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Symbols Of Truth

Langston Hughes uses beautiful symbolism and imagery in his literary work “On the Road”. Hughes offers up the idea that if one is to open ones heart; life will provide unlimited abundance. In this literary work, Langston Hughes uses nature to demonstrate and symbolize the unwillingness of his main character, Sargeant, to participate in life. Hughes also demonstrates the use of a person’s anger and instinct to survive and how they both can be used as powerful forces in breaking down racial barriers. Another more impacting symbol Hughes uses is Jesus Christ as a metaphor. Hughes uses this to show how people experience life and how the traditional church values contradict each other when it comes to the acceptance of human beings. Therefore after reading “On the Road”, the views of nature, racial barriers, and values are explained to the readers and the power behind them.
To begin with, Langston Hughes uses nature to demonstrate the distinct relationship amongst blacks and whites during the depression. The writing shows the relationship between the different races amongst the men and women. Hughes use of the snow and night express a simple point, but through the use of these metaphors, he enables the story to be a little less invasive and more appealing to the reader. His main character, Sargeant, is left doubting the integrity of life. Hughes wrote, "Sargeant didn't see the snow, not even under the bright lights of the main street, falling white and flaky against the night. He was too hungry, too sleepy, too tired"(296). Langston Hughes stated like this because at the time Sargeant was one minded and did not take the time to notice the beauty and lessons that nature was showing to him. For almost two hundred years white people have been suppressing the black population. Hughes' use of snow and night are perfect examples. Sargeant was tired of fighting, tired of surviving, tired of hoping, but most of all he was tired of the white people who've suppressed and...