The Devil Character In Thank You Ma Am By Langston Hughes

As humans, we go through life’s obstacles and find ourselves lost in these obstacles. Many times one is approached by friends, family and sometimes strangers. As they become aware of your circumstances and obstacles they attempt to give you advice by sharing their beliefs. Similarly, in literature, a devil character appears during a crisis or weak moment's in the protagonist's life to challenge, guide, bring out qualities and thoughts that already live within the protagonist. Although the devil character can be perceived as evil and devious, the devil character has the ability to test the protagonist in order to put the character in contact with something already existent within them. The devil character challenges their heir to explore

This idea is portrayed in the short story, “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes when the devil character Mrs.Jones questions Roger and eventually unfolding something more meaningful within him. Despite, Rogers attempt to rob Mrs.Jones, she recognizes beyond his negative actions and sees a significant quality within him. After Roger has attempted to rob her purse, Mrs.Jones asks, “”If I turn you lose, will you run?” “Yes’m,” said the boy.” “Then I won’t turn you loose.”” Mrs.Jones gets Roger to reply honestly and remain sincere with her even seconds after he has done something wrong to her. She recognizes his sincerity and sees that Roger is no thief, rather an individual who is misguided. It is for this reason Mrs.Jones sought to trust the boy and provide Roger an opportunity for redemption. Mrs.Jones prepares him a meal and intentionally leaves her purse unattended near

Initially, Rogers aim was to steal the purse from Mrs.Jones to buy himself “blue-suede shoes” but as Mrs.Jones continues to show him empathy he learns that his actions were wrong. Roger does not mention the blue-suede shoes, as the story progresses he becomes intrigued by Mrs.Jones advice and he closely listens as she says, “I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son... Everybody’s got something in common… The women did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse,...” Mrs.Jones enlightens Roger by teaching him that pursuing bad deeds in order to get something that you want is not the correct route to take. The devil character in this story does not guilt the protagonist for his mistakes. Rather the devil character gives him reassurance that he has potential to change and learn from his mistakes just as she has done in her life. Roger became enlightened through this advice that he never received as a misguided and lonesome child. He discovers he wants something more valuable than a pair of shoes. Thus, his new aim is to impress Mrs.Jones after she has given him a sense of reassurance even after his mistakes, “He did not trust the women not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now./ “Do you need somebody to go to the store?”” By the end, Roger discovers that he has