In "Salvation," written in 1940, Langston Hughes shares his early experience in the realm of religion. Hughes visits a big revival at his Auntie Reed's church where he was saved from sin. However, the little boy fails to actually be saved and his expectation turns out to be a disappointment at the end of the story. His experience is not about being converted to Christianity-instead the story explicates about negative effects that result from the pressure of a social norm. Sharing the story of seeking and eventually losing faith, Hughes does not focus on condemning Christianity. I found three different reactions and sentiments of young Hughes in reading the essay. The initial excitement is discussed when he positively describes about the revival meeting and how he hoped in meeting Jesus. Then his anxiety is portrayed when he feels the pressure as he is left last, separated from the other kids who walked up to the altar. Eventually, Hughes decides to join the crowd but he is left feeling lost and burdened. He did not act this way because he saw the light, Jesus; instead, the pressure of the congregation bent his will. The essay clearly describes about his inner conflict in choosing a behavior that everyone favors over one's true will. In the end, I found that a social norm and its pressure caused Hughes to be damaged spiritually and emotionally. .
Hughes begins by telling us that he "was saved from sin" (Hughes 656) when he was going on thirteen. In the opening paragraphs, he vividly describes about the big revival at his Auntie Reed's church. His descriptions are not negative towards the Christian church or the actions of "preaching, singing, praying and shouting" (Hughes 656). Instead he hopes in Auntie Reed's words, such as "when you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you inside!" (Hughes 656). I can sense the writer's excitement, hope and expectations of wanting to be saved.
Salvation: Langston Hughes Langston Hughes was one of the most successful black writers of the middle 20"Th century. ... Throughout his life Hughes wrote over 50 books and one Broadway show ("Langston Hughes" 1). Langston Hughes uses "Salvation" as a satirical look at organized religion though the eyes of a 12 year old boy. ... "Salvation," Rpt. ... "Hughes, Langston." ...
In the essay, Salvation, Langston Hughes is recalling how he gave into conformity at a church revival and in turn, found himself feeling both frustrated and disappointed. The onset of frustration began when Hughes' Aunt Reed wanted him to conform to Christianity. ... Wesley, another boy at the bench, also put the pressure on Langston Hughes to be saved. ... As Hughes recalls, "I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen. ... Through this experience, Langston Hughes learned a valuable lesson about conformity. ...
Among Afro-American writers, Langston Hughes, one of the well-known names in Harlem Renaissance stories, establishes the tone in his writings through the language and the elements used. For example, in his short story "Salvation" Hughes utilizes the difference between good and evil as an analogy for religion. ... Hughes establishes the tone of "Salvation" more so by the simplicity of his informal diction, incomplete sentences and the need of evidence to have faith. ... Langston Hughes cried out for being so happy, while lying to his aunt and letting her believe that he found his new faith i...
Faith In Salvation: The Irony Of It All Young Langston Hughes and "Young Goodman Brown" share a many distinct similarities when dealing with spiritual and religious beliefs. In fact the short poem "Salvation" shares many of the characteristics of the short story "Young Goodman Brown". ... Goodman Brown and Langston Hughes have individual thoughts and beliefs about religion. ... Hughes, in the same manner , was confronted with his beliefs at church when he was asked to "hear Jesus". ... Learn that Goodman Brown and Langston Hughes are a lot alike. ...
Langston Hughes short, essay "Salvation" describes an experience at the young age of 12 that unfolds into feelings of drama, guilt, deception, and grief. ... Langston Hughes endured a long revival, doing as he was told in order to see God and be saved. ... Hughes certainly thought God was supposed to reveal himself to the children. ... "Salvation", By Langston Hughes Logically Promotes that children know best what they can touch and see and feel so how do you hold accountable a child that cannot differentiate a cookie on his plate from a religious concept? Hughes recalls th...
In "Salvation"" by Langston Hughes and "The Button,"" by Mahdokht Kashkuli, child protagonists are the speaking voice of children and the many negative emotional impacts an adult's decisions and influences can have in their life; children believe the adults in their life and expect nurturing, honesty, guidance, and a sense of safety. ... In "Salvation"" by Langston Hughes, Langston himself writes an autobiographical short story in first person point of view. ... After so much waiting, Langston decides it is time to go up and fake his salvation. ... Langston Hughes states "Now it was real...
Salvation In Rare Moments of Life. In Langston Hughes" essay "Salvation," Langston talks about the first time he is going to be saved from sin. ... Langston Hughes uses the narrative technique imagery to describe the setting of the essay. ... Much of the figurative language Langston uses in his essay "Salvation" can stimulate the senses of a person. ... Langston Hughes found himself in a world of misunderstanding. ...
Kasandra Ramos English Comp. 1 June 19, 2002 Literary Analysis "Mother to Son" Langston Hughes Well, son, I"ll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. ... Langston Hughes" poem "Mother to son" shows a mother's passion to make her son's life better than her own. ... It is through tone, diction, and imagery that Langston Hughes presents a black Madonna by bringing salvation to her son. ... In "Mother to Son", Langston Hughes created a black Madonna, A work of art every bit as beautiful as any artist in the Renaissance. ...
What does the word "salvation" might make a person think about? ... However the story "Salvation" written by Langston Hughes talks about something totally different. ... As well as the title of the story "salvation" which gives a totally different meaning of the story. Many people base their readings according to the title of their book, in this case "salvation" makes the reader think that they would read some kind of story that would emphasize in a religious situation where everything would end up well. ...
