What is the main theme of 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.
What is the meaning of the story thank you ma am?
Thank You, Ma’am by Langston Hughes, tells the story of Mrs. Jones, an elderly woman walking home, and Roger, a teenager who tries to steal her purse so he can buy a new pair of blue suede shoes. A literary theme in Hughes’s story is second chances, and how they can change a person’s life.
What can you tell about Mrs Jones character?
Jones, the main character, demonstrates that she is a tough, yet sincere and honest woman. One of my favorite descriptions of her comes from the very first sentence. Hughes writes, “She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails.”
Why did the boy try to snatch Mrs Jones’s pocketbook?
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.
Why does Roger offer to get milk for Mrs Jones?
Why does Roger offer to go to the store for Mrs. Jones? He wants to show her that he is a good person and can be trusted.
What does Mrs Jones give Roger?
She assumes that Roger wants money so that he can buy food and when he reveals that he actually wants to buy a pair of blue suede shoes she is not angry but remembers when she “wanted things I could not get.” Mrs Jones gives Roger the $10 so that he doesn’t steal it from someone else and to perhaps give him an …
What does Mrs Jones mean when she says shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet?
Jones is saying that things acquired by illegal methods (“devilish ways”) will end up hurting you (“burning your feet”). Therefore it is much better to buy things with money that you have gained legally rather than stealing to gain money to buy things you want.
What do we learn about Mrs Jones’s life?
Jones’s home were a palace that reflected vast sums of wealth, her lesson of not needing to steal to get money would ring hollow. However, when Roger sees where she lives, it is clear that she shares some common experience with him. He knows that she knows a life of financial limitation.
What do you think Mrs Jones is trying to teach Roger?
Mrs. Jones’s lesson in kindness begins through teaching Roger “right from wrong.” Rather than simply telling Roger his actions were wrong, though, she invites him to embrace this realization on his own. First, she instructs him to return her purse, which allows Roger to make his mistake right
Why do you think the theme is implied rather than stated in thank you ma am?
Why would the author imply the themes instead of stating them explicitly? By implying theme, the author allows the actions, thoughts, and emotions of the characters to teach a moral lesson. In addition, the setting of the story often contributes to theme, as it does in this story.