Story Review of Thank You Ma'am

The short story, “Thank You Ma'am”, written by Langston Hughes talks about an encounter between a boy, Roger, and a woman, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. While walking down the street late at night, a woman, Mrs. Jones, becomes the target of an attempted theft when a boy, Roger, tries to snatch her purse. His attempt fails when Mrs. Jones catches him. Instead of reporting Roger to the police or punishing him, Mrs. Jones takes hold of him and leads him to her home. At her home, Mrs. Jones questions Roger about his life, feeling sympathy for his lonely situation. Mrs. Jones prepares a meal for Roger and offers him to wash up in the kitchen sink. When Mrs. Jones inquires Roger about his motive for stealing, he admits he wasn’t driven by desperation but wanted new shoes to improve his appearance. Through the interactions, Mrs. Jones talks to Roger about his actions, showing him kindness and understanding. Ultimately, Mrs. Jones lets Roger go home, giving Roger money to buy the shoes he desires and teaching him not to make the same mistake of stealing again in the future, which leaves a lasting impact on his life. This story highlights themes of Kindness and Compassion, Forgiveness and Second Chance, and Trust and Responsibility. 

Compassion, understanding someone’s struggles with empathy, would prompt a person’s kindness, offering help or encouragement toward this person. Compassion involves a deep understanding of someone’s situation, following by kindness is the expression of that understanding through tangible actions. At first, Mrs. Jones is tough and angry when catching Roger stealing her purse. Instead of calling the police or punishing Roger, Mrs. Jones takes him home, offers him a meal, inquires about his life, and tells him that what he did was wrong. Mrs. Jones’s lesson in kindness begins through teaching Roger "I would teach you right from wrong."  Rather than telling Roger his actions were wrong, though, Mrs. Jones invites him to embrace this realization on his own. Instead of allowing Roger to disappear into the night, shaken but otherwise undeterred, Mrs. Jones then drags him home, learns his name, makes him wash his face, and feeds him dinner. "I got a great mind to wash your face for you."  Mrs. Jones does not dismiss Roger as a bad kid incapable of learning from his mistakes. Rather, she implicitly honors Roger’s humanity and encourages him to do the same for himself—that is, to respect and listen to his conscience. Mrs. Jones shows her kindness and compassion by inquiring about his life and offering him food and care. Her nurturing response not only surprises Roger but encourages a reflection on his past. An act of kindness and compassion can make a profound transformation in defusing potentially negative situations and leading to personal growth. 

Forgiveness occurs when a person is willing to let go of other’s past mistakes, followed by giving him second chances to redeem his previous wrongness. Forgiving a person’s previous mistake and offering him a second chance can not only help rebuild his sense of dignity but also encourage him to correct past wrongs. Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse but fails. Instead of sending him to the police station, Mrs. Jones drags Roger to her home. She insists Roger wash his face and later combs his hair before sitting down to dinner. As they eat, Mrs. Jones models polite conversation, telling Roger about her job, teaching him how to live with dignity. At the end, Mrs. Jones gives Roger money to purchase the shoes he desires. Rather than reporting Roger to the police or taking him to any legal action, Mrs. Jones offers him motherly guidance and a temporary home. “You gonna take me to jail?” asked the boy, bending over the sink. “Not with that face, I would not take you nowhere,” said the woman.” Mrs. Jones' actions illustrate her forgiveness toward Roger, serving as a powerful force for Roger’s personal growth. Mrs. Jones chooses to forgive Roger’s wrongness, look beyond his attempted theft, and try to reason with his misbehavior from hunger. “I believe you’re hungry—or been hungry—to try to snatch my pocketbook." While in her home, Roger was asked to wash his face in the kitchen sink and comb his hair. Mrs. Jones wants Roger to make a change by cleaning himself first, “Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face, ” said the woman” symbolizing giving Roger a second chance to be a good boy by washing off the bad actions and attitudes. The ending further centers on the theme of giving second chances when Mrs. Jones gives Roger money to buy the shoes he desires. “Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. " This gesture not only meets his immediate need but also symbolizes a new beginning, illustrating the deep and lasting impact forgiveness could have. In essence, both showing forgiveness and giving second chances are actions that signify hope for renewal or change.  

When people consistently fulfill or demonstrate their responsibility, it would enhance other’s trust in them in return. Responsibility reinforces trust, and as trust builds, people are more likely to assign greater responsibilities. Mrs. Jones leaves Roger and the purse out of her sight. Roger takes care to remain in a spot where she can see him with her peripheral vision, however, not wanting to be “mistrusted.” Roger, in response, asks Mrs. Jones if she needs someone to go to the store buying something. When letting Roger go home, Mrs. Jones teaches him not to make mistakes of stealing again and try to behave himself. Trust begins to develop only after they arrive at Mrs. Jones’s room as a result of Mrs. Jones and Roger each demonstrating increasing vulnerability. When Mrs. Jones lets go of Roger so that he can wash his face, she leaves her door open, the first time since his attack that she has relinquished any control. Roger, in turn, now trusts her enough to stay in the room and make himself physically vulnerable as he washes his face. Even more, "The woman did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the day-bed. " showing that Mrs. Jones begins to trust Roger. She no longer treats Roger as a thief. Also, Roger doesn’t want to be misunderstood when she leaves the room to make dinner. He doesn’t want to be seen as a thief anymore. He wants to be trusted, asking Mrs. Jones “Do you need somebody to go to the store,” asked the boy, "some milk or something?”. The boy, Roger, kind of suggests Mrs. Jones that she now can trust him or he could be trusted. He will not steal her purse or do something bad to her. Roger, in fact, wants to help her. The last talking Mrs. Jones gives to Roger, "And next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody else’s. But I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in." leaves him with a lesson that he is capable of earning trust through responsible behavior, underscoring her trust in Roger’s ability to make better choices moving forward. By being responsible, individuals can cultivate trust; when trust is developed, then it often encourages people to act responsibly. 

The story “Thank You, Ma’am” written by Langston Hughes, revolves around Roger, a young man who initially tries to steal a purse from a woman, later feeling conflicted about his decision. This short story sparks three themes, including Kindness and Compassion, Forgiveness and Giving Second Chances, and Trust and Responsibility. Kindness and compassion should be offered to every person, even when they sometimes don’t deserve it. People need to offer other people a helping hand, regardless of background or other factors. What matters is that they need help, and people should help them. While circumstances can define some things, it is important for people to have kindness. People should always give second chances, as people have redeeming qualities that can help them. People forgiving each other is crucial, as it can boost friendliness and can give the basic dignity to some people, offering a second chance to redo things that they have done incorrectly before. Trust and responsibility between people is crucial in building secure relationships with others. Trust and responsibility are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. When someone fails to act responsibly, it can lead to a breakdown in trust.