The Styles of Salvation

The literary piece entitled “Salvation” written by Langston Hughes tells about when he was a thirteen-year-old boy who stated that he was saved but not totally saved. A big revival of his Auntie Reed’s church and most people young or old went there to seek salvation. Many people were there as the preacher was telling that Jesus has come and invited the young blood to allow Jesus walk into their lives. When the rest of the young bloods were standing up, Langston stayed sitting down. Langston thought that he would be able to save himself from shame if he also stood and pretend as if he allowed Jesus to enter his own self. Later on, he went home and cried in his bedroom. It was not because he saw a holy ghost but he felt guilty because he lied to all the people in the church. The title of the story indicates a mystery of real salvation. Who are the people that will be saved and who will really be the savior of all sinners? Salvation is only for those persons who know how to seek and for those who hold on the truth, just and fairness. Therefore, this paper is telling what the story is really about, what are the various styles, and the theme in this literary piece.
The story is about an internal and external struggle faced by a person in relation with what to believe in. There is an internal struggle with the child for within him he was unable to see Christ but the people around him insisted that Christ is inviting him, which caused the external struggle of the child.
The literary device imagery became powerful and relevant in the story for it allows the readers to imagine the real things, which are happening and expose the feelings of the author. He uses visual imagery, which is evident when he describes the people inside the church as old women with jet-black faces and braided hair and old men with work gnarled hands. Such description even gives a representation of an existing culture during the Harlem renaissance.
Figurative language is used as a tool of the author to make meaning out of the text. The term “young lamb” is a metaphor, which is pertaining to youth. The use of the term “Holy Ghost” is a symbolic term for the “Holy Spirit” and even the use of the term Jesus is a symbolic preference of faith. The use of hyperbole is even evident when he described what happened when he rose from his seat and stated that the room broke into the sea of shouting.
Tone and mood are also used in this literary piece. Tone is the feeling that the writer wants his/her readers to feel upon reading the story. However, mood is the feeling that a reader feels as he/she analyzes the story. The tone of the story is that there is a feeling of confusion on what to decide and what to do. While reading the story the readers may have the feeling of guilt in the character of Langston.
In a story, the arising themes are very important. Themes are the purposes why a writer writes a story. The first theme in the story is the right way of gaining salvation. It is revealed in the