# As I Grew Older explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Langston Hughes.

## What happens

The speaker recalls a once-bright dream that has been obscured by a rising wall of shadow, symbolizing racial oppression. Though initially resigned to lying in the darkness, the speaker summons the strength to break through the wall and reclaim the dream, transforming it into a thousand lights of sun.

## Themes in this chapter

### Racial Identity and Oppression

The wall and shadow represent racial barriers that obscure the speaker's dream, and the call to break through symbolizes resistance against oppression.

### Dreams and Despair

The poem traces the journey from a forgotten dream and despair in the shadow to a renewed determination to shatter darkness and reclaim the dream.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who reflects on a lost dream and struggles against the shadow of oppression.

## Key lines

> It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream.

The speaker's dream is from the distant past and nearly lost to memory.

_Establishes the dream as a fading but foundational memory._

> My hands! My dark hands! Break through the wall! Find my dream!

The speaker calls upon their own strength to shatter the barrier and recover the dream.

_Marks a shift from passive despair to active resistance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se/chapters/as-i-grew-older
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se/chapters