Irony In 'Salvation' By Langston Hughes

“Salvation” is a shocking deviation from the customary religious chronicles heard today. While the account is a provocation for some, it provides insight and understanding of the often invalidated feelings of doubt and deception to others. The majority of spiritual narratives tells of passionate restitutions with Christ, while Langston Hughes’ tale describes a vastly different testimony.
Whereas most Christian disciples strive for honesty and integrity, pretenses fill “Salvation”. Deception is a huge theme in this essay; in fact, the first sentence is a lie. “I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen,” it begins, then continues with “But not really saved,” (Hughes qtd in The Writer’s Presence). This first fabrication sets the tone for the entire essay and accurately describes the narrator’s spiritual life. Throughout this work of literature, the narrator, the congregation, his relatives, and even the readers themselves are mislead by different ruses.
In an attempt to bring him to Jesus, an aunt takes the young boy to a revival in her church. His mentors describe the sights and sounds of salvation; however, the narrator …show more content…
They assume he is going to accept Christ into his life; yet, he deludes everyone when he stands and rejoins the other believers. Because of the large pressure to reform, the narrator felt like he had no other choice but to lie. Moreover, after observing Westley, Hughes realized he could not be punished for lying. Often in church settings, this situation happens with younger children. Many kids will blindly follow their friends because they feel they must fit in and impress other. Seventeen percent of former young Christians also claimed “they were only going to church to please others” (Stetzer np). This essay accurately describes how someone could get lost in the church and never truly have a relationship with their