Has an elder ever called you out on your behavior when you were younger? Or did you make a mistake and someone gave you a second chance? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes illustrates an encounter between Roger, a teenager, and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, an elderly woman returning home from work late one evening. He tries to steal her bag, but because it's so heavy and Mrs. Jones is quite sturdy, he just ends up breaking the strap. She kicks him and grabs his shirt, asking him if he's ashamed of himself. Roger admits yes. Mrs. Jones realizes that her face is dirty and her hair is disheveled. He asks if anyone takes care of him. If he says "no," she'll take him home with her and tell him that when she's done with him, he'll never forget meeting her. Later, when Roger and Mrs. Jones arrive home, she asks him if he has eaten. She assumes he must be hungry because she tried to steal his bag, but instead wanted his money to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. When Mrs. Jones tells Roger that she could have asked for the money, he doesn't believe her. Jones told Roger that he was young and couldn't afford what he wanted. She admits that she, like the teenager, does very embarrassing things. While eating, he refrains from embarrassing Roger by not asking him anything else about his life; Instead, he talks about his work in a hotel beauty salon where he meets women of all colors. Living comfortably was something neither Mrs. Jones nor Roger were very familiar with. Because Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is significantly older than Roger, she has more life experience in dealing with this unfortunate reality of living with what you have rather than what you need. She is full of compassion and has insight into Roger's circumstances when she encounters him with his face covered in dirt. She takes him to her house, tells him to wash his face and then proceeds to feed him after he informs her that no one was at his house. Mrs Jones was also not a wealthy person, she lived in a boarding house with a group of other women. He was serving Roger canned milk, dollar treats, and canned food. Roger didn't care what the meal was, he was just happy to have something to eat. Mrs. Jones saw the look on his face as he ate and chose not to pressure him into explaining his life story. This choice showed how he could respect each individual, which helped develop trust between the characters. As time passes, Roger learns to respect Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones just as she does for him, and is grateful for what she has done for him. At the end of the story, Mrs. Jones gives Roger ten dollars to buy blue. suede shoes and tells him not to steal her purse or anything else, because the shoes bought with the stolen money are more trouble than they're worth. When she walks him to the door and bids him goodnight, Roger wants to say something more than "thank you, ma'am," but he can't think of anything that would suit him. When he addresses Mrs. Jones at the door, he can barely get the words "thank you" out of his mouth before closing the door. Roger will never see her again. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The central theme of Langston Hughes' short story "Thank You, Madam" is that you must be compassionate because compassion can bring about change. Hughes supports his theme.