Thank You Ma Am Analysis

Picture yourself walking along the streets, just minding your own business when all of the sudden someone tries to steal your purse. You may think that because they are trying to take things from you they must be dirty and horrible people who deserve what they get and don’t deserve your sympathy because they’ll never change. In the short story “Thank You, M’am” written by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones realizes there is more to Roger than meets the eye when he tries to steal her purse. In the story, Mrs. Jones changes Roger’s perspective on life and the people around him by showing him anyone can change for the better.
You can tell that Mrs. Jones changes Roger’s perspective on the people around him when you go back and see how when he steals her purse, he didn’t want anything to do with her but get away. Roger starts out the story thinking the only way to get what you want is by stealing. Evidence to support this is in the first paragraph of the story on page one,“‘If I turn you loose, will you run?’ asked the woman. ’Yes’m,’ said the boy.” This tells you that Roger only has his sights set on getting

Jones explains more about her childhood, Roger is in awe of how different she is than what he had assumed. Mrs. Jones says, ”’You thought I was going to say, but I didn’t snatch people’s pocketbooks. Well, I wasn’t going to say that.’ Pause. Silence. ‘I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if he didn’t already know.’” (page 2)This is what I think really sparks the change in Roger’s personality. The confession makes him realize not everyone has it as easy as he thought. It helps him realize everyone goes through rough times, but things can get better. Roger starts to really trust Mrs. Jones because he feels like he can relate to her. He even goes as far to ask her if she needs any help with her grocery shopping. He tries to show her he can be trusted, because this experience has showed him he can change for the