Textual Analysis on Langston Hugh's Salvation


The innocence and simplicity of a child’s mind is a precious moment, that which is tainted by the disappointments of reality. The trials and tribulations of life transform a child’s naïve concrete thinking into wisdom. Langston Hugh’s memoir gives readers the opportunity to relive one of his defining moments of betrayal. “Salvation” recounts the day Hugh’s was pushed to go to church with the expectations of literally seeing the divine as described by his Aunt.  Anxiety, and confusion build within the boy as he becomes the only one to not claim to be saved by the holy spirit. The peer pressure drives him to lie about his divine salvation, only bringing more doubt and skepticism to the congregation and the God they worship. Langston Hugh’s writes with purpose methodically placing moments of Irony, Sentence and syntax variation, and vivid imagery to allow readers to relive his truth from the point of view of his 12-year-old self while he experiences a false salvation.
                Hugh’s makes it evident that his reality is not what it seems as 13 yr. old Langston and his revelation of Salvation and its fallacy. Hugh’s demonstrates Irony by framing personal narrative to keep readers engaged. The opening statement made by Hugh’s is the first evidence of Irony. “I was saved from sin when I was going on 13. But not really saved. “This instance of Irony introduces the opposing points of views the narrator alternates between innocence and skepticism. This quote sets the tone for this narrative with Cynicism and Anxiety. In contrast, the story ends with the disappointed Hughs in tears following the experience of betrayal and misconceptions, His aunt overhears overheard and is elated to share the news of Langston’s alleged salvations as she attributes his tears to his false moment of overwhelming divinity. The irony is the upsetting truth that Hugh’s was never able to experience salvation as it was described to him, instead feelings of betrayal, doubt, isolation, peer pressure, and cynical perspective on his congregation and their faith.
                The syntax and sentence variations where intricately methodical to embody the writing styles of the 12-year-old boy and his experience in the revival. His informal variation with sentence length is intended to accentuate key elements in his narrative. Long, dramatic, and sometimes rambling sentences illustrate the harrowing circumstances of peer pressure to evoke emotion and are contrasted by short sentences indicating abrupt moments of realization. “So, I got up” This plain-spoken sentence was candid to the blunt nature of his realizations and underlying emotions. The informal variety of sentence length also is reminiscent of how a 12-yr. old boy would tell a story, further establishing his point of view as a narrator. Hugh’s was purposeful in his punctuation and rhythm to embody the revival and illustrate the experience of African American Church, allowing the readers to experience the moment with him just as he recounted it.
                The choice of words with “Salvation” are meant to take you back to this moment with the narrator to relive the epiphany Hugh’s encountered that day at the revival. Eloquent Imagery was demonstrated to give readers a lucid image of Langston’s actuality. “Many old people came and knelt around us and prayed, old women with jet black faces and braided hair, old men with work-gnarled hands.” Hugh’s utilizes his senses to illustrate the moment through the eyes of his 12-yr. old self.  Repetition also utilized by Langston to represent frustration, pressure, and confusion building up within himself. The literary devices utilized by Langston Hugh’s establishes a sense of attachment to the narrator and a deep understanding of what he when through.
                Langston Hughs utilized literary devices and creative point of view to transport readers back to the day of his at the revival, while keeping a cynical tone to foreshadow the bleak reality of doubt in his congregation and his faith. His use of Irony makes it impossible to not feel the emotions and themes he is going through. He produced a complete experience within a very short story that was true to his recount. “Salvation” reminded readers that things are not always as they seem, the silver lining is found when our emotional wounds turn into wisdom.

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