not eat a lot. These are my comfort foods during rainy days to also help me relax.The taste of the creamy, doughy ice cream tickles my taste buds and gives me a brain freeze sense I eat too fast because cookie dough ice cream is my favorite; the hot chocolate is sweet, warm, and it’s warmth makes me feel nice and cozy; and my tea is one of my favorites even though it is healthy. I usually drink tea warm and unsweetened because I try to stay skinny at the same time and my favorite tea is either Darjeeling or Tao: lemon grass and green tea but, these are the reasons why I love rainy days.

Racial Segregation – Essay

Racial Segregation Introduction The great nation of America is one of the most racially diverse countries in the world today. Practically all races in America can trace their roots from different parts of the country. From the African-American to the Korean- Americans, and the Hispanic to the Irish people, all these represent the different faces of American people. However, the co-existence of these different races has not been smooth sailing.They have experienced racial discrimination, mostly from white Americans, who felt threatened by the increasing influx of the ‘foreigners’ in America. Following Ronald Takaki view in his book ‘A different mirror’, this essay tries to explain the nature of discrimination the slaves, Mexicans and the Irish experienced from the white American people. It captures events that happened before the civil war in relation to racial discrimination, and how the affected groups responded to such actions. Discussion The African Ameri can race was first introduced in America as servants.They were remarkably few in number and served the white masters who were the Anglo Americans â€Å"†¦rather, like most of the white laborers, they were probably indentured servants† (Tikaki, 2008). Later on as their numbers increased, most of them were transformed to slaves. It is not clear though how and when this transition took place Nonetheless, in the nineteenth century, there was uproar by the citizens over the abolishment of slavery. It is this uproar that resulted to future civil rights movements and affirmative action that has been associated by the African American people.They have been the biggest minority group in the United States and have been on the forefront in spearheading the civil rights movement, with African American leaders such as Martin Luther King Junior leading the pack. The Mexican immigrants were mostly dominated by the Chinacos, a group among the Hispanic people. Their population in America supersedes that of the African Americans by far, and has lived in the United States for a longer time too. Their immigration into America was catalyzed by the Mexican- American war of 1846.The subsequent conquer of part of Northern Mexico by the Americans implied that some Mexicans were locked out their native country and became foreigners in their own land. However, a sizable number of immigrants walked to El Norte in search of greener pastures in America. As usual, they were treated with hostility by Anglo Americans and resorted to doing blue collar jobs. Their settlement in El Norte, however, has enabled them to transform the culture to date due to the large number of Mexican settlers in that city. The Irish people arrived in large numbers than most immigrants in the states.Their immigration was fueled by neighboring England’s conquest of their territory, which occurred before the colonization of America. It is for this reason that they migrated to America in search of gr eener pastures. Their reception, however, was not so welcoming, despite their similar complexion to the Anglo Americans. This was many because their catholic belief was not welcome since most Americans came from protestant backgrounds. The Americans believed that the Irish were trying to spread their catholic practices to the Americans.As such, they were segregated and mainly did casual jobs like construction. It was only after passing the naturalization law that the Irish got some reprieve. Their near complexion to the Anglo Americans enabled them to get blue collar jobs to the disadvantage of African Americans and the Chinese. They took advantage of this opportunity to promote their ethnic background, and also to secure political power. Conclusion Racial discrimination by the Anglo Americans was spread across all races as described in the discussion above.The Anglo Americans were keen to protect their ethnicity and culture, and as such did not provide avenues for the other races t o prosper as they did. Instead, they strived hard to show their superiority over the other races. They believed that increased immigration of the other races would dilute their culture as seen by their resistance to the Irish community. However, pertinent to note is that these immigrants brought with them positive change to the American people. The African Americans, for instance, have made America be known for its commitment to the principle of liberty.This, as we have seen, was brought about by the civil movement during the cold war. The Hispanians also managed to introduce a new culture that continues to be accepted and has spread widely all over the nation. In conclusion, most immigrants moving into the United States during the nineteenth century faced racial discrimination at different levels as they strived to settle in a foreign land. Bibliography Takaki, Ronald T. A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. New York: Back Bay Books/Little, Brown, and Co, 2008. Pr int Racial Segregation – Essay Racial Segregation Introduction The great nation of America is one of the most racially diverse countries in the world today. Practically all races in America can trace their roots from different parts of the country. From the African-American to the Korean- Americans, and the Hispanic to the Irish people, all these represent the different faces of American people. However, the co-existence of these different races has not been smooth sailing.They have experienced racial discrimination, mostly from white Americans, who felt threatened by the increasing influx of the ‘foreigners’ in America. Following Ronald Takaki view in his book ‘A different mirror’, this essay tries to explain the nature of discrimination the slaves, Mexicans and the Irish experienced from the white American people. It captures events that happened before the civil war in relation to racial discrimination, and how the affected groups responded to such actions. Discussion The African Ameri can race was first introduced in America as servants.They were remarkably few in number and served the white masters who were the Anglo Americans â€Å"†¦rather, like most of the white laborers, they were probably indentured servants† (Tikaki, 2008). Later on as their numbers increased, most of them were transformed to slaves. It is not clear though how and when this transition took place Nonetheless, in the nineteenth century, there was uproar by the citizens over the abolishment of slavery. It is this uproar that resulted to future civil rights movements and affirmative action that has been associated by the African American people.They have been the biggest minority group in the United States and have been on the forefront in spearheading the civil rights movement, with African American leaders such as Martin Luther King Junior leading the pack. The Mexican immigrants were mostly dominated by the Chinacos, a group among the Hispanic people. Their population in America supersedes that of the African Americans by far, and has lived in the United States for a longer time too. Their immigration into America was catalyzed by the Mexican- American war of 1846.The subsequent conquer of part of Northern Mexico by the Americans implied that some Mexicans were locked out their native country and became foreigners in their own land. However, a sizable number of immigrants walked to El Norte in search of greener pastures in America. As usual, they were treated with hostility by Anglo Americans and resorted to doing blue collar jobs. Their settlement in El Norte, however, has enabled them to transform the culture to date due to the large number of Mexican settlers in that city. The Irish people arrived in large numbers than most immigrants in the states.Their immigration was fueled by neighboring England’s conquest of their territory, which occurred before the colonization of America. It is for this reason that they migrated to America in search of gr eener pastures. Their reception, however, was not so welcoming, despite their similar complexion to the Anglo Americans. This was many because their catholic belief was not welcome since most Americans came from protestant backgrounds. The Americans believed that the Irish were trying to spread their catholic practices to the Americans.As such, they were segregated and mainly did casual jobs like construction. It was only after passing the naturalization law that the Irish got some reprieve. Their near complexion to the Anglo Americans enabled them to get blue collar jobs to the disadvantage of African Americans and the Chinese. They took advantage of this opportunity to promote their ethnic background, and also to secure political power. Conclusion Racial discrimination by the Anglo Americans was spread across all races as described in the discussion above.The Anglo Americans were keen to protect their ethnicity and culture, and as such did not provide avenues for the other races t o prosper as they did. Instead, they strived hard to show their superiority over the other races. They believed that increased immigration of the other races would dilute their culture as seen by their resistance to the Irish community. However, pertinent to note is that these immigrants brought with them positive change to the American people. The African Americans, for instance, have made America be known for its commitment to the principle of liberty.This, as we have seen, was brought about by the civil movement during the cold war. The Hispanians also managed to introduce a new culture that continues to be accepted and has spread widely all over the nation. In conclusion, most immigrants moving into the United States during the nineteenth century faced racial discrimination at different levels as they strived to settle in a foreign land. Bibliography Takaki, Ronald T. A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. New York: Back Bay Books/Little, Brown, and Co, 2008. Pr int

Cancer Can Be Avoided

Being one of the longest prevailing diseases without a cure, cancer has claimed the lives of many people not only in the South Pacific but the world and has left many families destitute and traumatized. Cancer with its variety and names depending on the area of the body affected has led to an unpredictable increase in number of deaths in a society’s census affecting the population by the bulk each year. This essay will argue that cancer can be avoided and intends to list and describe ways in which it can be reduced to a minimum. The essay will unfold in two parts. Firstly it will elaborate on the causes of cancer. Then it will briefly state solutions to help combat cancer. Cancer is the result of abnormal cell growth and is caused when a normal body cell does not function properly. The cell grows and divides uncontrollably without dying out finally becoming cancerous and a tumor results and symptoms vary depending on where the cancer is situated in the body. However, the cell does not become dysfunctional on purpose instead they are the result of many unhealthy choices made by individuals, thus the intentions in the first part of this essay is to briefly give detailed explanation on causes of cancer. To begin with, research has shown that there are substances which are directly related to cancer. Substances known as carcinogens are found to provoke the cells typical function and investigations have found that exposure to these substances induce chances of getting cancer. These substances include â€Å"Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ † (Medical News Today, 2012, p. 2). In addition, carcinogens are practically found everywhere from cosmetics to everyday useable items, these toxins are essentially ubiquitous consequently intensifying chances of getting cancer. However, there are those individuals with bad habits such as smoking and over consume alcohol, their choices evidently lead to cancer and eventually impact their families. Furthermore, it has been proven that age is directly proportional to cancer. Older individuals are more susceptible to cancer compared to younger individuals in a society. Therefore age is vital when considering factors for the prevalence of cancer. â€Å"As we age, there is an increase in the number of cancer causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer. † (Medical News Today, 2012, p. 2). Viruses also play a role in causing cancer. Cancer caused by viruses is common in Pacific Island nations and the undeviating result of this problem is an increase in mortality rate and a decrease in life expectancy amongst pacific societies. According to Mr. Joe Tooma, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation, ‘in the Solomon Islands, cervical cancer is the number one cancer killer of woman†¦.. Almost all cervical cancer has been shown to be caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Several other viruses such as HIV, Epstein-Barr virus which causes cancer common amongst children and hepatitis B and C which results in lung cancer have been identified to have an association with cancer. These viruses â€Å"suppresses or weakens the immune system- inhibits the body’s ability to fight infections and increases chances of developing cancer† (Medical News Today, 2012, p. 2). In addition to this fact, according to Mr. Tooma it is predicted that ‘four out of five people all around the world will be exposed to HPV in their lifetime. ’ This is a very alarming figure and if society is not aware, the prediction may become reality. Although cancer is a possible threat to human existence, there are preventative measures that can be followed to reduce the problem. These measures include a healthy diet and lifestyle, good habits, regular checkups to clinics and vaccination. Firstly, a healthy diet and lifestyle is vital and should be considered in an attempt to avoid cancer. A balanced meal with the right nutritional value will do more than just keep an individual fit, it will also reduce chances of getting cancer â€Å"since what we eat has been linked to the disease† (Medical News Today, 2012, p. 3). Maintaining a garden is recommended as it does not only provide fresh healthy meals but at the same time it keeps an individual fit due to physical efforts put into looking after the garden. Older individuals should keep to a daily routine that involves exercise for at least thirty minutes, as they are more susceptible to cancer. However, having a garden will not be feasible for some families especially for those in urban areas who are only confined to the walls of their house or face restrictions due to tenancy policy. But, innovations such as flower pots and possibly an agreement with landlords can help solve this issue. Secondly, ridding of bad habits such as smoking and over consumption of alcohol will considerably lower the possibility of developing cancer. Studies show that â€Å"choosing not to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol significantly lowers the risks of several types of cancer- most notably lung, throat, mouth and liver cancer. † (Medical News Today, 2012, p. 3). Finally, regular checkups and vaccination is a necessary tool in avoiding and curing cancer. Victims have an opportunity to achieve remission through the use of services such as Pap smear tests, mammograms and testicular self-examinations. â€Å"†¦ research has proven that by finding cancer early at stage 1 or 2, there is a 90 percent survival rate. However, finding cancer late at stages 3 or 4 drops the survival rate to 10-20 percent†. (Fiji Cancer Society, 2007, p. 1). Purchasing of instruments to help aid in identifying damaged cells can also be a way for organization to reduce cancer rates. Instruments like colonoscope would be obliging as it would â€Å"assist in the early detection and treatment of bowel and intestinal cancers. †(Vanuatu Daily Post Newspaper, 2012, p. 1). In addition to this fact, introductions of vaccines such as the anti-cervical cancer vaccine to combat against the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer in women. There are also vaccines present that prevent viruses such as the hepatitis B or C virus from affecting its host. However, there are cases where it is difficult to give effective treatment or the cancer cannot be cured due to genetic predisposition in DNA that is inherited from parents. But that is the whole point of having a regular check up, in order to minimize damages the cancer has done to the body and through government aids, individuals with inherited genetic predisposition n their DNA could be helped by making access to medical services convenient to them. It is evident that cancer cannot be fully eradicated however; preventative measures can be taken to reduce the chances of developing cancer. The preceding measures stated in the contents of this essay can only be fulfilled when individuals are cautious of their choices and are aware of the impact their decisions will have on society, their family and most importantly themselves.

Langston Hughes’ “Montage of a Dream Deferred” Essay

Published in 1951, Langston Hughes’ â€Å"Montage of a Dream Deferred† is a collection of poetry which explores the theme of racism and utilizes rhythm to make the pieces almost musical. The work â€Å"Harlem† quickly became one of the most popular of the anthology. Later the title was changed to â€Å"Dream Deferred†, but in analyzing the poem, it is easier to understand in context of its original title. Although the poem was popular with Hughes’ fans, who continued to appreciate the outpourings from this writer closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance, there are those who critically examined the work and found it to be too ambiguous and lacking in real poetic structure. The poem itself is comprised of a list of rhetorical questions which answer themselves. The answers are written as similes, such as â€Å"raisin in the sun† and in the last stanza, â€Å"like a heavy load† (Grimes). These similes appeal to all the senses: visual – â€Å"dry up† and â€Å"crust†¦over†, feel – â€Å"sags† and â€Å"heavy load†, auditory – â€Å"explode†, olfactory – â€Å"stink† and â€Å"fester† and â€Å"rotten meat† – and the sense of taste, as well – â€Å"syrupy sweet† and â€Å"raisin†, (Hansen). The last line â€Å"does it explode?† is a metaphor referring to the way a dream can be like a time bomb – it must be used before the time when it will detonate inside a person. Hughes employs the use of rhyme, as well, such as â€Å"sun† and â€Å"run† and â€Å"meat† and sweet†. In this way, the poem has a somewhat musical tone when spoken aloud and the short stanzas provide an easy structure. Hughes uses imagery, as well, to give the reader a clearer picture of his intent. â€Å"Raisin in the sun† is particularly evocative of an item withering away while â€Å"fester like a sore† gives the reader a grim visual and denotes the bitterness of the writer. In interpreting â€Å"Dream Deferred†, it must be taken into account that Hughes was well-noted for his scant use of words to convey the issues and circumstances most affecting Black Americans of the time period. In this case he is asking a question which means more than just its surface meaning. â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred† is referencing the dreams, the goals, the visions, most particularly of Blacks, who have been denied many of the privileges of their White counterparts. Hughes answers the question with several lines evoking imagery. â€Å"Like a raisin in the sun† is a reminder of skin, both in its dark color and wrinkled image, and could even reference days spent toiling in the sun by migrant workers working in the fields. That fact that the dream dries up could also refer to it becoming less valuable, or less viable (Grimes). During the time Hughes grew up, he could very well view a lofty dream as being impossible to attain due to his race and thus the issue of racism is once again addressed by Hughes in this poem. â€Å"Dream Deferred† also answers the question by stating the result of ignoring a dream may be for it to â€Å"fester like a sore† and â€Å"then run†. In this case, the dream, if not tended to, may become â€Å"infected† by a lack of motivation, or opportunity, or circumstance. The reference to the stink of rotten meat refers to the nurturance required to make a dream reality. Without proper preservation, a dream â€Å"may decay because it dies† (Grimes). When Hughes uses the terms of crusting over and syrupy sweet to describe a dream deferred, he makes an analogy to something which started out as a treat but becomes unusable if it is, again, not properly cared for. A dream which once held hope â€Å"hardens into an unusable substance† (Grimes). The deterioration depicted can be further assumed to be referring to the state of the Black population and Harlem itself. Hughes was worried about the â€Å"widespread poverty, drugs, and crime of the 1950s† (Mueller) and felt the society he was most familiar with was experiencing a general decay. Instead of continuing to answer the question, the second stanza gives a set of possibilities: maybe it sags, maybe it becomes a heavy load, maybe it just explodes. If working toward the dream seems impossible, it can deflate, become a burden, or perhaps it causes the dreamer to erupt due to the unrealized end to his goal. The burden can be an expression of depression, or the loss of will to make a dream come true. The explosion could occur in the form of death – not necessarily a literal death, but the death of a person’s soul, or motivations, or hope to change his life. This explosion and death also analogizes the life of Black Americans at the time. According to Hansen, â€Å"Its disintegration mirrors the continuing failure of American society to achieve harmonious integration of blacks and whites†. For so long, the race had been oppressed and the pent-up frustrations and anger of Hughes’ fellow Blacks, could very well one day explode in a burst of violence (as if often did). Hansen criticizes the unity of â€Å"Dream Deferred† by referring to it as a mass of â€Å"unresolved conflict†. According to Hansen, its elements, form, and structure are all at odds with themselves and do not follow that often prescribed for poetry of the period. He states that most of the answers Hughes gives to the question â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred?† are not declarative and the only one which is, â€Å"maybe it just sags† loses its significance because it is written without force and does not provide a conclusive answer (Hansen). Hansen also decries Hughes’ usage of stanza breaks. The middle five lines are indented, giving more weight to the first line (the question), and the last (the answer), although Hansen feels the middle lines are much more dramatic and should have been given the emphasis. As well, Hansen criticizes the structure in that the rhyming lines are not placed in logical order and thereby lose their musical resonance and the importance of the pairing of oppositions. Hansen sums up the contradictory nature of the poem and its ideas by reiterating the lack of forceful answers, the final answer which is tentative in its assertion, the division of stanzas which remove the importance of pairing opposites, and a failed rhyme scheme in â€Å"Dream Deferred†. While Hansen’s criticism of the work has its merits, there is still an important message regarding racism within Hughes’ poem, one which the author reiterated in many ways. Through the use of imagery, metaphor, and similes, many of which are uncomfortable, Hughes airs his frustrations regarding race separations. Often Hughes employed a sardonic tone to get his point across and educate the general public about the effects of racism (Mueller). Even as he began to achieve some fame and acclaim for his literary works, Hughes wanted to be known as one of the more common folk and let others of his race know that he, too, experienced their frustrations and anger. To this end, Hughes was quite successful. He, as well as his peers, had all experienced the emotions accompanying a dream which seemed impossible. Although â€Å"Dream Deferred† couches his message in rather repugnant phraseology, it is effective in bringing forth a natural fighting instinct to rail against the dictates of a racist society and this is exactly what Hughes desired to do. Works Cited Hansen, Tom. â€Å"On ‘Harlem’†. Modern American Poetry. Retrieved March 27, 2008 from the Modern American Poetry Website: http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/hughes/harlem.htm. Mueller, Michael E. â€Å"Black Biography: Langston Hughes†. From Answers.com. Retrieved March 28, 2008 from the Answers.com Website: http://www.answers.com/topic/langston-hughes-poet-writer Grimes, Linda Sue. â€Å"Hughes ‘Harlem: A Dream Deferred’: Analysis and Commentary†. Suite 101. February 1, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2008 from the Suite 101 Website: http://poetry.suite101.com/article.cfm/hughes___harlem__a_dream_deferred_.