Everyone responds to challenges differently based on their personality. The narrative, “Thank You M’am” is a short narrative written by Langston Hughes. In this story, Mrs. Jones’ conflict is getting her purse stolen, and Roger’s problem is choosing to stay or leave Mrs. Jones’ dwelling. Mrs. Jones’ challenge is when Roger tries to steal her pocketbook. This struggle is displayed in the third sentence of the first paragraph “...when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse.” This is the first time Roger and Mrs. Jones interact and this event initiates the rest of the events in the story. She reacts to this situation at first by defending herself and her belongings, this is stated in paragraph 1, which states “The large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter. Then she reached down, picked the boy up by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled.” However, Mrs. Jones treats Roger kindly by bringing him into her kitchenette and letting him get replenished. Examples of these actions are in sentences and dialogue like “Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face,” said the woman…”, “You gonna take me to jail?” asked the boy, bending over the sink. “Not with that face, I would …show more content…
“Here I am trying to get home to cook me a bite to eat and you snatch my pocketbook! Maybe, you ain’t been to your supper either, late as it be. Have you?”, “She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the icebox, made the cocoa, and set the table. The woman did not ask the boy
her house. On page 4, it said “Then we'll eat said the woman, “I believe you're hungry-or been hungry- to try to snatch my pocketbook”. This means that even though Roger tries to steal her pocketbook, she still cares for him. On page 6 “Eat some more, son” this implies
This week reading were really interesting, all of them had a strong message behind their words. However, the one that really caught my attention was “Open Letter to the South” by Langston Hughes. In this poem, the author emphasizes in the idea of unity between all races, He also suggests that working in unity will lead to achieving great things, as he said, “We did not know that we were strong. Now we see in union lies our strength.” (Hughes 663)
Langston Hughes's stories deal with and serve as a commentary of conditions befalling African Americans during the Depression Era. As Ostrom explains, "To a great degree, his stories speak for those who are disenfranchised, cheated, abused, or ignored because of race or class." (51) Hughes's stories speak of the downtrodden African-Americans neglected and overlooked by a prejudiced society. The recurring theme of powerlessness leads to violence is exemplified by the actions of Sargeant in "On the Road", old man Oyster in "Gumption", and the robber in "Why, You Reckon?"
The writing of Langston Hughes in “I too” is significantly dependant on his point of view. The actions that occur in the poem are as realistic as they can get because Langston Hughes is speaking from the heart. He passed through the Harlem Renaissance and faced constant struggles with racism. Because of that, his writing seems to manifest a greater meaning. He is part of the African-American race that is expressed in his writing. He writes about how he is currently oppressed, but this does not diminish his hope and will to become the equal man. Because he speaks from the point of view of an oppressed African-American the poem’s struggles and future changes seem to be of greater importance than they ordinarily would.
In stating this Mrs. Jones herself has shown weakness in her lifestyle.&nb now opened a door for the boy, in showing him through another statement that intended that it was still wrong to make an attempt to steal someone’s pocketbook, but you could still get away with the crime. From the events in the story, the most obvious and penetrating theme would be that Mrs. Jones taught the boy a valuable lesson by taking him in and pampering him. But, by using the methods of deconstruction and digging deeply into the true theme of the short story, you will find a recessive theme, secondary to the obvious. In “Thank You, Ma’am,” the apparent theme is not as it seems, and the true seemed like a strong role model for the boy, but truly set a poor example for the boy by convincing him, not knowingly, but in her sub-conscious, that it is admirable to steal and beg for things that you do not have and want. A very important lesson could be taught within either theme, and in the end it is a fight between two old enemies, good and evil. & nbsp;
...t the beginning she dislike the man and towards the end she actually feels sorry for the man and tries to help out. Mae changes differently in the story like when the chef was mixing the potato salad said to give it to him and she looked at the truck drives as to tell them what she needed to do next. Another example is when the man asked her for penny candy which might have been more expensive than that she offered to give them 2 for a penny because she didn’t want the man to disappoint his two sons who were eager to taste candy. With this type of humility the man is able to accomplish to get food for his family and not rip-off someone in the process. What I believe about humility is that you need self-esteem and that humility is from a deep confidence in who you are, and what you are capable of and it also requires the courage to stand back when you could stand out.
“Momma!” I whined across the room, “I’m starving.” She always hates when I whine at her, I do it now just to grind her gears. She was lying on the couch so I laid my head on her lap and naming of foods that sounded good to me.
“I lay awake at night, rubbing my feet with my hands, trying to warm them.” Jeanette (176) In this scene, Jeanette is trying to keep warm inside of their poorly insulated shack in Welch, West Virginia. She was forced to face a freezing winter with only a stove inside of their living room to keep warm. Another time she says: “We did eat less. Once we lost our credit with the commissary, we quickly ran out of food.” (67) This is the height of the hunger in the Walls family. Rex lost his job and had no money coming in. Jeannette tried not to complain but when she couldn’t keep it inside anymore and let one small word of complaint her mother replied with “It’s not my fault you’re hungry” P.(69). This is a good example for how neglectful Rosemary is. It is in fact her fault that they are hungry because it is her responsibility to take care of her children. This is a perfect segway to the next issue,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” (Martin Luther King, Jr) “Thank You Ma'am” by Langston Hughes and “The Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote are very similar as they both show Trust, Friendship, and Love. “Thank You Ma'am” is a short story is about a young man and a woman. The young man tries to steal the lady's purse but fails and the old lady takes him to her house. The two soon become friends.
Thesis: The poems “Negro”, “I Too”, and “Song for a Dark Girl” by Langston Hughes was written around an era of civil inequality. A time when segregation was a customary thing and every African American persevered through civil prejudice. Using his experience, he focuses his poems on racial and economic inequality. Based on his biographical information, he uses conflict to illustrate the setting by talking about hardships only a Negro would comprehend and pride only a Negro can experience, which helps maintain his racial inequality theme.
The Harlem Renaissance inspired, and was inspired by some of the greatest poets, musicians and artists of the century. Among these great minds, were the poets Langston Hughes, and Claude McKay. Though motivated by the same hardships, people, and events, the works of both Hughes, and McKay show glaring differences in the perspectives of the authors. Upon reading “Harlem” by Hughes, the audience may easily see the author’s more peaceful call to action. In contrast, after reading “If We Must Die,” one can infer that McKay prefers to call his audience to obvious (physical) action. Langston Hughes’s poem portrays a more passive overtone, while Claude McKay’s poem is more aggressive. There are, however, a few similarities between the two works of
Dreams are aspirations that people hope to achieve in their lifetime. They are a motive that drives lives to accomplish goals. When trying to achieve these goals, people can do anything. However, what happens when a dream is deferred? A dream cast aside can frustrate a person in the deepest way. It tends to permeate their thoughts and becomes an unshakable burden. In the poem “Harlem,” Langston Hughes, through literary technique, raises strong themes through a short amount of language.
Everyone feels sympathetic or compassionate for another sometime in their life. It’s compassion for another person that provides us hope for our own life. In the short story Thank You ma'am By Langston Hughes, the author uses dialogue, inner thinking, and character motivation to show Roger’s reasoning for trying to steal the pocketbook. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones feels sympathy for Roger because she understands what it's like to be a kid, to crave something, especially if you can’t have it. In the story, Roger wanted so badly to own a pair of blue suede shoes, that he tried to commit a crime to do so. Ultimately, even though the woman feels anger towards Roger for trying to steal the pocketbook, she mostly feels compassionate because she understands.
Just an act of kindness is enough to change a person’s life. In Thank You Ma’am, Langston Hughes portrays the act of undeserved love from Mrs. Jones to Roger, a young kid who tries to steal from her. Roger and Mrs. Jones’s interactions in the story and the conflicts that Roger goes through impels the changes in his character.
“Oh honey,” I answered, sadly acknowledging my daughter’s hunger, “ I wish it was. Actually, I’m not quite sure what it is. Help me clean it off, will you?” Emily and I began scrubbing the dilapidated, seaweed covered object in the warm waves of the Atlantic. “Wow, That’s not at all I expected.” I answered as I rolled an old bottle in the water. “At least we can get some money for this at the recycling center. Not much, but if we collect enough bottles we could get some lunch!” I looked hopelessly at the bottle.