Salvation
Katy Dewy
English 111
Professor Johnson
October 18, 2014
Critical Response Essay
“Salvation” by Langston Hughes is a personal narrative essay about an experience Hughes had at church where he actually believed he would be able to see, and feel Jesus Christ. Hughes starts by describing a conversation he had with his aunt Reed at a revival service at church. While sitting in church Hughes is told by his aunt that he would see Jesus once he became blessed. He watched other young sinners become saved, but he didn’t see Jesus yet and he waited for his arrival. When it became Langston’s turn, it is clear that he has many doubts. In order to keep the peace he goes along with the process of being saved.
As a reader this may sound quite humorous, but Hughes makes sure there is no misunderstanding of age difference. Langston Hughes makes sure that readers understand that he was only twelve years of age during this time period. Hughes also makes it clear that this revival situation had a major impact on his beliefs in Jesus. Although some readers may understand the content, other readers believe this essay criticizes the religion of Christianity. We have all gone through numerous situations in life where we must decide whether to speak up or to be silent for the sake of peace. Langston decided to keep his doubts, comments, and personal thoughts to himself. Throughout our lives we have been told that it is okay to ask questions. Hughes had many doubts about being saved because he did not clearly understand the statements from his aunt. His Aunt Reed made statements like “You saw a light”, “Something happened to your inside” and “Jesus came into your life”. Young Hughes took his aunt’s words a bit too seriously. This conversation between him and his aunt caused him to be amazed with the idea of being saved. Being saved sounded good to Langston Hughes in the beginning, but soon he came to think otherwise. Hughes expected otherwise from what he had been seeing. Other young
English 111
Professor Johnson
October 18, 2014
Critical Response Essay
“Salvation” by Langston Hughes is a personal narrative essay about an experience Hughes had at church where he actually believed he would be able to see, and feel Jesus Christ. Hughes starts by describing a conversation he had with his aunt Reed at a revival service at church. While sitting in church Hughes is told by his aunt that he would see Jesus once he became blessed. He watched other young sinners become saved, but he didn’t see Jesus yet and he waited for his arrival. When it became Langston’s turn, it is clear that he has many doubts. In order to keep the peace he goes along with the process of being saved.
As a reader this may sound quite humorous, but Hughes makes sure there is no misunderstanding of age difference. Langston Hughes makes sure that readers understand that he was only twelve years of age during this time period. Hughes also makes it clear that this revival situation had a major impact on his beliefs in Jesus. Although some readers may understand the content, other readers believe this essay criticizes the religion of Christianity. We have all gone through numerous situations in life where we must decide whether to speak up or to be silent for the sake of peace. Langston decided to keep his doubts, comments, and personal thoughts to himself. Throughout our lives we have been told that it is okay to ask questions. Hughes had many doubts about being saved because he did not clearly understand the statements from his aunt. His Aunt Reed made statements like “You saw a light”, “Something happened to your inside” and “Jesus came into your life”. Young Hughes took his aunt’s words a bit too seriously. This conversation between him and his aunt caused him to be amazed with the idea of being saved. Being saved sounded good to Langston Hughes in the beginning, but soon he came to think otherwise. Hughes expected otherwise from what he had been seeing. Other young
Cited: Hughes, Langston. “Salvation” The Compact Reader: Short Essays by Method and Theme.9th ed. Ed. Jane E. Aaron and Ellen Kuhl Repetto. Boston: Bedford, 2011.78-80. Print.