The purpose of “Why, You Reckon?” by Langston Hughes is to accurately display, through the times of that century and human emotion, that despite money, power, and the color of your skin there can still be an unhappiness of the soul. There is evidence in the beginning of the short story of two men’s unhappiness in life the symbol of them being uncontent was their hunger. “Man, ain’t you hongry.... Well, sir, I’m tellin’ you, I was so tired and hongry and cold that night.” (253- 254).
, this shows Mrs.Jones is a mother who guides Roger to be a good on page 3. Mrs.Jones told a story about herself being irresponsible, ¨I were young once and I wanted things I could not get.¨(pg 6). Another quote states, “I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son--neither tell god, if he didn’t already know. ”(pg 5)
and then she gave him a towel to dry off. This shows that she is generous because that she wanted him to be clean. The second reason is because, after he was done washing up, she fed him lima beans and ham from her fridge. this illustrates that she is handy because he is finally full and he doesn't have to be hungry anymore. Then at the end of the
Roger, after he tried to snatch Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones pocket book, she took him to her house to clean him up and feed him. If you aren't thankful for that, than you need to take lessons from Roger. The author states “The boy wanted to say something other than “Thank you M’am” to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but although his lips moved he couldn't even say that…” Due to the fact that someone would feed you after you try to steal something of theirs, you
“Thank You M’am” Essay Response In the story “Thank You M’am” by Langston Hughes, the boy Roger, seems to be lonely. The story is about a boy named Roger who tries to steal Mrs. Jones purse, she takes him to her house and takes care of him. Roger could be described as lonely because he has nobody home at his home, he is very respectful of Mrs. Jones, and he tries to steal.
Langston Hughes once said “There's never been equality for me, nor freedom in this 'homeland of the free. 'Langston Hughes was a part of the new negro movement also known as the Harlem renaissance. The movement was considered rebirth of African American arts. ; such as negro literature. Black women and black men had no equality but they lived for black people to have more equality to have better treatment to us as human beings.
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is characterized in several ways in the short story, "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes. In this short story, Mrs. Jones begins the story by being authoritative with Roger. Without hesitation, she turns to Roger and says," 'Pick up my pocketbook, boy, and give it here.' " Mrs. Jones then continues to admonish Roger until she resorts to quite literally dragging him to her house. However, she is also compassionate, making Roger feel at home rather than the brigand some might consider him to be.
After a boy, Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse she takes him home and helps him. In the story Thank You Ma’am, a women is helpful by feeding and washing a boy that had tried to steal her purse. The author Langston Hughes creates the theme, teaching others good can help you and them in the long run. In the short story the women teaches him that stealing is not the right answer. First, Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse but she teaches him stealing is not the right thing to do.
Mrs. Jones, “...simply turned around and kicked…,” the boy. She also forcefully had the boy, “... pick up my pocketbook, boy and give it here…” In addition to that, the woman was very threatening. For example, Mrs. Jones, told the boy that he would remember her once she was “through with,” him. These parts are significant because it portrays a big part of Mrs. Jones’ personality.
Jones feeds him and most importantly, she listens to him. This act of kindness comes from a place of respect: she doesn’t lecture him, but she listens to him and lets him know she has been there too. By displaying empathy, she is demonstrating a trait that could likely change Roger’s own future behaviors. In fact, “a lack of empathy has been shown to predict criminal behavior” (Tisak and Goldstein 7051).
“What did you want to do it for?” says the lady, Mrs.Jones, as she stares down at the boy who tried to steal from her. The book, Thank You Ma’am, begins when a boy named Roger tries to steal from Mrs.Jones purse, because of this, Mrs.Jones teaches Roger a lesson. In the story, the author, Langston Hughes, explains the moral to not steal from people, always be ready for a consequence and to follow orders. Mrs.Jones and Roger learned in the story not to steal, be ready for a consequence, and to follow commands.
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.
Luella Bates Washington Jones is rough on the outside, inside she is truly empathetic because she understands the boy. As proof, she said that she had done things too, and she understands that it is hard not to steal things when you want them. In fact, she said, “Um-hum! You thought I was going to say but, didn’t you? You thought I was going to say, but I didn’t snatch people's pocket books.
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
