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Kindness And Empathy In Langston Hughes 'Thank You Ma' Am

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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. Rather than calling the police or punishing the boy, Mrs. Jones picks him up and …show more content…

He becomes more respectful and honest, and he begins to open up to Mrs. Jones. When Mrs. Jones offers to give him the money he needs to buy the shoes he wants, Roger realizes the importance of earning something for himself. He decides not to steal from her, and instead, he thanks her for her kindness.
Through the character of Mrs. Jones, Hughes emphasizes the importance of empathy and forgiveness. Mrs. Jones recognizes that the boy who tried to steal from her is not inherently bad, but rather, he is a product of his difficult circumstances. By taking him into her home and showing him love, Mrs. Jones teaches Roger a lesson that he will remember in life.
In conclusion, "Thank You Ma'am" is a powerful story that highlights the transformative power of kindness and empathy. Through the character of Mrs. Jones, Langston Hughes shows that individuals have the power to change lives through acts of compassion and understanding. By showing mercy to a young boy who attempts to steal from her, Mrs. Jones teaches him a valuable lesson about trust and respect, and ultimately helps him to turn his life around,1 of the main conclusions of roger us that he is living in poverty and that is one of the reasons he is stealing from ms jones as you can tell in the story roger is dirty and poor and as Mrs jones brings him into her house and feeds and cleans him at the end she gave him the money he needed for those suede shoes and taught

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