"Thank You Ma'm" is a short story written by the author Langston Hughes. There
are two characters with completely different personalities named Mrs. Jones and
Roger. Mrs. Jones was a great role model for any person. Her actions caused
Roger to become the better person Mrs. Jones knew he could be.
In the beginning, Mrs. Jones is walking home by herself from work. She's a rather
large woman with a large purse. While minding her own business as she
hurriedly walked home, a dirty teenaged boy tries to snatch her purse. The purse,
being so large, knocked the boy down flat on his back. When trying to run away,
Mrs. Jones picks him up and puts him in a headlock. People are stopping and
staring at the scene, which makes Roger very embarrassed by the
whole situation. The woman doesn't stop with this action though. In a mighty way, she continues on home dragging the boy behind her. Roger isn't the wild teenaged boy that he seems to be. This enormous woman's strength and attitude makes Roger scared to death of what will happen next. Later on, the two strangers arrive at Mrs. Jones boarding house. She asks the boy why he isn't at home, and he says that there's no one at home. Considerately, Mrs. Jones doesn't ask any further questions on that subject so the boy won't be uncomfortable. She makes him wash his disgustingly dirty face. Roger is worried that Mrs. Jones might call the police. Strangely, Mrs. Jones trusts Roger enough to leave him alone in a room with her purse. He could've easily taken the purse. Mrs. Jones must've trusted him even more considering that she left Roger alone in a place where he could easily run away. The extremely clever character, Mrs. Jones, is starting to make the boy out to be a person she can trust, and is trying to make the boy realize he's a good kid. Finally, Mrs. Jones feeds Roger dinner. She tries to see things from the boy's point of view. When she was young, she tried to steal things too. The woman asked Roger why he tries to steal her pocketbook, and he answered honestly that he wanted some blue suede shoes. All he wanted was to fit in. After the dinner, Mrs. Jones gives Roger $10 to get shoes and lets him leave. As he turns around to say "Thank You," the woman shuts the door. He probably couldn't have said it anyway because he was speechless by the way that she was so nice to him after he tries to steal her pocketbook. Roger is now a completely different person and feels loved. Mrs. Jones was kind enough to show him love and isn't the big, tough woman he thought she was. To close, at the beginning of "Thank You, Ma'm," Roger is a wild teen who wants to fit in. Mrs. Jones changes him to a trustworthy and thankful fellow who feels love that he's probably never experienced before. Mrs. Jones was like a hero to Roger since she changed him and made him realize that he was somebody special. More people should try to follow by her example.
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is broken winged bird that cannot fly.” -Langston Hughes The struggle in America that African Americans face throughout America’s history is a saddening story where it can apply to any type of people facing the same problems of inequality. The poem I, too and Mother to Son are both similar with the message that it represents but different in the way the message is said. Mother to Son highlights the struggles that Americans who are poverty stricken may face.
does it. The boy then realizes if he is caught he will be beaten and
After marrying Mr. Wright, Minnie was taken out of her usual habitat. She moved into “a lonesome-looking place.” Her new home sat in a secluded hollow surrounded by trees. She took on the role of a housewife in her small humble abode. Life as the social Minnie Foster was much different from her homely life as Mrs. Wright. Instead of wearing the pretty white dresses with blue ribbons while singing in the choir “like a bird” in her younger years, she now dresses in worn out and patched clothing while she performs her household chores such as keeping up the kitchen, taking care of her fruits, and piecing a quilt. Her setting drastically changed how Minnie acted and even dressed.
In “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes, the hero is Mrs. Jones because she made a positive change by teaching Roger a valuable lesson on right from wrong. “He did not want the woman not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.” (Hughes, 3). This quotation suggests a shift in character, because Roger went from trying to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse to wanting to gain her trust. In order for that to happen, Mrs. Jones must have affected Roger in a way that caused him to rethink his actions. “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 as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the large woman in the door.” (Hughes, 3). Roger’s wanting to thank Mrs. Jones shows readers that not only was he surprised by Mrs. Jones’ forgiveness towards him but he was thankful
The climax is illustrated and clarified through the symbolic tearing or exposing of the bare walls. She wants to free the woman within, yet ends up trading places, or becoming, that "other" woman completely. Her husband's reaction only serves as closure to her psychotic episode, forcing him into the unfortunate realization that she has been unwell this whole time.
Messages from Point of View in Langston Hughes’ I too. The writing of Langston Hughes in “I too” is significantly dependant on his point of view. The actions that occur in the poem are as realistic as they can get because Langston Hughes speaks from the heart. He passed through the Harlem Renaissance and faced constant struggles with racism.
Langston Hughes's stories deal with and serve as a commentary of conditions befalling African Americans during the Depression Era. As Ostrom explains, "To a great degree, his stories speak for those who are disenfranchised, cheated, abused, or ignored because of race or class." (51) Hughes's stories speak of the downtrodden African-Americans neglected and overlooked by a prejudiced society. The recurring theme of powerlessness leads to violence is exemplified by the actions of Sargeant in "On the Road", old man Oyster in "Gumption", and the robber in "Why, You Reckon?"
her in the face with his clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and
This chapter attempts to focus upon the problem of identity that confronted the African-Americans in America. Thus it investigates the African-American’s identity dilemma as shown in the poetry of Claude McKay and Langston Hughes. At the same time, it provides a solution for the African-American’s problem of estrangement and identity crisis. But while McKay’s self-rejection of his blackness urges him to trace the quest for identity in exile, Hughes’ self acceptance of his blackness enables him to reconcile with the white oppressors who stripped the black race from its identity. Moreover, it sheds light upon the psychological consequences that resulted from the violation of the African-American’s identity. Furthermore, this chapter shows the African-American’s self debasement, helplessness, and double consciousness that emanate from the sense of uprootedness.
and sits him on a bench and lulls him to sleep. When the child is
Realizes he left his baby, and he turns around and goes back into the house. He drops his
Gertrude Lodge, and the first time they are introduced it seems they. are happy newly weds, and Farmer Lodge talks affectionately to her. must expect to be stared at just at first, my pretty Gertrude.... ... middle of paper ...
“...so, instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back…” the story states showing that he had a plan to run off, but instead ended up falling. Mrs. Jones immediately scolds him for his actions and commands Roger to pick up her pocketbook and give it back. She continues to shame Roger as she drags him still in a half-nelson all the way back to her home. Mrs. Jones even states “When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.” Roger consistently struggles to break free from Mrs. Jones grip.
The Climax of the story begins with the villagers forcing Tessie to the center of town while they rushed toward her with stones. All the while Tessie could be heard screaming that “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right,” (268). The story ends at the climax, leaving the reader in a stupefied state, as he or she reads the last sentence “Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her” (268).
The story “Unlighted Lamps,” opens up with Mary out on one of her walks around town.