On the Road by Langston Hughes uses many metaphors and symbols to portray racial and cultural barriers of that time period. Born in the mid 20's, Hughes saw the effects of the great depression and how they impacted the world, and in this story, from the eyes of a black homeless man, he depicts the poverty and the discrimination. The snow symbolizes the goodness in life, its white color symbolizing purity, and in the beginning of the story, Sargeant can't see any of the snow. He may be able to feel the snow, but he can't see it. He is too focused on his hunger and his lack of sleep that he can't see the good in the world. It is not until he walked up to the church that he finally looks up and sees snow. Sargeant is just struggling for survival, and his instincts kick in. He needs a place to sleep, and he is determined to get into the white church. He breaks open the door, which symbolizes his desire to break down the racial barriers of his time however the white police arrive to put him back in his place. As he is holding on to the pillar, even white pedestrians are trying to pull him off their church. Sargeant bringing down the church was a metaphor for his feelings. He felt as if he was freed from his burden of white suppression. Even after Sargeant is put in jail, it is apparent that he will not stop until all racial barriers were to be taken down, as he says, "I'm going to break down this door, too". I did not perceive the story in a religious way, although others may have