Thank You Ma Am Essay

Janessa Peters was walking down the crowded streets of New York City on a late Friday evening. All of a sudden, a child of about 16 years of age, came from behind and stole her handbag, which contained her wallet, driver's license, and the key to her apartment. Just like the child who took Janessa’s handbag, Roger, from the short story “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes, attempts to steal a woman's handbag in order to buy himself new shoes. In “Thank You Ma’am,” Roger and Mrs. Jones, the main characters, learn that small acts of kindness can mean the world to even the least of people. In “Thank You Ma’am,” Mrs. Jones, the kind woman who is generous to Roger, helps develop the theme that simple deeds of consideration and hospitality can be very meaningful to people who don’t have very much in the world. First, after Roger tried to run off with Mrs. Jones pocketbook, she takes him to her house so he can clean himself up. Although Roger attempted to steal from her, Mrs. Jones still thought she had “a great mind to wash your face for you.” Mrs. Jones thought it to be the greatest act of kindness to have the boy who almost got away with her pocketbook to wash his face and hands at
Jones, Roger, the thief in “Thank You Ma’am”, also helps to advance the theme that modest acts of unselfishness can mean so much to the smallest of people. In the first place, Roger was so desperate for money that he resorted to stealing from people in the middle of the night. Mrs. Jones was walking down the street after a long work shift when suddenly, “a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse.” Thankfully, Mrs. Jones didn’t let him run away with it and she took Roger home with her. After dragging him to her house, Mrs. Jones tells Roger to wash his face and offers him a hot meal. Before sending him home, Mrs. Jones gives Roger ten dollars and he says “thank you ma’am.” Roger shows that he is very appreciative to all the things that Mrs. Jones did for