The Idea of an Essay, Volume 4

12 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 4 Second, “Salvation” reveals an aspect of Hughes’ character that continued to remain a prominent, guiding force in his life. In the narrative, it was clear young Hughes cared for people with his concern of “holding everything up so long” and his tears “that I had deceived everybody in the church” (Diyanni 263-64). Hughes’ never ceased to invest in others, and his earnest passion for black equality was as real and hot as any—born from that same compassionate attitude presented in his twelve year-old self. Arnold Rampersad noted readily Hughes “love of people” throughout his life (Rampersad, Roessel, and Fratantoro xi). Maragaret Walker would fondly recall, “Everybody seemed to know Langston, and he was laughing, smiling, cracking jokes as usual, and he was slapping the shoulder, shaking hands, and being greeted in turn.” A final, third, particularly important element then that can be drawn from this narrative is that of Hughes’ home life—although it is merely a cliff-note. Notably, in recounting he lived with his aunt and uncle. Hughes did not have a stable living. Neither of his parents made themselves available throughout his childhood. He, instead, often went to live with relatives, in particular his grandmother who did not have the mental faculties or intellectual acuity to attend to young-Hughes psychological development (Rampersad, Roessel, and Fratantoro xi). What she did have was books, and this is considered one of the key instances that set Hughes on his path to literacy. However, it is to be wondered what books Hughes read, and whether they could ever offer that same love, if any kind of love, as would have two parents singularly, persistently invested in his life. It is not surprising then that he very likely resented both of his parents—without question his father, but possibly his mother as well. Rampersad very poignantly speculates to this reality, “[Hughes] perhaps hated her [his mother], just as he hated his father” (xxiv). The branding of disregard did not end though with the escape of adulthood. After Hughes had the audacity and boldness to present some of his poetry to Vachel Lindsay, it effectively kicked off his career, and earned him what would be his one and only patron. The lady’s name was Mrs. Charlotte Mason, known as “Godmother,” and she treated him abundantly well, “lavish[ing] money, praise, and what seemed like love on Langston” (xxiv). Then, for reasons still unknown, she broke off ties with Hughes. Hughes reaction to this was nothing short of depression as “he became violently ill”