A little piece of Langston Hughes’s work, God’s other side reveals an interesting thing to be analized. There is funny thing if we take a look at the one of character in that literary work. Jesse B. Simple is one of the character in that story who has different thought with the other common people at that time. That different thought has lead him into different perception among him and his society. Most of his neighbor realize that his thought is unwise and full of foolness. He is considered as a stupid and ignorance person.
The cause of that perception firstly comes when Simple believes that God has the other side which can be treated as the same side with the common side. This common is usually used by common people at that time. This thing leads Simple to make a different idea which he thinks it is good enough. This perception comes up when there is a clear difference between White folks and Black folks in Simple’s place. Simple, a negro who belongs to black folks is underestimated by the white folks which become the most majority in that place. In that society, white and black are differnt. They are separated into some different rules which are banned them to be socialized each other. It can be seen inside the story that there are some rules which have to obeyed by them. Like the example that as a white community person, a man can go without the United Stated Army’s protection like what happen to the black. The white gets sick, but he do not have to creep in the back door of the hospital down South for treatment like the black do. This kind of difference may lead Simple to think that actually the difference is not important because in his mind they are same, same in the eyes of God. Simple thinks that although they are different in the world by they will be same in the day after tomorrow. Both of black and white are taken place in the paradise with the white wings, white robe, and absolutely the white skin. They will live in glory and no one can be differenciate with any kind of differences.
From this thought, the problems come. His society say that Simple is unwise person who just think about foolnesss and can not give the best perception which can be accepted. But, beside that foolness and stupid thought, Simple has given the beatiful message for the reader. From his thought, the reader can be accepted that become different is not a cruel thing. Even it can make the best choice for the life. The example can be seen when Simple believes that God will hear his pray if he stand on the left side of God. Although this is uncommon thing or even it is a stupid thing, but he can stand on his choice and become success with it.
All in all, the different thought of Simple is not a stupid thing. It has moral value and this is a good wise. Simple has his own decision and it can make himself become a wiseman. He believes that become a different person is not strange. It is just the matter of being honored and taking place in a right position.
Noura Nahdliyah (Mahasiswi Sastra Inggris Unesa 2008)
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