Roger's Short Story 'Thank You, Ma' Am

People have been deceived to that stealing will have a better outcome than asking for something they need. In the short story “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes Roger, the protagonist, learns that if he had just asked Mrs. Jones for money he would never have gotten himself locked in a half-nelson. In the beginning of “Thank You, Ma’am” we see how willing Roger is to steal from Mrs. Jones to get money. We are even told about his plan to run away after he had retrieved the pocketbook. “...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. He must be regretting his decision, but not thinking I’ll never steal again but most likely thinking Wow, next time I should choose someone else to steal from. By this time in the story Roger hasn’t learned his lesson yet.

Jones. He is continuously glancing at the open door, but then again he doesn’t run away even though he absolutely could. Mrs. Jones treats Roger a little better, but not anything near the kindness Roger would have been treated with if he had just asked Mrs. Jones. She even tells Roger “Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes. You could of asked me.” This shows that Roger didn’t have to steal at all, if he had just sought out help he could have gotten money without all the hassle he went through. Roger has realized by now that he really didn’t have to steal at