Student Question

Is Langston Hughes criticizing Christianity in his short story "Salvation"? If so, what aspect is he criticizing?

Quick answer:

Langston Hughes is not directly criticizing Christianity in "Salvation" but rather highlighting how adults can confuse children by not fully explaining religious concepts. The protagonist, Langston, loses faith due to his aunt's literal descriptions of salvation, expecting a tangible experience. His disillusionment grows when he realizes others are pretending. The story critiques adults' assumptions about children's understanding of complex ideas like faith, leading to Langston's emotional turmoil and loss of belief.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Hughes is not criticizing Christianity in this story. He's showing how the adults in a child's life can confuse him/her if they don't fully explain things to the child.

Langston loses his faith because of Auntie Reed. She tells him that "when you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to your insides!" Langston took this literally, expecting to actually see a light and to feel something happening in his body. When he doesn't see or feel anything after he's saved, Langston gives up on believing in Jesus because he believed his aunt's descriptions of salvation. His confusion worsens when Westley gets saved because he knows Westley didn't experience anything such as a light and is lying. Langston goes up to be saved only because he doesn't want to disappoint the adults, and they are all telling him to come up and be saved.

That night, Langston cries...

Unlock
This Answer Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

because he lied, showing he is a good Christian because he believes the commandment about lying. His aunt misreads his tears and tells her husband he's crying because he's experienced the Holy Ghost and seen Jesus.

The story reflects how adults don't realize or understand how children think, especially when it concerns a concept as difficult as faith. Auntie Reed expects Langston to accept what she says because she's the adult, and he's a child. She never explains that Biblical stories are a useful guide for how to live one's life.

Approved by eNotes Editorial