Children place their trust and beliefs in those around them. Children grow up influenced by their family and close friends. Their inspiration often comes from religious beliefs and perspectives come from the people they love. In "Salvation"" by Langston Hughes and "The Button,"" by Mahdokht Kashkuli, child protagonists are the speaking voice of children and the many negative emotional impacts an adult's decisions and influences can have in their life; children believe the adults in their life and expect nurturing, honesty, guidance, and a sense of safety. They do not anticipate guilt, heartbreak, disappointment, pain, and scars. In this essay I will analyze how authors use child protagonists in first-person point of view to support their thematic goals of disappointment, betrayal, and loss of faith versus what children expect in adults they trust and have emotionally close relationships.
In "Salvation"" by Langston Hughes, Langston himself writes an autobiographical short story in first person point of view. A brief synopsis of the story is that a young boy with no religious belief is influenced and convinced by his aunt to attend a church rally and to accept Christ into his life. Given the fact that his auntie said Jesus could save him, a nave young boy will take those words literally and trust in the words of his aunt. Hughes says, "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. I believed her. " The use of first person in this story helps one clearly identify evidence to prove a point. Hughes says "I believed her. " This automatically separates opinions from facts since the author is stating he believed her. He shows his faith and acknowledges how strongly he believes in his aunt. here is not much to interpret or analyze, it is clear and factual that he believed his aunt.
