Arly Alvarado – DB 10

For my research essay I will be focusing on the short story written by Langston Hughes, “Salvation.” The reading centers on a young boy who attends church with high hopes of being “saved by Jesus,” only for circumstances to change when he is the last child sitting on the mourners bench and has yet to be rescued. In fear of wasting any more time, he stands- though he goes to bed later that night with the lack of faith in Jesus and feeling remorseful for lying. From the beginning to the end of the story, readers are able to see the change in his thought process as well as feel his emotions. The secondary source information I will use to support my thesis will be the journal article “The American Dream of Langston Hughes” published by Southern Methodist University. [JSTOR] This article supports my thesis because throughout the reading, readers are informed on everything Hughes had experienced. From being a victim to racial discrimination to using poetry to make ends meet and than making poetry his voice. Readers are able to witness the character development.