Trust

Authors Note: The following piece is a text analysis off of a quote from the story “Thank You, Ma’am” written by Langston Hughes.

Within the beginning of the heart-touching story “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes, a woman is on her way home from the grocery store in the dark night and is harassed  by a young teenager trying to snatch her purse. Fortunately, the boy was considered a stick while comparing sizes between the two. She took him by his ear and dragged him to her home where she then told him this: "Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face," said the woman, whereupon she turned him loose--at last. Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink. This specific paragraph from the story was one of the most important things said within the entire story because it shows the trust they have for each other.

To begin, after being hassled by a young teenager, most would think the last thing they would do would be to bring the teenager back to your house, but Ms. Luella Bates Jones is too intelligent to let a boy less than half her size get away with the crime of robbery. While in her house, she notices dirt on his face and asks him to wash his face off and lets him lose from her arms. Knowing that he could very well run out the doors and onto the streets again, she trusts her choice on letting this boy make the correct decision of trusting her in return. 

Continuing, the young boy Roger is told a demand to wash his face at the sink. “Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink.” He didn’t know whether or not he should stay with this woman or run like a predator chasing it’s prey out of the door of Ms. Jones’ house. Roger ended up making the correct decision of staying with Ms. Luella Jones, giving her his trust to her as well.

Lastly, the main importance of this specific paragraph of the story is trust and being able to trust one another. At this part of the story, both Roger and Ms. Luella Bates Jones know they both trust each other which is the message for readers while reading this paragraph.

To conclude, I believe that this scene within the story is the most important scene because it shows that Ms. Jones gives the boy his trust, and he gives his to Ms. Jones in return.