Langston Hughes Salvation

Being a Victim in “ Salvation”

In “Salvation” a young boy describes going to church for a religious revival in which the children were given a chance at salvation. Hughes describes his confusion on Christianity and his disappointment when he doesn't physically “see” God. While Langston Hughes refrains from explicitly criticizing the church and it’s members. He tends to use active words repeatedly to show how the church is commanding him to be saved rather than inviting him. In Hughes’s essay he persuades the reader to believe that he is the victim and the church act as an offender. By not having an actual choice in the church Hughes loses his full agency to make his own decision and becomes passive. The beginning of the essay starts off with the narrator explaining that he was saved from sin when he was going on thirteen. He then refutes this statement by saying “but not really saved.” As Langston goes on to recalls his experience, he begins by expressing his initial eagerness to physically see God. Hughes religious Aunt, Aunt Reed constantly spoke

During the revival the pressure placed on Hughes by the church intensifies. The revival shifts from being a welcoming ceremony to a forceful and aggressive attempt for Hughes to conform. Hughes mentions that once the once the preacher finished his sermon and sang a song he then said, “Wont you come? Wont you come to Jesus? Young lambs, wont you come.” The preacher is telling the children to come rather than asking him to. The preachers words also don't appear to not be completely sincere. When he notices that Langston is the only child that has not been saved he targets him in front of the congregation by asking him, “ Why don't you come to ” The preacher phases the question to Langston as if he has an actual choice. The preacher understand that Langston is young and uses both his authority and pressure to force Langston to listen to his