Of Salvation in “Salvation” by Langston Hughes

Abstract：There are sarcastic contrasts in “Salvation” - between the narrators deep belief and his seeing no Jesus，and between him and the rounders son Westley during and after the ceremony.Those contrasts may reveal the writers reflection on salvation：it is nothing of belief or ceremony，but depends upon individual personality.

Key words：salvation；sarcastic contrasts；belief；ceremony；individual personality

“Salvation” by Langston Hughes is a story about a boy who believes in God and behaves well but is not saved by Jesus.The contrasts between his belief and Jesuss not coming，between his consideration for others and Westleys concerning his own comfort，and between the behavior of the narrate and that of Westley after telling a lie help reveal the writers intention：salvation is nothing of believing or ceremony；its significance lies in individual awareness.

The narrators deep trust in what the old says about God contrasts against Gods not coming to him.The aunt tells that when saved one can see a light and that something will happen inside because of Jesus coming and accompanying.The same is told by many old.The narrator thus believes in it with no doubt，longing for it and waiting for it.However，despite his honesty and belief，Jesus does not come to him the way as told by the aunt and the old.That discouragement may be resulted by the narrators innocence of believing the old in the sense of words and equating the ceremony of proclaiming his religious belief with the cultivation of religion in personal life，but that intended contrast may reveal the little relationship between belief and salvation - one is not saved for believing.

The next contrast in the essay happens between the narrator and the rounders son Westley.Right before the end of the ceremony，there are still two young outside the fold，the rounders son Westley and the narrator.Finally，Westley stands up and walks to the fold simply for his being sick of kneeling there.The narrator is surprised at his lie and waits for his being punished like being struck dead by God，but nothing happens.The honest and sincere narrator becomes the only one not saved and being prayed for by all the clergy and laity.The narrators persistence in waiting for the coming of God may be credited to his stubbornness，but through his silly persistence the writer may intend to reveal that salvation has nothing to do with ceremony.When there is a ceremony，there can be a performance like what Westley does.He has no belief in God，nor any intention to become better，but by standing up he appears to saved in others eyes.Ceremony does not promise religious cultivation.

The behaviors after telling lies also contrast between Westley and the narrator.Although the narrator finally stands up，stepping to the fold and thus being saved in the eyes of his aunt and other religious crowd，he does not think in the same way.He thinks he is lying and feels guilty about it.Contrary to him，Westley does not perceive himself as a liar and even laughs at his silliness and stubbornness in longing for the coming of God.More than that，the narrator still ponders over why God does not come to him and cries for his lying that night.That obviously goes beyond Westley，who minds nothing of religion and has no awareness of his behavior.Such contrast may hint that salvation mainly lies in nothing but personal awareness.If one is willing to behave well，he will cultivate himself in a better way；with no such intention，the religious cultivation is doomed to be useless.

Salvation is nothing of belief or ceremony，and its effect depends on personal willingness.One is saved not for his belief but for his action，and action from heart，but not some performance like a ceremony.When religion is conducted in the form of ceremony，its essence - being cultivated - can be missed as in Westley who simply stands up to save his own trouble but is saved in others eyes.The narrator，with conscience and the awareness to cultivate himself，may be not religious enough but he has the willingness to get cultivated.In that sense，he is saved.

Works Cited

[1]Hornby A S，Wehmeier S，金，圣華，et al.Oxford advanced learner's English-Chinese dictionary[M].商务印书馆，牛津大学出版社（中国）有限公司，2010.

[2]Langston Hughes.英译汉练习：Salvation[J].中国翻译，1987（3）：62-63.

作者简介：

陈丽薪（1985—），女，汉族，云南曲靖市人，英语语言文学硕士，单位：云南大学外国语学院英语语言文学专业硕士2016级研究生，研究方向：应用语言学。

（作者单位：云南大学外国语学院）