For this I read the story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes .One of the most striking scenes in the story is when the narrator finds himself as the last child on the mourners’ bench, surrounded by a congregation praying fervently for his salvation. The lines “And I kept waiting serenely for Jesus, waiting, waiting – but he didn’t come” encapsulate the disconnect between the overwhelming external pressure and the quiet internal truth he felt. This dichotomy paints a vivid picture of how external pressures can lead one to act against their innermost feelings or beliefs. Additionally, the story’s conclusion, where the young Hughes lies to appease the church and his family, speaks volumes about the lengths one may go to in order to conform. The ending is particularly heart-wrenching because it’s clear that the act of lying has a profound impact on his self-perception and beliefs.In essence, I connected with Hughes’s story cause it serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of growing up, the challenges of navigating societal pressures, and the internal conflicts that can arise from trying to fit into expected molds. Through the lens of young Hughes’s experience, the story offers insights into the universal human experience of grappling with external expectations versus personal truths.
James Joyce’s “Araby” resonates with me in many ways. The meticulous depiction of North Richmond Street depicts a quiet and serene environment, which anyone who grew up in a quiet area may be familiar with. This silence is broken only by the boys’ play. This scene evokes anecdotes from my own childhood and personal memories of the sheer joy of free play.
What I really felt was the description of a winter day “Dusk approached before we could eat enough dinner.” It vividly depicts the dark and cold days and the ever-changing sky. This sight reminds me of the nights of my own childhood, when the outside world turned into a vast shadowy playground.
Furthermore, the narrator’s explanation of Manganese’s secret observation of his sister is based on unexpressed love or infatuation due to adolescence? It is reminiscent of. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives, looking at us from afar or cherishing stolen gazes. His attention to her every movement, right down to the “soft ropes of her hair fluttering from side to side,” embodies the heightened sensitivity feel during a young love, although I have thought something similar. It’s like a scene from a drama.
2 thoughts on “Discussion2 Yuki Ichiki”
Hi Yuki!!
I’m happy to see someone else feels the same way as I do on the story “Salvation”. I think this story is important because I find that a lot of people can relate to the dilemma that comes with testing your own morality. This is especially prevalent when one is transitioning from child to teenager, and teenager to adulthood. It’s the struggle of still trying to be innocent and kind in an unfair and hostile world.
Yuki, please try to focus your posts on the prompt. The prompt asks students to discuss how they connected to the narrators. The section on “Salvation,” in particular, evades a deep exploration of this question, devolving into a discussion of the plot and themes of the stories. The purpose of the discussion boards is to get to know one another and share individual reflections.