I would analyze and describe this character as curious and trying to sustain his religion and respect the beliefs that come along with it. He’s excited and almost skeptical of what is about to take place or what it really means to be saved and to see Jesus as everyone around him is telling him. It started to become a thing where it was intense pressure as all the other kids were in fact being “saved” while the boy was the only one left. Langston begins to feel doubt, lowering his confidence of seeing Jesus and his mind shifts. He doubts the truth of it all. Under the pressure of the women and the people of the church he finally stands. He started off happy and looking forward to something and realized maybe it all isn’t true as he had to lie about being saved. His beliefs were then struck and he no longer believed there was a Jesus to see or to help him.
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3 thoughts on “Celine Ghany Discussion 3”
Celine, curiosity is a trait most people don’t mention about this narrator. But I think you’re right that he is curious and open to the experience his aunt wants him to have. Thanks for the good observation.
I agree that he is attempting to respect the beliefs of his religion as well as his family. It is a powerful story and can definitely point to some peer pressure as he begins to feel forced to stand up and lie despite not seeing anything. It’s disappointing to see his beliefs struck down, as you put it, because he was so happy in the beginning. Very well said. And it can make the reader wonder if this is a common trend; if many people truly believe or are going along with their peers to refrain from disappointing them.
I agree that Langston Hughes as a child felt pressure. He saw all these kids getting up and running to the front of the church to be saved thinking that Jesus came to them, himself, as Hughes was waiting for, and felt neglected that he did not experience the same. This definitely led to him doubting his belief in Jesus. I also agree that he felt doubtful because he had to lie about his belief in Jesus. Which to him, possibly, meant that all other kids were lying, just like he was.