Character Analysis of Roger in "Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes
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"Thank You, Ma'am" is a short story written by American writer Langston Hughes in which a teenager tries to rob an elderly woman in order to buy a pair of shoes. Instead of taking him to the police station, the old lady takes him home, feeds, and cleans him up. As evident from the plot, this
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is a story of great social value which teaches compassion and forgiveness. Essays on this story focus on kindness, the importance of second chances, but also on character analysis, or important themes. Note that writing an essay requires a sound outline and proper structure. Look through the samples below for models of well-written papers with appropriate use of language, grammar, writing style, etc.
An Analysis of "Thank You Ma'am" Written by Langston Hughes
view essay exampleLangston Hughes, one of the world’s most famous poets, was known for his literary art and jazz poetry created during the Harlem Renaissance. He was a social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who attended Lincoln University to study African American Life and History. “Thank You...
A Theme of Compassion in "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes
view essay exampleDid an elder ever call you because of your behavior when you were younger? Or did you make a mistake and someone gave you a second chance? ‘Thank you, ma’am’ by Langston Hughes illustrates an encounter between Roger, a teenage boy, and Mrs. Luella Bates...
Good and Evil in Langston Hughes' "Thank You Ma'am"
view essay exampleIntroduction Langston Hughes’ book written in 1958, ‘’Thank you ma’am’’ is set in Harlem New York during a time that New York experienced rapid population growth. It explores the effects of kindness and trust. A young boy snatches a purse from an elderly woman, but...
Topics:
Boy, Young boy
Analysis of Mrs. Jones from "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes
view essay exampleAn old lady walks along the street of a dark alley. Suddenly, a mischievous boy steals her purse. Imagine the look of fear in her eyes! In “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes, the same thing happens to Mrs. Jones. During the beginning of the...
Analysis of The Character of Mrs. Jones in Thank You, M’am by Langston Hughes
view essay exampleAn old lady walks along the street of a dark alley. Suddenly, a mischievous boy steals her purse. Imagine the look of fear in her eyes! In “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes, the same thing happens to Mrs. Jones. During the beginning of the...
Analysis of Thank You Ma'am by Langston Hughes
view essay exampleDid an elder ever call you because of your behavior when you were younger? Or did you make a mistake and someone gave you a second chance? ‘Thank you, ma’am’ by Langston Hughes illustrates an encounter between Roger, a teenage boy, and Mrs. Luella Bates...
Langston Hughes’ Message in His Poem Thank You, Ma'am
view essay exampleLangston Hughes’ story about Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones and Roger is a message about kindness, sympathy and trust. Set in the 1950’s, during the incidence between our two characters, Hughes demonstrates forgiveness, compassion and second chances. In “Thank you, Ma’am” Hughes conveys his message...
The Characterization of The Female Protagonists in "Thank You Ma'am" and "Story of an Hour"
view essay exampleThrough the short stories “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes and “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the authors employ many exceptional techniques to characterize both leading female protagonists. In “Thank You Ma’am” Langston recounts Ms. Louella Bates Washington Jones with primarily indirect characterization...
Topics:
Character, Emotion, Psychology
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information About this Topic
Date:
1958
Author:
Langston Hughes
Type:
Short Story
Genre
Urban Fiction, Literary Realism
Characters
Roger, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones
Based on
The story is based on the African American segregation and life in the 1950s.
Symbols/motives
African Americans, racism, friendship, segregation, a challenging life of the American South.
Influence
It is the short story where a young person learns about friendship and care. It speaks of the African American poverty, prejudice, and segregation in society. It has a rising action as a dynamic story, which makes it as powerful as it is.
Plot
It is a great short story where a young African American boy learns a lesson about being kind, sincere, and caring for others even though the setting may look totally different. It tells us about being good for others and having others do so to you as well. Starting with a thief attempt, the story unfolds to forgiveness and love.
Interesting facts
Mrs. Jones represents the contents of a woman's life with all its challenges and sorrows.
The purse that Mrs. Jones carries is a metaphor of all the burdens that she always carries along.
Trying to tear the purse away, the young Roger is a symbolism of taking all the heaviness away by assisting Mrs. Jones in offering help.
The young Roger is a communication bridge between present and the past for Mrs. Jones, which is a reflection of hope for our society.
Thank you, ma'am is a great reminder of kindness through the lens of our prejudice and stereotypes we all live in.
It has a Biblical influence of being kind and making just a single step to help us prevent the crime.
The shoes that Roger has dreamt of is another symbolism of receiving a helping hand that will assist him in walking through a different path now.
Quotes
"A large woman with a large purse that had everything ... but hammer and nails."
"Roger ... looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink."
"I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God."
"And he did not want to be mistrusted now."
"I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes."
Why is this topic important
The main message is about forgiveness and empathy, the power of love, trust, and the Christian values. It is the complex mixture of a person's character VS society, which is explained by oppression to racism.
Why should this topic be used
It is not only a topic of African American segregation, poverty, and prejudice, it is also a lesson of forgiveness and kindness. Since we see gangs almost daily as we watch the news or talk to friends, this short story must be used as the essay topic to talk about kindness, caring for each other, and trying to choose a different way.
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