Matthew L Goodwin

     The essay "Salvation" by Langston Hughes was considered to be one of the most notable writings of the twentieth century.  In this essay, Hughes discusses how his life had changed in early childhood.  It all started with his aunt's church, which focused on "revival."  One night, the church was going have a special program for Hughes as well as all of the other children.  The night before, Hughes's aunt told him that he would see, hear, and feel Jesus.  On the night of the program all the children were brought to the front row, where they were "saved," except for Hughes and a child named Westley.  For this reason, the congregation was saying prayers for the two boys.  After awhile, Westley no longer wanted to feel pressured so he walked to the stage.  

           

    "I began to wonder what God thought about Westley, who certainly hadn't seen Jesus either, but who was now sitting proudly on the platform, swinging his knickerbockered legs and grinning down at me, surrounded by deacons and old women on their knees praying" (Hughes).

 

     However, Hughes sat there awhile longer in order to experience hearing and feeling Jesus, as well as seeing the light.  After a while, Hughes walked over to the stage because he began to believe that nothing was going to happen.  The whole congregation cheered in excitement for the children.   Later that night Hughes was scared to tell his aunt the truth about what really happened that day.  For this reason, he felt as if he had lied to her and everyone at the church for getting up from the bench.  After this life experience he decided that he did not believe in Jesus.  

 

Work Cited

Hughes,Langston “Salvation”The Literature Network Forums. Ed. Varenne Robin. N.p., 20 Feb. 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?67465-Salvation-A-short-essay-by-Langston-Hughes>.