What did the woman in 'Thank You, M'am' by Langston Hughes do to the boy
as soon as she snatched her purse?
Answers
Answer:
In Langston Hughes's "Thank You, M'am," Roger attempts to steal the purse of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. As it turns out, luck is not on Roger's side as the purse strap breaks, causing him to fall down. Mrs. Jones's initial reaction is to kick him "right square in his blue-jeaned sitter." A large woman, Mrs. Jones proceeds to shake and scold Roger. She then requires that he pick up her pocketbook. After questioning his motives, she drags him to her home where she insists that he wash his face.
Upon discovering Roger's reason for attempting to steal her purse, Mrs. Jones explains that he could have asked her for the money for a "pair of blue suede shoes." She feeds him dinner and gives him ten dollars so he can purchase the shoes. After Roger finishes eating, she dismisses him with, "Good-night! Behave yourself, boy!"
Explanation:
When Roger tries to steal Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones's purse in "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones does what most other people would do and she reacts strongly to the situation. However, whereas others may become aggressive or even emotional, she does not. She is portrayed as a "large woman" and the fact that her purse also seems proportionately large because it holds everything except "hammer and nails" indicates that she is not likely to be afraid of any event. She is walking alone late at night and her reaction to Roger's attempted theft reveals a levelheadedness that belies the situation. Others may run away or shout and call for help, not knowing how to manage the problem facing them. Mrs. Jones, however, immediately has an understanding of what is going on and handles it in a practical way, as if what Roger has done is nothing unusual. She does not overreact, and even though Roger is a complete stranger, her reactions show that she is more disappointed (such as she may have been of her own children) than angered or disgusted with Roger's behavior.