Thank You M´am (Traditional Criticism, Langston Hughes)

Probably, Langston Hughes inspired from his childhood experience and he wrote "Thank You, M'am" because he grew up with his maternal grandmother for the reason that, when he was a baby his parents separated, his father moved to Mexico and his mother moved constantly during his youth. This short story tells about an old woman who takes a role of a mother just for a short period of time, because Roger is boy, he is alone with anyone who cares him. Probably Langston wanted represent his grandmother into Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones because she raised him in his childhood until she died when he was a teenager. In this story "Thank You, M'am" Langston talks about two important themes such as shame when he's reprimanded for trying to steal; and forgiveness, when Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones gave Roger a second chance and teaches him an important lesson about dignity and respect and also that people can do right things in hard circumstances. In the story "Thank You, M'am" Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones mentions that she made some mistakes when she was young. Maybe Langston`s grandmother told him some experiences that she had as a young woman and she realized that people deserve a second chance to improve no matter the situations they are.

 Langston Hughes published the short story "Thank You M´am" in 1958. Furthermore, possibly he wrote this short story inspired likewise in the life and experience of African American in the 1950s. This important short story carries great social value and has the ability to teach and instruct its readers.Hughes wrote "Thank You, M'am" in dialect. He used idioms, colloquialisms, and natural dialogue to draw the reader into the story and depict life in a poor black neighborhood. Langston Hughes wanted to draw throughout this short story that people are not bad all the time, in this story Roger was not a bad boy he just wanted to have a blue suede shoes that it represent a better life for him. Moreover, Hughes in this story "Thank You M´am" talks about others themes such as, respect, decency that surpasses race and social class; they can improve and do right things.

Does Roger learn a good lesson in his life? Why does Mrs. Luella give to Roger a second chance to do the right?

Summary: https://www.enotes.com/topics/thank-you-mam

Full story:  http://staff.esuhsd.org/danielle/English%20Department%20LVillage/RT/Short%20Stories/Thank%20You,%20Ma%27am.pdf