Irony In Thank You M Am By Langston Hughes

In the story, “Thank You M'am '' by Langston Hughes it shows a great deal of empathy. Empathy, I believe, is the theme of this story. A hilarious and caring woman, Ms. Luella Bates Washington Jones almost gets robbed by a teenage boy named Roger but instead of turning him in to the police she washes his face, gives him dinner, and provides him with money for new shoes. She shows empathy by forgiving him and understanding what Roger is going through. In addition to understanding, this story also exhibits irony which I believe id the tone of the story. “Thank You M’am” displays irony by showing us in the story that Mrs. Luella Bates Washington was also a pickpocketer. In the story she says “I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son-neither tell God, if he didn’t already know.

The irony of this story is they were both thieves at one time and it was a very big coincidence that they happened to run into each other instead of another person who would’ve turned him into the police. After doing all the bad things in her life she understands what Roger is going through and tries to help him. Mrs. Jones was full of personality because of the struggles that she went through and even though Roger tried to steal from her she tried to help him in her own special way. At the end of the short story, he realizes what she’s done for him and starts appreciating this woman in a new way. While on subject, I believe the mood of “Thank You M’am” is being appreciative. This boy has gone through everything. In this story Mrs. Jones asks him if he’s had dinner yet and he says “There’s nobody home at my house,”(Langston, ). This proves that we aren’t appreciative for everything that we have. He doesn’t even have parents at home or food to eat. He has to steal to eat because his parents can’t