Langston Hughes

In “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes, a pronounced theme throughout the story is that: showing someone that they are esteemed and understood builds integrity, within the person giving and the person receiving. In this piece, Luella Bates Washington Jones is a hefty woman with formidable values, who, whilst she has struggled with her past, is open to referencing to it when helping an individual. Roger is a young and spindly adolescent, and like all teens, is brimming with desire a to obtain more things that even he know he cannot have. After Roger’s blatantly unsuccessful attempt at stealing Luella’s purse for money to purchase some new shoes, Luella hauls him back to her modest kitchenette where she proceeds to teach him an vital lesson of life and institute some morality within him. Luella Bates comprehends Roger and endeavors to sympathize with him.

After making him dinner and conversing with him about the reasons behind his thieving ways, Luella was able to ascertain that he had wanted to acquire a pair of new blue suede shoes. She recalled the days where she too, had wanted to possess things she couldn’t afford. Roger is about to depart when she stands up and says “Now here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocket book nor nobody else’s-because shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet.” After leading down the steps she says goodnight, and demands that he behave in time to come.

“The boy wanted to say something else other than “Thank you, Ma’am” to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but he couldn’t so  as he turned the barren stoop and looked back at the large woman in the door. He barely managed to say “Thank you” before she shut the door.

This piece of evidence from the text exhibits Luella Jones’ excellent character traits. She took into consideration that blue suede shoes were the reasons for the boy’s venture to seize her bag and run. She understood and valued his want and gave him money for him to procure himself those shoes. This built integrity within her because it reinforced her strong values and beliefs about being considerate, perceptive and respectful. Roger in turn, was filled with recognition for Luella’s magnanimous ways. It built integrity within him because he wanted to demonstrate how appreciative he was by saying more than just “Thank you.” Being esteemed and comprehended by another individual developed more principles within him and taught him to establish those values (gratitude and recognition) within his ways.

Throughout the story, you can see that empathizing with Roger and showing him that his actions are significant creates a gradual change within his character. Roger steadily metamorphoses into a parallel individual that has ethics and morals and is in touch with them. Luella, by enabling him to do this, has built self-worth within herself and well as fortifying her own probity. After this precious yet fleeting encounter, both characters come out improved and more knowledgeable. Roger knows that there are exceptional people that will endeavor to comprehend and help him and Luella is conscious that by showing others that they are valued and understood, she can build a sense of rectitude and integrity within them and her herself.