a child's mind. The author uses his personal experience and feelings to show that adults can cause great
anguish, guilt and pain by pushing them to accept and practice something that is far beyond their level of
comprehension and understanding. Being "saved" involves a sense of inner peace and harmony but
throughout the essay Hughes shows how the whole experience had caused the exact opposite.
At the start of the essay the churchgoers are trying to have the young children find Jesus, because they have
sinned. The adults show great enthusiasm and zeal but the children seemed to terrified, bored or just going
through the motions. It even results in one child lying just to get out of the spotlight. (P 9) On the other
hand Hughes being one with high values and morals chose to wait "I wanted something to happen to me"
(p9) But another contradiction occurs "God
and religion. Which probably came much later in his life.
had not struck Westley dead for taking his name in vain or for
felt when he was thirteen and the second time could have been after he realized the true meaning of god
Some common words found in the essay are: Langston Hughes, Jesus Hughes, Marine Corps, , true meaning, Approximate Word count = 674 Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)