As I Grew Older

The theme of the story “ As I Grew Older” by Langston Hughes is, no matter what stands in your way fight for your dream. Hughes showcases the fact that racism and discrimination can hold African Americans back from accomplishing their dreams but, through the struggles they can triumph over racism The theme of the story “Dream Variations” by Langston Hughes is, the poem symbolizes what Hughes interprets as a perfect world without racism and discrimination. The main symbol in both poems is dark skin , and how Hughes shows that his skin means a great deal to him . Hughes also shows in both stories how racism tries to destroy dreams. Another major symbol of both stories is freedom and how the characters want to be free and enjoy life. Hughes wants African Americans to fight for their dreams and stand up for their rights. In the poem “As I Grew Older”, the first stanza represents the birth of a goal or dream, and as the poem progresses Hughes showcases that the dream begins to diminish behind the walls of adulthood, as he grows older. As the poem flows it’s almost as if the white people make Hughes almost give up on his dream until he realizes he can not let them succeed and take away his pride. The wall symbolizes th

Hughes felt restrained in the day and the night was the only time he could rest. The sun in the poem represents Hughes dream. Hughes describes the poem as life he would picture in a perfect world. Hughes wants everyday to be peaceful and for everyone to dance around and enjoy life. Hughes encourages the fact that black people shouldn"tmt hopelessly accept the fact that they are being treated unfairly. "(16,17)The dark part of the poem "Dream Variations" in a racial perspective would be for the black to come out of their depression and not succumb to the white day anymore. The darkness of the night resembles the tone of Hughes dark skin. The last comment at the end was a symbol of people not discriminating against one another because the color of their skin. "Dark Like me-"(8) While the day represents the tone of the white people. The wall rising slowly represents how hard it is for the black people in society, and how much they have to suffer. The poem starts off pretty negative as Hughes describes the fact that the wall stands in the way of his dream and he gives up.