Reactions to “Salvation” This short story by Langston Hughes left me confused. I still wonder if he was saved or not; whether “salvation” should be the title of the story or not. “I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen. But not really saved.” (Salvation, 351). This is how the story begins, with a contradiction. I suppose this some what grabbed me in interest for a while, but I do have to admit that I never truly understood if Hughes was “saved” or not. It almost seemed to me that there were missing components, that this short story was maybe an excerpt from a larger story. I did not take the time to confirm this or not because I think if I knew for sure, it may take away from my true interpretation of this piece. I found this short story interesting. However, it was very difficult for me to connect with the author. The story was obviously written as recollection of a significant event in Hughes life when he was younger, perhaps because this particular event has affected him throughout his entire life. It is difficult for me to say for sure mostly because I have very little knowledge and understanding of church, religion, or being “saved” even means. So going off of my reaction purely from the way Hughes wrote it, I would have to say that I think he might have spent a long part of his life confused about what happened that day in the church. Hughes was very young this day where he was supposed to “see” Jesus. Being so young I figure he would have taken things he had learned or been told by his family quite literally. When Hughes aunt told him that Jesus would visit him and he would see Jesus. “My aunt told me that when you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you inside! And Jesus came into your life! And God was with you from then on! She said you could see and hear and feel Jesus in your soul.” (Salvation, 351). As a child hearing