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Langston Hughes Salvation Summary

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Langston Hughes’ “Salvation” is a story that pits young Hughes against a moral decision. In it, Hughes is taken to a church by his aunt and is expected to participate in a revival. Hughes is put in a tough spot as he is pressured to lie to his elders on the notion he felt the presence of Jesus Christ as well as gaining a biblical rescue. As his peers claim to have been saved, Hughes eventually gives in to the crowd’s persistence and satiates their desire. Hughes’ decision later makes him regretful as he concludes his story through mournful sobs. The young Hughes leaves the audience with a captivating question at the recounting: Are my actions justified if I attain the satisfaction of others? Most people grow up expecting to carry out the …show more content…

I was offered a shot to take it, and shoot I did. Most people would welcome a person like me back home. They would adulate me and seek advice. They would ask for gifts and ask questions about the experience. None of that had mattered when I returned, however. I returned not as a noble pilgrim, but as a disgraceful outcast. Nearly everyone I loved had shunned, mocked, and ridiculed me for fulfilling the obligations of the Hajj, such as shaving the head. Instead of peace and glad tidings, I was offered embarrassment and harassment. As I feared, my peers had grown envious of my fortuitous happenings. I soon grew to look past the hate and accept that what I had done was right, regardless of the sanctions my peers exhibited even when I presented them with gifts. All the pain I had to endure, however, was not in vain. Everything I underwent was only a test of faith. In my religion, we are taught life is a test and that only intending the righteous of deeds will go a long way. I faced the challenges that haunted me. I did not falter, and I certainly did not give in. As a result, my aptitude for a better life presented itself when I came to terms with my decision. I had earned good grades, got accepted to prestigious schools, unlocked new doors to my future career, and gotten closer to my

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