"Kitchenette Building" Explication

Gwendolyn Brooks lived in Chicago during World War II when an increasing number of African Americans moved to the city. She lived in a kitchenette, which was an apartment building that was divided into small rooms to fit more families, who had to share kitchens and bathrooms. In "Kitchenette Building," she speaks to impoverished families by using "we" to include everyone. They are reduced to "things" without individual dreams because of all their burdens. Her use of sensory imagery compares hopes to reality. Dreams are useless and make a giddy sound, while rent and family duties, which have a strong sound, are reality. She questions if they will rise above the smell of onions, fried potatoes or garbage, which are very pungent and unappealing, because she doubts their importance. The dreams have to fight to survive, like the poor themselves. They "flutter or sing", which are happy and light words, but unsubstantial. Many people are unwilling to believe in their dreams because they do not want to raise false hopes. Even if people began to dream, which is uncertain, they would quickly return to reality. "Number Five," one of the families with which she shares a home, refers to people as things again as a reminder of her difficult life. However, in the end, she reveals that she has not given up dreaming because people still find time to keep warm and clean, similar to their dreams. This contrasts with "dry hours" of their struggles in the beginning, so hope remains.

Even today, I think Brooks's message holds true for anyone. Many people have busy lives, so they forget to take time to dream or relax. Especially with new technology, they are always rushing or working, while dreaming is left behind. Also, I often associate dreaming with children, so she marks the change from childhood to adulthood when people gain responsibilities, such as paying bills or taking care of the family. Yet, she preserves hope to show that even adults continue to dream.