essay on thank you ma'am

Thank You, M’am

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Thank You, Ma'am

By langston hughes.

• Thank You, Ma'am Summary

Narrated in the third person by an unnamed limited-omniscient narrator, "Thank You Ma'am" begins with Mrs. Jones walking home at eleven p.m. when Roger , the story's protagonist, tries to steal her purse. The heavy purse throws Roger off balance and he falls down. Mrs. Jones—a large and imposing woman—kicks his bottom and lifts him by his shirt. She asks if he isn't ashamed of himself. He says he is ashamed.

Deducing that he has no one at home, Mrs. Jones decides to take him to her home and make him wash his face. She puts him in a half-nelson neck hold and drags him up the street as he struggles to get away, uncertain what she is doing. At her home, which is a large single room in a rooming house full of other poor people, Mrs. Jones instructs Roger to wash his face using warm water and a towel. She lets go of him and he considers running out the open door. Instead, he does as he is told.

He considers running again after he finishes drying his face. But something about Mrs. Jones's trust disarms him, and he doesn't try to flee. She asks if he was hungry, answering herself that he must have been, since he tried to snatch her purse. But he admits he wanted to buy some blue suede shoes. To this, she surprises him by saying that he could have asked her for the money. She tells him she was also young once and wanted things she could not afford. She has done things she would rather not tell him—or God—about. Roger stands dumbfounded with his mouth open. She knows he expected her to say "but," but she doesn't: she is simply honest about having been in the same situation as him.

Mrs. Jones instructs him to sit down while she heats some lima beans and ham, and makes cocoa. He knows he could leave through the door, and that she can't see him behind the screen that separates off the kitchen. He also sees that she has left her purse on the daybed. But he sits somewhere she will see him in her periphery. He doesn't want her to mistrust him.

During dinner, she doesn't ask the boy anything about where he lives, or his parents, or anything else that would embarrass him. Instead, she tells him about her job in a hotel beauty shop.

After dinner, she gives him ten dollars to buy the shoes he wants, and asks him to behave from then on, and to not snatch anybody's purses. As he goes out the door, the boy tries to say something more than just "thank you ma'am," but he hardly manages to say "thank you" before she closes the door. The story ends with the narrator commenting that the boy never sees her again.

Thank You, Ma'am Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Thank You, Ma'am is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Thank You M'am

Mrs. Jones response to Roger's attempt to steal her purse infer that she her main purpose is to make him take responsibility for his actions, in addition to the fact that she likely understands his circumstances.

Thank you Ma’am

I'm sorry, this is a short-answer literature forum designed for text specific questions. We are unable to assist students with speeches or other writing assignments.

Thank You Ma'm

A. "' You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry?'" (Paragraph 16)

Study Guide for Thank You, Ma'am

Thank You, Ma'am study guide contains a biography of Langston Hughes, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Thank You, Ma'am
• Character List

Essays for Thank You, Ma'am

Thank You, Ma'am essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Thank You, Ma'am by Langston Hughes.

• Character Comparison Essay: "The Scarlet Ibis" and "Thank You Ma'am"
• I wonder where Christ's gone”: A Marxist Critique of Organized Religion in Langston Hughes’ “ On The Road”
• Jazz Subculture in Short American Fiction: The Blues I'm Playing and Sonny's Blues
• The Bounds of Society Cripple Those Who Dare to be Different: Comparing "Seven People Dancing" and "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"

Lesson Plan for Thank You, Ma'am

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Thank You, Ma'am
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Thank You, Ma'am Bibliography

Thank You, M'am

40 pages • 1 hour read

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Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

What is the significance of the title of “Thank You, M’am”? How does it reflect the story’s themes?

Discuss the meaning of the blue suede shoes . Why does Mrs. Jones decide to give Roger the money to buy them?

Consider Hughes’s physical descriptions of Mrs. Jones and Roger , as well as the focus on Roger’s hygiene. What role does appearance play in the story?

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The Story “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes Essay

Mrs. Luella Bates Washington reacts in a different way than what Roger expects after he tries to steal her purse. Roger’s attempt to steal money from her is thwarted by his fall. The lady manages to hold Roger by his shirt and pulls him to her house. From then onwards, Roger has to follow everything Mrs. Washington tells him to do.

The story illustrates how children who are deprived in society are tempted to engage in criminal activities just to survive. Roger personifies children lured into crime because of the harsh circumstances they are facing (McMahan et al. 541). Mrs. Washington intends to help the boy realise that there is a better way to get something apart from stealing. She discourages the boy from stealing people’s purses as a way to earn a living.

Mrs. Washington manages to care for the boy even though he has wronged her. She takes him to her house where she makes him wash his face. ”I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?” (McMahan et al. 541). The lady takes time to understand the circumstances that have made the boy engage in petty theft.

As she is holding him tight, she observes his face and body structure. She realizes that the boy needs help because of the hardships he is going through at the moment (McMahan et al. 541). Her demeanor intimidates the boy, who expects a severe punishment from her. However, even though her tone is stern and menacing, she still takes the responsibility of letting the boy wash his face before advising him to stay away from crime.

Mrs. Washington takes responsibility for the boy’s plight and manages to show him, love. She teaches the boy proper social and moral codes, which everyone in the society needs to follow. The boy gets to understand that stealing is not the only way a person can get what he wants. She wants to make a positive impact on the boy and the only way she can do this is by being stern and uncompromising.

“When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington.” (McMahan et al. 541). She makes the boy sit after washing his face before she tells him to have supper with her (McMahan et al. 541). Mrs. Bates’s approach makes the boy attentive and he gets to learn that he needs to make the right choices in life.

Mrs. Bates reveals to Roger that she did wrong things in the past but she managed to turn her life around and become a good person. She makes Roger understand that it is human nature to crave for things that we are not able to get. Roger gets to understand that he needs to be more responsible for his actions. The story teaches us to take time to understand a situation first before making any rash decisions.

Roger personifies deprived children who are tempted to steal to satisfy their basic needs (McMahan et al. 541). Mrs. Bates gives the boy some money to buy suede shoes. The interaction Mrs. Bates has with Roger makes him see things in a new light. He gets a valuable lesson on good behavior, which he will remember for the rest of his life.

Works Cited

McMahan, Elizabeth, Susan X. Day, Robert W. Funk, and Linda S. Coleman . Literature and the Writing Process. 9th ed. New York: Pearson Education, 2010. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2020, May 5). The Story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-thank-you-maam-by-langston-hughes/

"The Story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes." IvyPanda , 5 May 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-thank-you-maam-by-langston-hughes/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'The Story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes'. 5 May.

IvyPanda . 2020. "The Story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes." May 5, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-thank-you-maam-by-langston-hughes/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes." May 5, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-thank-you-maam-by-langston-hughes/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes." May 5, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-thank-you-maam-by-langston-hughes/.

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Thank You Ma'am Analysis - Setting, Characters, and Themes by Langston Hughes

Updated 22 July 2022

Subject Books ,  Writers

Downloads 41

Category Literature

Topic Langston Hughes ,  Poetry ,  Thank You Ma Am

Thank You Ma'am Analysis

In this Thank You Ma'am analysis, I'll talk about the Setting, Characters, and Themes of this powerful piece by Langston Hughes. After reading the poem, you should have a better idea of why the story is so compelling. If you haven't read it yet, it's well worth reading. It is an excellent example of the importance of reading a piece of literature thoroughly before deciding whether or not to study it further.

The short story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes has a few key themes that focus on shame, dignity, and second chances. The story follows the life of a fifteen-year-old boy, Roger, and a kindhearted woman, Mrs. Luella Jones. In the short story, the power of choice is highlighted through the dialogue that Roger exchanges with the woman. In this thank you ma'am analysis, we will explore how Mrs. Jones changes Roger's perspective through the interaction with her.

Despite the short story having only two characters, Langston Hughes used indirect characterization to establish their personalities. This method of development allowed the reader to see a different side of each character than the main character, which allowed the audience to see both of them through a broader perspective. In the story, the two main characters, Roger and Luella, are described as being different and unique. The similarities between the two characters are evident in both their differences and similarities.

"Setting a Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes can be difficult to pinpoint. Although the story is written in the 1950s, Hughes didn't explicitly state where the story takes place. The story itself is based around race and racism in pre-Civil Rights Era America. The story's setting, however, is an important part of the overall context. As such, setting can provide insight into the character's motivations.

The story is set in Harlem, New York, and depicts the complexities of second chances. As the main character, Roger, a young man in need of basic necessities, is trying to steal the purse from Mrs. Jones, he stumbles and falls to the floor, but Mrs. Jones kicks him mercilessly. As a result, the plot of the story becomes more complex than initially suspected.

Langston Hughes's story "Thank You, Ma'am" is about trust and dignity. In the story, a boy, Roger, tries to steal a woman's pocketbook, but she forgave him for trying. She also feeds him, making him lima beans and ham, and serving him hot cocoa. Mrs. Jones's compassion for Roger helps him understand her situation, and she forgives him later.

Despite the conflict in the story, the main theme of the short story is the importance of second chances. Both Langston Hughes' story and Saki's story feature themes of forgiveness and kindness. These themes are woven throughout both stories in a subtle way. Themes are a key aspect of these stories, and these themes are often hidden in unexpected places. In "Thank You, Ma'am," for example, the theme is hidden in the beginning, but it is not obvious until the end.

Themes in Langston Hughes' "Thank You Ma'am"

The theme of poverty dominates the plot of "Thank You Ma'am." The protagonist, Roger, tries to steal Mrs. Jones' purse in order to buy shoes. Hughes depicts this poor character in subtle ways, such as by showing her living in a rooming house with a small kitchen and late hours. She also addresses her own poverty in a direct dialogue with Roger.

Themes in Langston Hughes' "Thank you Ma'am" can be categorized into two broad categories. Themes of kindness and trust are prevalent, as are the themes of poverty and racism. The protagonist, Roger, is a young black boy who attempts to steal a purse from a white woman. In response, Mrs. Jones feeds and teaches him to be grateful and give back. In a way, this story is about caring for the disadvantaged and the poor.

Despite its complexity, "Thank You Ma'am" is a short story about the power of kindness. Although it involves a flippant young boy named Roger, it portrays the struggles and triumphs of two different worlds. In a time of racism, the story depicts the culture and values of 1950s America, and Hughes uses literary devices to create a twist in the reader's expectations. In doing so, the author develops a deeper meaning for the African characters.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Thank You Ma Am — Literary Analysis of Thank You Ma’am Langston Hughes

Literary Analysis of Thank You Ma’am Langston Hughes

• Categories: Thank You Ma Am

About this sample

Words: 406 |

Published: Jan 31, 2024

Words: 406 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Summary of the short story, literary analysis of the short story, significance and impact of the story, characterization, writing style.

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