The poem’s title indicates its primary symbol, with dreams representing hopes. The term stands in for aspirations or goals—not thoughts or feelings that a person has while sleeping, and not fantasies or surreal environments. Like hopes, dreams are realistic and a part of daily life. People need dreams to live—they require a goal to work toward. A person who loses their dreams also loses their hopes. Without hope, life is bleak and static. It’s not active and welcoming but wounded and stuck, like the “broken-winged bird” (Line 3) and “barren field / Frozen with snow” (Lines 7-8). Through symbolism, the speaker creates a chain of representation: Dreams symbolize hope, and hope represents life’s central force: Minus dreams and hopes, life withers. Thus, dreams don’t only symbolize hope—they symbolize the key to a free, fulfilling life.

As dreams symbolize hope, the reader might wonder why Hughes didn’t use the word “hope” and call his poem “Hopes.” By using “dreams” instead of “hopes,” Hughes keeps the reader alert. The somewhat elusive diction compels the reader to think about how dreams are like hopes and can possess the same sort of enchanting quality. Arguably, “dreams” sounds more ornate than “hopes,” making it more enticing for the reader to learn why they must “[h]old tight” (Lines 1, 5) to their hopes and dreams.