Critical Analysis OfSalvation, By Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes’ short essay, “Salvation,” is a controversial yet interesting story that brings many conflicts between people in society. He discusses his personal point of view about his religious experience. Although religion has impacted many people throughout the years, it is still an extremely debatable topic. Many people believe that if you go to church you’ll be good for the rest of your life and just because you convince them as kid to behave a certain way, it will stop them from making poor choices, but it does not always work that way. Religion has historically been a problem for so long; it has divided humanity in so many ways. This story represents how much religion can use fear to gain power, but it also brings a sense of hope

During childhood we begin to learn the meaning of integrity. Having patiently awaited Jesus? appearance for what must have seemed an interminable amount of time, the pressure on Hughes to get up and go to the altar must have been ponderous. Finally, when Jesus failed to make an appearance that evening Hughes had a choice of continuing to wait or rising and satisfying the expectations of the congregation. In making his decision to approach the altar, Hughes is fearful, as most children are when disobeying the ?rules?. Hughes? reticence in coming forward probably reflects his type of up bringing, and he watches his friend to see what punishment God will mete out and bases his decision on the fact that nothing appears to happen. In embracing his friend Westley?s deception, in being saved without seeing Jesus, and because of his own up bringing, Hughes had to acknowledge his own dishonesty.

In most people's lives, there comes a point in time where their perception changes abruptly; a single moment in their life when they come to a sudden realization. In Langston Hughes' 'Salvation', contrary to all expectations, a young Hughes is not saved by Jesus, but is saved from his own innocence.

In his short story “Salvation,” Langston Hughes reflects on the time he lost his religion. The story is set in a church in the Bible Belt region of the United States. In this region Christianity is a staple, and Hughes discovers this first-hand. Although the story is very brief, the reader is still given a glimpse into several traits the pre-teen Hughes possessed. Two of these most glaring traits are his naïve nature and his desire to please others.

When moving toward the end of the poem, one can find out how Hughes tells in bold words how he views himself and reveals his identity. In the final lines, he wrote, "Then, besides, they'll see how beautiful I

Langston Hughes’ short essay, “Salvation,” is a controversial yet interesting story that brings many conflicts between people in society. He discusses his personal point of view about his religious experience. Although religion has impacted many people throughout the years, it is still an extremely debatable topic. Many people believe that if you go to church you’ll be good for the rest of your life and just because you convince them as kid to behave a certain way, it will stop them from making poor choices, but it does not always work that way. Religion has historically been a problem for so long; it has divided humanity in so many ways. This story represents how much religion can use fear to gain power, but it also brings a sense of hope

As time has passed humanity still tends to separate each other based on our racial being rather than seeing each other as one human race. Langston Hughes’s, “A New Song,” published in 1938 introduces the idea of a new vision of social relations in American society. Hughes’s original version of this poem written in 1933, does not encompass his growing anger on this subject that is dwelled upon in his published version. However, with Hughes’s powerful tone and word choice throughout his 1938 rendition, his reader is able to understand his urge to transform America into an interracial culture. (Central Idea) His poem voices the importance of transforming society into a multiethnic unity and working-class established through cultural ties between whites and blacks. (Thesis) Hughes voices this crucial need to change through his emphasis on African American’s past struggles as opposed to the new dream, his militant tone, and through expressing the role that the establishment of cultural ties plays in society.

Immediately, Hughes directly states his thesis in the first two sentences of his introductory paragraph: “I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen. But not really saved.” His thesis serves as an example of a paradoxical statement because he contradicts his claim that he “was saved from sin” with the assertion that he was “not really saved.” He inserts paradox in his thesis in an attempt to attract the reader’s attention by emphasizing his tone of irony. Additionally, his thesis provides both the limited topic and focusing idea of the essay. The limited topic of his essay is his intended salvation as a child while his focusing idea is the fact that his supposed salvation was not honest. His thesis foreshadows the irony of his narrative, and it establishes the main points that he will address.

life. Hughes still feared for the future of urban blacks. His point of view became immense and

     People always listen to music, watch movies or plays, and even read poetry without once even thinking what is could be that helps and artist eventually create a masterpiece. Often times, it is assumed that artists just have a “gift”, and people just do not consider the circumstances and situations that gradually mold a dormant idea into a polished reality. This seems to be the case with nearly every famous actor, writer, painter, or musician; including the ever-famous Langston Hughes.

Hughes illustrates the reasons people do no like the Church today. Rev. Dorset, white or black, should have had compassion for Sargent. It is disappointing to see Rev. Dorset turned away Sargent, especially during the depression. A follower is a reflection of his/her leader and that is why everyone ignored and refused to help Sargeant. A Church has always been the place where anyone can be accepted. Christ says: "They have kept me nailed on the cross for nearly two thousand years(619)." This line symbolizes the stumbbling blocks that a congregation can cause to an individual. Although the congregational members have the power, their power was not enough to keep the Church together. As long as racism exists in a society, the oppressor and the oppressed will be bound and never free.

This is not case, when someone is save God comes to you spiritually and mentally but not in the physical. Langston whole misconception of this concept of being saved ultimately causes he to believe his decision to be save was a deceitful one. In return damaging Langston belief in Jesus and the true meaning of salvation.

“Salvation” is a wonderful narrative by Langston Hughes explaining his first time attending church. The story is portrayed in both a book and film version. Both versions do their jobs by explaining how Langston felt when he falsely claimed he was saved by Christ. Each version has different strengths and weaknesses, but the book is dull compared to the film. The film gives a better insight into Langston’s life;therefore, the film version is superior to the book.

Childhood is a fundamentally important period of development in a human life. It is the time when people can discover many new things and learn new things. During the period, children establish identity, self-esteem, and good attitudes. This essay “Salvation” by Langston Hughes is about a particular moment in his childhood. He vividly describes a past experience as a twelve-years-old child in his aunt’s church. The essay is great examples of facing peer pressure and religious forces. Many young people are forced to be saved by Jesus. They feel peer pressure when they behave differently than the masses. His childhood experience gives us an opportunity to contemplate the meaning of religious forces and peer pressure.

In Langston Hughes 's autobiographical anecdote, “Salvation,” the author reflects on his childhood, and also examines the basis on which his religious views were founded. Hughes 's nonfiction piece, written in adulthood, allows him to look back on his past and reconsider what he learned about salvation, as well as organized religion and conformity, as a child. Because of this inquiry, he begins to question the ways in which adults pressure young people to conform to their views of religion, even without having the deep feeling of faith required. When people are young, they are often asked to conform to roles that they don’t really understand or think deeply about, and religious duty is thus carried on without a lot of free will. Langston Hughes divulges the hypocrisy and the fraudulent faith of the Church and its indoctrinated members through irony and his own indoctrination into his damning salvation. The church service pressures and bullies young Hughes into falsifying his salvation. This ceremony proves that the church values tradition over faith.