I have never read anything more touching than Thank You, M’am by Langston Hughes. There are just two main characters in this story: an old woman Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, and a young boy, Roger, who appeared to be a pickpocket. The last tried to still Mrs. Luella’s purse but failed because was noticed by her.
Mrs. Luella is presented in this story as a generalized character of a strong woman with some disadvantages; however, there are three main important characteristics that make her a unique person among others: she is able to understand, trust and forgive.
Although Mrs. Luella is presented in this story as a reach and strict woman with “a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails” (Caroll, 177), it is clear to the reader that she also had a big heart. Instead of taking young thief, who tried to still her purse, to prison, she started talking to him and asking him questions in order to help: “Um-hum! And your face is dirty. I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?” (Caroll,178). These actions prove that an old woman definitely had a strong sense of sympathy and understanding.
Mrs. Luella’s ability to trust is, in my opinion, another rare peculiarity she had. She trusted Roger like she knew him for a long time and even pretended like they never had a conflict: after Roger tried to steal a woman’s purse, she just left it on her bed in front of him. Mrs. Luella knew that a young thief could easily still it again and run away, but acted and talked to Roger as he was her son: “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry?” (Caroll, 178). It was an unusual act of kindness, that Mrs. Luella brought a young poor boy into her wealthy house. Moreover, she gave him a clean towel, explained why it is bad to still personal belongings, and finally, showed Roger her attitude, expressed trust. Furthermore, Mrs. Luella told him stories about her own youth and about mistakes that occurred to her when she was inexperienced. She showed Roger that she is not perfect as well, tried to prove to him that there is always a reason to trust.
Another important thing that impressed me in Mrs. Luella’s behavior is that she was able to forgive and was even more generous than the boy expected. Mrs. Luella gave Roger money. In my opinion, that was the act of forgiveness. Although she was not sure whether Roger is going to spend this money on shoes or on something else, she was not trying to persuade him to buy something else. She just knew that Roger was intimidated and forgave him:
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 pocketbook nor nobody else’s- because shoes that come by devilish like that will burn your feet. I got to get my rest now. But I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in (Caroll, 178).
This impressive story is short in size, but there is so much wisdom in it. It made me think about my own actions and behavior, about sympathy, trust, and of course, about forgiveness. Mrs. Luella in this story is a personification of a rare characteristic that many people lack today- kindness. Moreover, she is a generalized character of a wise and generous woman, who is able to forget and forgive.
References
Caroll, Aileen. 150 Great Short Stories: Synopses, Quizzes, and Tests. Portland: Walch Publishing, 1989. Print.