When one expresses gratitude, he shows appreciation for kindness by being kind in return. In the short story “Thank You, M'am” by Langston Hughes, Roger demonstrates his gratitude for Mrs. Jones without saying a word.
At the beginning of the story, Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse. Not letting him off easy, Mrs. Jones gives Roger some tough love. After scolding him for trying to snatch her purse, she takes him to her house,...
When one expresses gratitude, he shows appreciation for kindness by being kind in return. In the short story “Thank You, M'am” by Langston Hughes, Roger demonstrates his gratitude for Mrs. Jones without saying a word.
At the beginning of the story, Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse. Not letting him off easy, Mrs. Jones gives Roger some tough love. After scolding him for trying to snatch her purse, she takes him to her house, allows him to clean himself up, feeds him, and even gives him the $10 he attempted to steal from her.
A key moment in their interaction is when Mrs. Jones explains to him that she was once young and couldn’t get everything she wanted: “I were young once and I wanted things I could not get” (2). This allows Roger to begin to trust Mrs. Jones.
When they begin eating, Mrs. Jones, conscientious of the fact that Roger might not have a great home life, doesn’t ask him personal questions. Instead, she keeps talking about herself, allowing Roger to trust Mrs. Jones even more.
After handing Roger the $10, she teaches him a lesson: “. . . do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody else’s—because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet” (3). Roger is able to actually listen to this advice because Mrs. Jones has built trust between them.
Throughout the story, Roger doesn’t say much. However, before leaving, he does say thank you to Mrs. Jones, and he wants to say more. This shows that he is grateful to Mrs. Jones, not only for the food, but for the advice and life lesson she has given him. This makes readers believe that Roger may actually change his ways.
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