Thank You, Ma Am, By Langston Hughes

Often, people perceive themes from life. Sometimes they also perceive themes from works of literature. One piece of literature that has a theme found in life, is a short story called “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes. The story is about a boy named Roger who makes the mistake of trying to steal Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’ pocketbook to buy some blue suede shoes. “Thank You, Ma’am” develops the idea that things are better earned than taken through the actions and words of the characters. The first quote that portrays this universal theme is on page two. When Roger tries to steal her pocketbook, she takes him to her house and tells him to wash his face because it is filthy. When Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones asked Roger why he wanted to take her pocketbook and he said he wanted to purchase some blue suede shoes, he got an interesting reply. “Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes,” said Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. “You could have asked me.” (Hughes 2). Mrs. Jones’
This quote is not spoken, although it indeed conveys the theme. While Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is preparing a meal for Roger and herself, she goes into a tiny room where a glass plate and ice box were. The woman chooses to act in unforeseen ways throughout the whole story; this is one of those moments. “The woman did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the day bed. But the boy took care to sit on the far side of the room where he thought she could easily see him out of the corner of the other eye, if she wanted to. He did not trust the woman not to trust him. And he did not want to mistrusted now.” (Hughes 3). The quote tells of how the boy wants the woman to trust him when the woman gives him indications that she wants to trust him too. She has faith in the boy and he wants to earn that