ipl-logo

Integrity In Thank You, Ma Am By Langston Hughes

450 Words2 Pages

In the story, Thank You, Ma’am by Langston Hughes, the author explores integrity through Mrs. Jone’s words and actions. Roger is a teenage boy who attempted to steal a purse from a woman, Mrs. Jones, walking home alone. He got caught, and she decided to take him to try to teach him a few things so he wouldn’t misbehave again.
In the beginning of the story, Roger tries to steal her purse, but she decides to take him home and teach him a lesson. The text says “The woman said, ‘You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face.” This shows Mrs. Jones has integrity because she cares enough to wish that she was Roger’s mother and could teach him wrong from right. She could have just …show more content…

Jones lets Roger in her house then she guides him to the bathroom. The text explains “‘Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face,” said the woman, whereupon she turned him loose—at last. Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink.” This showed that Mrs. Jones had integrity because she's taking pride in roger and she's trying to make sure he's clean so he can feel good about himself. Just like how she feels good about herself when she looks nice. Shes also just wants to help him out.
In the conclusion of the story, Mrs. Jones tries to communicate to Roger that no one's perfect we all make mistakes, but the thing that we need to do is learn from those mistakes. The text indicates “ ‘ I have done things too, which I would not tell you, son- neither God if he didn't already know.” This evidence shows that Mrs. Jones is having integrity because she is taking and showing responsibility for the things she has done in the past. By doing this Mrs. Jones is being honest toward Roger, Mrs. Jones had a purpose when she told Roger that she makes mistakes too. Her purpose was to ultimutaey bond with Roger, in the ext she even calls him son.
Yet, Mrs. Jones seemed a little bit scary at the beginnning of the story, she ultimately shows Roger how honesty can ultimately pride can help you bond with someone. In the end the author uses Mrs. Jones to model that having integrity is something that not everyone

Show More
Related
480 Words | 2 Pages

Short stories are written to share a lesson, or show and experience for the reader to relate to their own lives. Most stories show a challenge that someone has to overcome, such as a physical threat, or a mental confrontation that they have to face. In the story “Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers, one of the two main characters, Lemon Brown, faced both types of challenges while having taught a message to the protagonist Greg Ridley. LIkewise, in the story “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones caught a child named Roger who tried to steal her purse for a pair of shoes. When thrown into a problematic situation, even without a similar background in the slightest, Lemon Brown and Mrs. Jones address their problems similarly..

Read More
967 Words | 4 Pages

This helps build of trust in her by revealing that she has also experienced how it feels being a parental figure to someone who was passed through school. It makes the older audience that have kids trust Sherry more as they relate to her, making her more credible to them. Sherry also uses other examples to make herself more

Read More
722 Words | 3 Pages

This incident shows the reader that she wants to be taken seriously by her colleagues. It also displays that Hilly deeply treasures her reputation because of her reaction towards the situation. On the other hand, Aunt Alexandra has also shown the reader signs that she values her family’s reputation. In chapter 23 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra did not allow Scout to play with Walter Cunningham because of his poor background. She said, “Because-he-is-trash, that’s why you can’t play with him.

Read More
901 Words | 4 Pages

Father, lawyer, and friend, the gentlemanly Atticus Finch hopes to shape the character of his children. The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is the story of the childhood of a young girl named Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. Throughout the book, Scout’s father, Atticus, tries his best to raise her and her brother, Jem, the right way as a single parent. To Kill a Mockingbird exemplifies the way the character of Atticus Finch either uses ritual or abandons it in order to develop certain character qualities within his children. He specifically focuses on the development of honesty, courage, and humility.

Read More
259 Words | 2 Pages

This quote show that she is starting to talk to the kids and start a conversation as they walk by her house. As she talks to them she gets mad at them. Mrs. Dubose is mean and takes no jokes. She starts a conversation and if someone calls her by her first name she gets mad. “Don’t

Read More
1000 Words | 4 Pages

the woman asked kindly. … “It must be very difficult for you, dear," Mrs. Derby said, as if she could read Amari’s mind.” (Draper 180). She genuinely cared for those around her and always treated everyone with compassion. Draper uses her character to portray her theme of putting race and status aside and just being human beings together.

Read More
906 Words | 4 Pages

To explain this further, he walks her through what the request would have resulted in. The situation, in his eyes, is that he was asked to “solicit a great man, to whom [he] never spoke, for a young person whom [he] had never seen, upon a supposition which [he] had no means of knowing true.” He does this to show that he is willing to share his perspective and that he respects her enough to walk her through it, instead of blatantly saying no without any reason. The mother’s request is logically reasoned inductively to be irrational, leaving him no possible reason or possible procedure to accomplish the task at hand. While it may not have been this extreme, Johnson effectively and logically convinces the mother that she made a mistake in drafting such a letter.

Read More
457 Words | 2 Pages

In the short story Mama states: “... for when Maggie marries John Thomas” pg. 108. Unlike Dee, who is very independent,

Read More
701 Words | 3 Pages

Delia Jones is a black woman who live in Florida that holds to her belief in God to help her get through the suffering that she endures from her abusive husband, Sykes. The theme of the story is good vs. evil which are shown as Delia and Sykes. Delia is the good, hardworking, and self sufficient character that is put through a lot having an abusive husband. Delia has a very strong work ethic, by the way that she is working hard to wash the clothes for the white people that she worked for to put food on the table and a roof over her and Sykes’ head. Sykes returns the favor by taking Delia’s money and spend on rent for Bertha’s house.

Read More
1670 Words | 7 Pages

(CAOT 1997). Mrs Jones spirituality revolves round her family. Being able to cook, looking after her family and being independent gives her meaning as her husband passed away ten years ago. Although she is unable to do a lot physically but she does the best she can and loves her family coming around.

Read More
515 Words | 3 Pages

This predicts that as her son grows older, his knowledge will help him be open and a better man. Her wish is for him continue his education and never grow tired of learning new. Additionally, Adams also uses that encouraging diction when she says "wisdom and penetration are the fruits of experience, not the lessons of retirement. " Adams is able to contrast that wisdom and ambition comes from experience, not laziness. Here, she can tell her son to be ambitious now so he can be wise in the

Read More
1049 Words | 5 Pages

She treated Roger how she would want to be treated if she was in his shoes. There are many examples of Mrs. Jones treating Roger in this way throughout the story. The first piece of evidence that supports that Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones treating Roger the way she would want to be treated is, “If I turn you loose, will you run”? “Yes’m,” said the boy.

Read More
277 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
1447 Words | 6 Pages

The life she has between her child and husband is different than the one with her mother, father and brother. She says her husband doesn’t understand anything that goes on in her family. For example, she says “Nor does he understand that when we talk about sale-leasebacks and right-of-way condemnations we are talking about the things we like best, the yellow fields and the cottonwoods and the rivers rising and falling and the mountain roads closing when the heavy snow comes in.” (Didion 2) So

Read More
870 Words | 4 Pages

It is also, by forgiving Roger, that Mrs. Jones helps him open his eyes to the idea of choice. The combination of her sternness and compassion affects Roger tremendously. The text states, “ The boy wanted to say something else other than “Thank you, ma’am” to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but he couldn’t do so ..” (Hughes Pg.3) Instead of forgiving him, had Mrs. Jones handed him over to

Read More

More about Integrity In Thank You, Ma Am By Langston Hughes

Related Topics

Open Document