On the Road by Langston Hughes, Essay Example

The story “On the Road” by Langston Hughes provides an exciting perspective on a vagabond’s life. Sargeant is the focus of the narration and provides insight into a vagabond’s life in society. Each character and location of events offer valuable insight into the viewpoint the audience should contemplate through the reading. An analysis of each aspect and character reveals more details about the nature of the vagabond’s life. Sargeant, the Reverend Mr. Dorset, the Christ from the cross, and the Church prove useful through their ironical nature. The contrast each character, event, and location provide is also helpful in illustrating various elements of the life Sargeant experienced. Another characteristic that ties in with the theme of the literature piece is the title, which provides a form of oversight into the writing’s purpose. The paper analyzes each component and explores the contributions they provide in comprehending the experiences of a vagabond in the streets.

The first character that catches the reader’s attention is Sargeant. Sargeant is a vagabond who seems to be depressed. The author points out the apparent lack of response to conditions that would otherwise catch any other healthy person’s attention. He seems oblivious to the chilly conditions prevailing outside, as seen in the first paragraph. The writer records that Sargeant seemed not to feel the snow’s cold and wetness either on his neck or in his shoes (Hughes 1). Even his eyes failed to catch the sight of snow falling through the air in the bright light. Confusion and disorientation also point to the lack of calmness in Sargeant’s mind. The fifth paragraph of page one indicates his feelings of hunger and conflicting thoughts of being lost while not feeling lost. His circumstances and reflections point to the prolonged period in which the vagabond lived in a poor mental state. The weather also paints the picture of his bleak and hopeless outlook on life. Snowy conditions offer a gloomy view of the environment (Hughes 1), reflecting the hopeless perspective Sargeant had about his life. The economic conditions of the time also reinforce the observation. The narration points to a period of economic depression in the first paragraph of page one. His economic life experienced the same problem. Additionally, even the weather and economic environment seemed to reinforce the hardship the man experienced.

Reverend Mr. Doset provides useful insight into the difficult natureof the life Sargeant experienced. The interaction between the two men enables the reader to understand the quality of social interactions the vagabond experienced in society. Sargent had a poor social life. Mr. Doset appears as an authority figure that would be in a position to help Sargeant. He is a church leader, has access to resources the man needs, and should be able to tend to the vagabond based on his job description. As a representative of the church, the pastor should be able to assist the needy in society. He does the opposite in this case, contrary to the reader’s expectation. When Sargeant comes for help, the Reverend shuns him and sends him away, as we see in the second and third paragraphs (Hughes 1). He refers the vagabond to a shelter down the street, where the man has already faced rejection. The occurrence is ironic since the pastor would be in the best position to get the man whatever he needs. The scenario serves to reinforce the reader’s understanding of the hopelessness and desperation Sargeant experiences. It is evident that the vagabond has to be on the road because he has nowhere to go. Nobody is willing to aid him yet the authority figures and institutions available have the capacity to help him. Such a circumstance may help to explain why the man suffers depression. One would expect that the shelters would have their door open to anyone in need yet Sargeant fails to find assistance. The situation seems to reflect the failure the vagabond has experienced to acquire and utilize opportunities available to him. He may have been unaware of the opportunities or failed to qualify to get them.

The church is also symbolic of the life of Sargeant. The place correlates to the representation of the Reverend and the shelters. Sargeant fails to find assistance when he decides to go to the building (Hughes 2). He had hoped to find solace at the church but instead, the building collapsed. The incident seems to point to the dashed hopes that the vagabond has experienced whenever he sought help. Our understanding of the church is as a place of sanctuary. Church members tend to promote the location as an area for finding solutions. The opposite is true as the church seems to generate more problems for the vagabond. Sargeant ends up demolishing the building and gets into trouble with the police and other bystanders, who mistake him for a criminal. It is ironic that the church fails to serve its purpose. His efforts end up sending him to a prison cell (Hughes 4). The incident points out once more to the hopelessness and desperation in Sargeant’s life. Nothing seems to offer solutions to the hardship he faces.

The character of the Christ Sargeant sees is useful in understanding the nature of the society. The church tends to serve as an emblem of freedom. It is ironical that the church becomes a prison for their source of freedom-the Christ. The observation is evident through the conversation Sargeant seems to have with Christ in the second and third pages (Hughes 3). Christ seems relieved that he got an opportunity to be free from the cross, where the church had pinned him. Such a representation contradicts the freedom through resurrection that the church upholds. Christ was supposed to be free from death after the resurrection yet the church had still nailed him to the cross. The scenario demonstrates the lack of freedom the congregation, and perhaps the community, experienced. The beliefs the people have embraced seem to fail to produce the results they expect to receive. Sargeant has the same problem, which contributes to his depressive state.

The paper has provided an analysis of the state of Sargeant’s life perspective. The characters, locations, and activities in the story have enabled the comprehension of the life the vagabond lives. It is evident through the weather, the economic period, the Reverend, and the church and its ideals that the life of a vagabond is hopeless, desperate and depressive. Whatever opportunities and channels available to the individual for help fail to serve their purpose. The vagabond therefore remains on the road, wandering about in life.

Work Cited

Hughes, Langston. On the Road. (1902-1967)