Passion
The most prominent theme of this novel is that of passion. Lanston learns that he is quite passionate about writing and gets committed to it. His passion drives and motivates him, and he finds himself diving deeper and deeper into books and poetry. He loves writing, and in the end, he decides to spend all his time doing it.
Poverty
Another very important theme is that of poverty. Lanston finds his happiness often hindered by his socio-economic circumstances. He never has a stable childhood and ends up stranded in Europe at one point. Even later, when he decides to commit completely to writing, he realizes that he would have to work for a living.
Prejudice
Another important aspect of this story is the focus on Black culture and the social standing of black people in the country. Lanston finds an old woman who decides to help him with his life, but it soon turns out that she is a prejudiced woman who wants him to affirm her opinions.
Growth
Growth is also an important theme in this story. It is a peripheral theme but is very important considering that the book is a bildungsroman. The narrative traces the physical and emotional growth of the protagonist of the story, and the narrator finds himself maturing into a passionate man.
