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Compassion In Barbara Ascher's Thank You, Ma Am

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At an early age, we learn how to use every trait we have in us. It takes us longer to process and learn the true meaning of some of these innate traits, for example, feeling compassion towards others under certain situations. On the other hand, compassion can be taught to those who may be afraid to show sympathy. Many people believe that compassion is a trait which we learn over the years, with experience. However, others feel that it's more of a connection we have among us no matter the age, or the ethnicity. Barbara Ascher’s idea that compassion must be learned it’s problematic because compassion a mixture of both innate sympathy and learning how to feel concern for others. Affection is a way to demonstrate compassion, but some people may …show more content…

As shown through imagery in Thank You Ma’am, it's up to us whether we want to show compassion because it’s in our hearts to help each other out. We see different things happen out on the streets, for example, the encounter Mrs. Luella had with the young boy named Roger in the short story, “Thank You, Ma’am,” by Langston Hughes. “Pick up my pocketbook, boy, and give it here,” Mrs. Luella said. The boy was trying to steal from her, but the woman knew the boy was in need. In addition, the woman took the young boy to her house, making him clean himself up and cooked him a decent meal. “I would teach you right from wrong,” Mrs. Luella said. The word compassion can be somewhat intimidating for some people, but it's a good quality to have in us. Furthermore, as demonstrated in the short story, if one is concern of others needs we can make a difference even though no one else can see it. If we take the time out from our busy schedules and help those who need it we would be better off. “ I were young once and I wanted things I could not get,” (3). Although, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, went through a similar situation her concern for the young boy helped him realize that stealing was not the right thing, and that he should learn to ask for help when he feels the need and work for what he wants instead of stealing. Our compassion is a reflection causing us to help a stranger, acknowledging our cry from the tragedies and aspiration of

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In Barbara Lazear Ascher’s essay titled “On Compassion” Ascher considers the concept of compassion by utilizing her own encounters with the homeless as a vehicle to make her argument. In her argument, she interprets compassion as an abstract concept, and portrays empathy as a building block to compassion; making the argument that to be a more tolerant society one must first learn empathy in order to demonstrate true compassion. When analyzing Ascher’s rhetoric, her style, diction and rhetorical devices reveal a skeptical tone and serve a greater purpose in appealing to the reader’s sense of ethos and pathos. Namely, Ascher’s use of first-person narrative and word choice like “we” appeals to the reader’s sense of ethos, which eventually builds

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I had learned this by coming to understand that kindness isn’t only kind gestures, but instead a string of acts that conclusively lead to both parties seeing their own self value. It had been during my last years in middle school, a manipulative overlord of a person, someone I had been friends with for years, controlled me. Much like Mama Elena, this person whom I have given the title, “X”, was someone who needed to feel as if she had a tremendous amount of control over others. This person would tell me how worthless we, my friend, Dylan, and I, were. "X" would often blackmail us because of social mistakes like talking out of turn or forgetting to give her things like gifts or homework.

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By providing a specific number, $200, Singer demonstrates how simple and reasonable it is to save a child in poverty. Additionally, he repeats, “to save a child’s life,” which demonstrates exactly what a $200 donation could do for a child in poverty. As an example, Singer references a credible philosopher, Peter Unger, and acknowledges that “by his calculation, $200 in donations would help a sickly 2-year-old transform into a healthy 6-year-old.” Next, he establishes, “if you were to give up dining out just for one month, you would easily save that amount.” Singer emphasizes this to show the reader how simple it is to save $200, and, more importantly, save the life of a helpless child.

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So constantly being kind and showing those kind emotions can show your character and build a reputation that you can uphold. In his quote, Elie Wiesel stated “Even on the edge of the abyss, it is possible to dream exalted dreams of compassion.” I believe he talked about

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Compassion and forgiveness is not something everyone gives but is something you should give to everyone. Even when they don’t deserve it. Compassion and forgiveness is a theme in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee when Atticus tells Scout not to be angry at the people who are against him, when he defends Bob Ewell’s behavior after the Tom Robinson case, and when Scout saw the world in Boo Radley’s shoes. And in real life, when a woman pardoned a man on the gallows, before he was hung, even though he murdered her son, and a woman forgave two boys that pushed a cart over a railing onto her, causing many injuries When word goes around about Atticus’s decision to try to defend Tom Robinson, Scout becomes irked by everyone who mocks Atticus for defending Tom Robinson. Atticus tells her, “It’s different this time [...]

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Caring for others has for a long time been seen as something that just a woman does. Rather than a man because in this society they are taught to be macho, and not show that they have feelings, or that anything bothers them. Although I do not agree with this we can see now that our society is changing and evolving and even philosophers have now begun to realize that justice now has a caring aspect to it. I completely agree with this reasoning and Annette C. Baier brings discusses many philosophers to prove her point. Annette Baier discusses justice and care in an interesting way and she does so by distinguishing between the justice perspective of people like Kant and Rawls as well as what Gillian’s perspective about care.

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Then he realizes that he was not going to stay with his money when he die. At the end, he helped his employee with a monetary situation. Further, he went to his nephew’s Christmas dinner. Significantly, this novel helps people retrain the meaning of being humble and kind with others. Something that is very important about this novel is that it teaches a lesson of helping others, because you are not going to stay with your money when you die.

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In one circumstance, we may feel the need to give to those who are poor to keep them from getting in our personal space; and in other circumstances we feel that we give to others out of the kindness of our heart. I completely agree with Ascher and her views on compassion, because I have been in similar situation where I have questioned why people give money, and whether they give with a whole heart or out of necessity. Furthermore, this essay can teach us plenty of lessons that can be utilized throughout our lives so we can teach others and make them aware of the need to be more

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“ I have done things too, which I will not tell you,” Mrs.Luella Bates Washington Jones said to Roger the boy that tried to steal her purse. In the story “ Thank You Ma 'am ” I believe that Mrs Jones is caring because Mrs. Jones brings Roger into her house, and tries to help Roger. The most obvious why Mrs.Jones is caring is because she lets Roger into her house even when he tried to steal her purse, I know I would never just let him in my house if he tried to steal my purse I would of called the police. First of all she brings Roger to her house and then makes him dinner. I would never make a boy dinner who tried to steal my purse.

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1242 Words | 5 Pages

In her essay, “On Compassion”, Barbara Lazear Ascher analyzes the idea of compassion and the -------- of the homeless by the those more fortunate. She presents two instances in which homeless people are gifted with money or food items and ponders the motivation behind these acts. ----------------------. Targeting a broad audience, specifically people belonging to a higher socioeconomic standing, Ascher emphasizes the need for awareness of the adversity of the homeless, establishes that one must learn “compassion” for the homeless and less fortunate, and poses the question of whether the motivation for the “compassion” is relevant.

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Theme Essay Has someone ever been so kind to you? In the text "Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes the author shows that being kind is always the right thing to do, we see this because, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones takes Rodger into her house, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones gives Rodger food, and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones helps to get Rodger clean. The first reason that being kind is always the right thing to do is, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones takes Rodger into her house. The text shows this theme because Mrs. Jones takes a random kid that she doesn’t know to her house just because he tried to steal her pocketbook, but it turns out that she actually wanted to help him.

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They encountered a man on the road that had been struck by lightning and was also suffering from starvation. The boy wanted to turn back and help the wounded stranger, but the man had to explain to the boy that they did not have enough of anything to share with him (McCarthy 49-52). They barely had enough to take care of themselves, and if they gave away anything that they had, they would be more likely to starve. It was a decision between their own lives and others’. There was also another occasion where the man and boy were on the beach and were robbed of most of their belongings (McCarthy).

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A central theme in the short story “Thank you Ma 'am” by Langston Hughes is a little kindness goes a long way. One act of kindness can change a person’s life forever. Her unnecessary kindness made a major impact on Roger and changes him. As the story progresses, we see that Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones shows empathy and kindness for Roger. That kindness appears to pass onto Roger near the end of the story.

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In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, some people do not recognize that someone wants to help them. The people mentioned had been given or received kindness from someone but they do not know that they are trying to help. The types of kindness that will be shown is kindness within the Finch family, kindness shown through neighbours, and kindness of acquaintances. It is shown that kindness is taken for granted.

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Langston Hughes' short story "Thank You Ma'am" is a powerful and poignant tale about the transformative power of kindness and empathy. The story centers around Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, a strong and compassionate woman who demonstrates an act of mercy towards a young boy who attempts to steal her purse. Through her actions, Mrs. Jones teaches the boy a valuable lesson about trust and respect, and ultimately, she helps him to turn his life around. The story opens with Mrs. Jones walking home late at night, carrying a large purse. Suddenly, a young boy named Roger tries to snatch the purse from her,causing both Mrs. Jones and Roger to fall to the ground.

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