Roger is worried
that she will think the worst of him, so he takes great care to make sure she knows he can be trusted
. It is a grand moment for both of them, as she demonstrates her trust in the boy and he proves himself to be trustworthy. Of course he does not expect to be rewarded for his decision, but he is.
Why did Roger steal in thank you ma am?
In Langston Hughes short story “Thank You M’am,” Roger tells Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones his motive for
attempting to steal her purse is to get money to purchase blue suede shoes
. After thwarting his attempt, Mrs. Jones realizes his motive is far more than wanting new shoes, even if Roger is not aware of it.
What are Rogers thoughts in thank you ma am?
Roger is
naive and impulsive for trying to steal a purse without a set plan in mind
. He also doesn’t think about the possible consequences he could face and how his actions would affect others. When Roger first meets Ms. Jones, he does not trust her and is very hesitant to follow her.
What happens when Roger tries to steal Mrs Jones purse in thank you ma am?
What happens when Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse in “Thank You, M’am?
He changes his mind because he knows stealing is wrong. He changes his mind because he is frightened by her large size.
Is Roger from thank you ma’am poor?
The frail, impoverished young boy who attempts to rob Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones at the start of the story in the hopes of being able to buy himself a pair of blue suede shoes. When his robbery fails, Mrs.
Is Roger from thank you ma’am black?
Roger is
a young African American boy
that, in order to get money for a pair of “blue suede shoes,” decides to steal a purse belonging to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.
Why did the boy try to steal the womans purse?
When Mrs. Jones comments on Roger’s bold actions, he admits that he tried to steal her pocketbook
in order to buy a pair of blue suede shoes
. As a poor black teenager, Roger desired to have fashionable blue suede shoes, which were popular during that era.
What is a theme in thank you ma am?
The main theme in this short story is
the power of kindness
. The story shows how a kind gesture can soften the heart of a thieving teenager. When Roger gets caught by Mrs. Jones, he expects her to take him to the police.
How did Mrs Jones try to transform Roger?
In Langston Hughes’ “Thank You, Ma’am,” the protagonist, Roger, is changed when
Mrs. Jones shows him kindness after he attempts to steal her purse
. … Jones shows him kindness when she told him to wash his face. “Then it will get washed this evening,” (pg 2) Mrs.
Why didnt Mrs Jones take Roger to the police?
Why didn’t Mrs. Jones call the police?
She said she had experiences like Roger when she was young and she was trying to help him get his life back on track
. He was a teenager, skinny, dirty, and didn’t have anybody to go to.
What happens immediately after Roger grabs Mrs Jones purse?
As Roger grabs Mrs. Jones’s purse,
he immediately stumbles to the ground and she instantly grabs him
. Roger struggles to get away from Mrs. Jones but cannot break her grip, and she proceeds to drag him all the way to her home.
How does Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones react when Roger tries to steal from her?
Mrs. Jones’s initial reaction is to kick
him “right square in his blue-jeaned sitter
.” A large woman, Mrs. Jones proceeds to shake and scold Roger. She then requires that he pick up her pocketbook.
How much money do you think Mrs Jones has?
No doubt, Mrs. Jones struggles herself to survive. She does give Roger some money,
only ten dollars
, but most likely she gave out of her own need.
What does you ought to be my son mean?
By this point,
he wants her to trust him
, and they have the kind of trust that might exist between a mother and son. In addition, she refers to the boy as “son,” though she is using that term in a metaphorical rather than a literal way to show she cares about him.
Why did Mrs Luella Bates feel sorry for the boy?
Expert Answers
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones feels sorry for
Roger because she sees him out alone late at night with his face dirty
. She understands that he is not a hardened criminal. He is just a kid who made a bad choice and has no role models.
Is thank you ma’am a real story?
While Langston Hughes
does not specifically
state the exact time period and location of the short story, the reader can deduce that it takes place sometime during the 1950s in a northern city. Roger’s affinity for blue suede shoes alludes to Elvis Presley’s famous song, and it is unlikely that Mrs.
