The Era Of Symbolishness In Langston Hughes's On The Road

What happens when a church values violence more than justice? Would it still have believers? Langston Hughes’ short story, “On the Road”, gives readers insight to an era of segregation and its influence on white people. The church is a significant setting in the story; it is a space protected with doors only white people has access to. The closed-off space that the church signifies represents the selfishness of the white people who gather in it. The evidence of selfishness are found in the locked door, which symbolizes the white people’s denial towards segregation; the tall stone pillars, which symbolizes the white people’s belief of superiority over all races; and the stone crucifix, which symbolizes the white people’s failure to fulfill Christ’s teachings.
To begin with, the church’s locked door signifies the selfishness of white people. The locked door does not only represent the physical boundary between the whites and the black, but it also shows the white people’s ignorance to see segregation as a big issue. For example, when Sargeant attempts to seek help from Reverend Dorset, the Reverend tells him to go to the Relief Shelter. Although the Reverend gives Sargeant some help through his …show more content…
Throughout the story, evidences of selfishness are found in the locked door, which symbolizes the barriers that white people have established both physically and mentally; the tall stone pillars, which signifies white people’s strong belief of segregation because it shows their supremacy; and the stone crucifix, which signifies the failure to spread Christ’s words outside of the church. Ultimately, “On the Road” shows the ignorance and selfishness that come with cultural indifferences. The story inspires readers to reach out and be the voice for those who are muted and to end their prolonged, silent