Thank You Ma Am By Langston Hughes

“The woman said, “Pick up my pocketbook, boy, and give it here.” She still held him. But she bent down enough to permit him to stoop and pick up her purse. Then she said, “Now ain’t you ashamed of yourself” Firmly gripped by his shirt front, the boy said, “Yes’m.”” This is a scene from the short story “Thank You Ma’am” written by Langston Hughes. Roger is a young boy who just attempted to steal Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones purse, Roger is caught and Mrs. Jones decides to make the boy pay a little for what he attempted to do. One would think that after Mrs. Luella had her fill of questioning and rattling Roger around she would let him go or even call the police. Neither is the case. Mrs. Jones takes Roger home, feeds him, washes him up

His reasoning is that since he wants something that he can steal to get what he wants. Mrs. Jones purse fortunately makes Roger fall back and Mrs. Jones catches the boy. On page 1 of “Thank You Ma’am” Mrs. Jones asks Roger why he tried to steal her purse and Roger replies with ““I didn’t aim to””. Roger just lied, instead of telling the truth he decides to lie to Mrs. Jones. The women knows that Roger is lying and she decides to take Roger to her house. On the way to her house Roger struggles, apologizes and tries anything and everything to get away from Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. At this point in the story Roger is still troubled, scared and not seeing what was wrong with his actions. Eventually, Mrs. Jones will change his point of view by her opening up to the

This is a conversation between Roger and Mrs. Jones. I think that this exchange of words between the two characters shows growth in the boy. Roger tells, truthfully this time, why he wanted the money. Mrs. Luella then tells Roger that he could’ve just asked, Roger responds with a question of “M’am?” I think Roger was surprised that this women, whom he tried to steal from, told him that he could’ve asked for the money. Roger’s surprise I think shows that he is starting to connect with Mrs. Jones and he sees that she does care and I think he start to realize that stealing is wrong. By this small conversation Roger shows that by the middle of the story he is starting to change his perception, outlook and