I Dreamed A Dream

Anne Hathaway's rendition of 'I Dreamed A Dream' from the musical 'Les Misérables' is a poignant exploration of lost hope and shattered dreams. The song is sung by the character Fantine, a woman who has fallen from grace and is now facing the harsh realities of life. The lyrics reflect a time when life was filled with promise and love, contrasting sharply with her current state of despair. Fantine reminisces about a past when 'men were kind' and 'love was blind,' painting a picture of an idyllic world that has since crumbled.

The song employs powerful metaphors to convey the depth of Fantine's sorrow. The 'tigers' that come at night symbolize the relentless and destructive forces that have torn her dreams apart. These forces are not just external but also internal, as they 'tear your hope apart' and 'turn your dream to shame.' The imagery of seasons changing from summer to autumn signifies the fleeting nature of happiness and the inevitability of loss. Fantine's lover, who 'filled [her] days with endless wonder,' is now gone, leaving her to face the cold reality alone.

'I Dreamed A Dream' is a lament for a life that could have been. Fantine's dreams of a better future, filled with love and forgiveness, have been crushed by the harshness of her circumstances. The song captures the universal human experience of longing for a past that can never be reclaimed and the pain of dreams unfulfilled. It serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of hope and the resilience required to face life's adversities.