Thank You Ma Am, By Langston Hughes

The text ‘Thank you Ma’am’ by Langston Hughes depicts what happens after an encounter between a small boy (Roger) who tries to steal from an older lady (Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones) while she is walking home from work. The story among many other things, focuses on the ideas of trust, dignity and forgiveness. While Hughes is well known for writing about race, this story’s lessons go beyond race. Luella is tough and honest, and also trusting and steadfast in her beliefs. The faith she shows in Roger’s ability to eventually make the right choices shows the power of empathy and humanity.
While analyzing ‘Thank you Ma’am’ through the social class lens and utilizing the method, it is clear to the reader that Roger is of lower class and the
a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse.” So we have an anomaly and a binary here. Here is this large, powerful lady who ain’t afraid to walk this late at night and here comes some boy (not even a man or a young adult, but a boy) thinking he can snatch this lady’s purse. Does he really have that big of an ego or is he hopeless and simply doing this knowing he won’t succeed?
“The strap broke with the single tug the boy gave it from behind.” Weak bag meaning the woman invested in a cheap or worn out purse or strong boy meaning he actually put effort it into this. Again, is it a fetal(?) attempt or is this play of his ego?
“Instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped…” He had an ego after all. Perhaps he did not comprehend the situation before going into it blindly. Was this lack of knowledge simply ignorance or simply lack of educational opportunities?
“Pick up my pocketbook, boy, and give it here” what a commanding tone. Does she acquire this tone because the boy’s actions have put him in an inferior position and her, at a superior position (in the eyes of society)? Or is her normal tone? Does this mean the ‘large woman’ was also metaphorical implying her
She breaks out of the character we’re used to seeing and into a concerned, almost sort of motherly figure. The reader begins seeing her in a different light. If not concern, then, she is belittling (or criticizing) the adult figure in charge of caring for him.
“You ought to be my son.” Her motherly figure is strengthened here. Why the sudden sympathy? What is she to gain from this? Perhaps this is a facade for the bystanders Perhaps this is just her confirming to the social expectations of women… to be gentle and motherly. Perhaps her race, class, and gender are already seen negatively enough in the public eye and she does not wish to farther tarnish that image by demonstrating violence.But she does not seem to be a woman who cares what others have to input. She seems like an independent black woman ‘who don’t give a damn what nobody gotta say’.
"But you put yourself in contact with me," Did he really? Were the unfortunate events that had occurred in his poor life leading up to their contact? There are just some things that can’t be controlled. In the book of events in the poor boy’s life, this was bound to