The Autobiographies of Hughes and Army Tan - Essay Example

The two essays give accounts of two experiences in life. Importantly, they give accounts of moments the two writers remembered the most. Comparatively, the two essays have a narrative effect created by the narrations using the first-person perspective. That perhaps is what makes the two stories autobiographies. They do not give detailed information on the lives of the authors, but there are indicators that the writers themselves wrote the stories. This factor makes the stories qualify as autobiographies, full of personal experiences.

The two stories also differ in their thematic concerns, with Army Tan giving her account of learning English and Hughes talking of having lied (Tan 1; Hughes 1). On the contrary, Hughes writes a confession and a mockery simultaneously. He confesses of having lied to her aunt and the congregation of having seen Jesus and receiving salvation. His autobiography satirizes the way the church conducted the service. The use of satire creates a mocking effect of the work and hints at the uselessness of preachers and the congregation.

Hughes’ work points at the salvation of the children as being infatuations (Hughes 1).