In the short story, Salvation, by Langston Hughes, the narrator introduces his readers to a painful and life-altering memory about religion.
The story begins with young Langston being promised a new beginning, a closer relationship to God, Jesus and his faith. He mirrors the excitement of the adults around him as he looks forward to stepping into this new, pure and enlightened stage of his life along his peers and friends. However, during the actual ceremony where Jesus was supposed to come to him, Langston is left confused and disappointed. He suddenly questions his faith and starts wondering if everyone around him is only faking their piety as well. He feels ashamed of having to lie in order to bring relief to his community and to be accepted and praised by his people. His disappointment pains him to the core.
Langston was allowed to gain a new understanding of the world around him through this experience, therefore his coming-of-age was successful, however it is far from what he hoped for. He is now doubtful, confused and, by growing unsure of his faith, lost.
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Langston as a twelve child was exactly going into the life stage “enlightenment” as you described. He was full of hope waiting to understand the world that he had no idea what it was supposed to look like. During the ceremony he needed assistance to see Jesus but no one helped him. The faculty only did their job individually but nobody gave any sympathy to Langston. They misled him in an unwanted direction where he finally lied to everybody. It is so ironic that Langston was supposed to be saved after the ceremony, however, he required more salvation after that.