Thank You Ma’am | Questions and Answers, D.A.Q (Part

Thank You Ma’am D.A.Q (Part – II)

Langston Hughes’ short story, "Thank You, Ma'am" explores themes of empathy, forgiveness, and the potential for redemption. It showcases how a single act of kindness can profoundly impact someone's life and alter their behavior. Mrs. Jones' compassion and understanding towards Roger create a turning point in the boy's life, leaving a lasting impression on him.

Q. “Then it will get worst this evening”- who said this to whom?

What was going to get worst? Where? Why?

Answer: Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones said the above mentioned line to Roger.

Roaches dirty face was going to get worst.

Rodgers dirty face was going to get lost at Mrs. Jones home. Mrs. Jones sent him to the sink to wash his face.

Mrs. Jones caught Roger red handed when he was trying to steal her purse. Instead of handing him over to the police, she herself took the responsibility of reforming Roger. When she noticed The Dirty face of the young boy, she asked if there was anybody at his home to tell him to wash his face. On hearing a no from Roger see decide two cleans Rose’s soul as well as his dirty face.

Q. “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong.”

Who speaks to whom? Did the speaker manage to teach what he or she claimed to teach? Give reason for your answer.

Answer: Here the speaker is Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones and She is speaking to a boy named Roger

The speaker Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones decided to teach Roger how to differentiate between right and wrong.

Roger wanted a pair of blue suede shoes and so he tried to steal Mrs Jones purse but got caught. Mrs Jones took the responsibility of guiding him when she came to know that he had nobody at home to show him the right path. She took him to her house fed him like her own son and gave him $10 so that he could buy the shoes of his choice.

Mrs. Jones advised him to avoid wrong means to fulfil his desire. Her motherly affection and caring attitude moved Roger so much that he did not try to escape from her house or steal her purse in spite of getting a few opportunities to do so.

Instead, he wanted to help her in her household work and express his gratitude towards her. So it can be said that the speaker managed to teach him what she claimed. Mrs Bates was successful in reforming Roger.

Q. “I would teach you right from wrong” – who said this to whom and when?

How did the speaker transform the person spoken to here?

Answer: Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones said this to the teenager Roger. Mrs. Jones made the above quoted remark when she was dragging the boy along the road towards her house. She caught Roger red-handed while he was trying to snatch her pocketbook.

The speaker transformed the person spoken to here gradually by giving him motherly love. She asked the boy to wash his dirty face and handed him a clean towel. She revealed to the boy that she too had once like him in her youth, which she could not get following the right path.

This sharing of personal experiences gave the boy confidence that he could also change himself. By being frank, the lady managed to make the boy surrender to her affection. The boy did not want to escape from her house anymore. Rather he wanted to keep the trust she showed on him intact.

She cooked him a meal to satisfy his hunger and gave him $10 (ten dollars) to fulfil his ways of buying a pair of blue suede shoes. Finally, she advised Roger not to steal again for it takes away a person’s mental peace. In this way, Mrs Jones played the role of a perfect friend philosopher and guide in transforming a thief to a grateful person.

Q. “…. Sir, you are going to remember Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones”

- who is the speaker? Whom does the word ‘Sir’ referred to? Why do you think the woman would prove to be unaffordable to Roger and what kind of person would he remember her as?

Answer: Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones is the speaker.

The word ‘Sir’ refers to Roger.

Roger tried to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse but was caught by her. Despite meeting Roger under such a circumstance, Mrs. Jones did not hand him over to the police but took him to her house to teach him the difference between right and wrong.

The unexpected kindness and trust that Roger received from Mrs Jones made a great impact on his mindset. Mrs. Jones gave him food and also $10 as well as her valuable advice that things earned in an immoral way cannot bring peace to the human mind. So through the quoted line might seem like a threat hinting at Mrs Jones’ strength, she would prove to be unforgettable to Roger for her motherly affection.

Roger would remember Mrs Bates as the person who had helped him to change his outlook towards life and turned him into a better human being.

Q. “But you put yourself in contact with me.” – Who is the speaker?

Who is being spoken to? What was the ultimate effect of this contact?

Answer: Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones is the speaker.

Roger who tries to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse is being spoken to.

The brief encounter with Mrs. Jones changed Roger’s view of life completely. She realised the worth of living an honest life and get things through the right way. Mrs. Jones had faced similar situation and therefore understood that Roger was not a born thief. She showered motherly love upon Roger to teach him the difference between right and wrong. She showed trust on Roger by leaving her purse unguarded on the daybed. Roger had enough time and opportunity to steal the purse and run away, but Mrs. Jones’ generosity and blind faith in him moved Roger. He did not want to be mistrusted again. Mrs. Jones’ affection and care brought about a change in Roger. He felt grateful to her for inspiring him to be a better human being. The experience of meeting Mrs. Jones reformed Roger. This was the ultimate effect of the contact.

Q. “Sweet popped out on the boy’s face and he began to struggle.”

- Who was the boy? Why did sweet pop out on the boys face? Why did he struggle? What happened to the boy next?

Answer: Roger was the boy.

Roger saw Mrs. Jones getting a large purse and thought of snatching it. But this plan failed as Mrs. Jones caught him red handed. She dragged him behind her and then told him threateningly that when she would get through with him, he would remember her. Hearing these words from Mrs Jones, sweet popped out on the frightened boy’s face. He had no idea what was going to happen next.

Mrs Jones held Roger tightly. So he struggled to set himself free from her clutch. When Roger began to struggle, Mrs Jones jerked him around in front of her, put a half-nelson about his neck and continued to drag him up the street. Then she took him to her house in order to reform him.

Q. “You gonna take me to jail?”- Who asked this question and to whom?

When did the speaker ask this question? What reply did the speaker get?

Answer: The question mentioned above was asked by Roger, a 14 or 15 year old frail boy to Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones, a large woman.

Roger was caught red handed by Mrs Jones while trying to snatch her purse. Instead of handing him over to the police, Mrs Jones decided to take the boy to her house. When she reached her house, she dragged him inside, down a hall and into a large kitchenette furnished room at the rear end of the house. Holding him by the neck, Mrs Jones asked him his name. Getting his reply, she turned him loose and told him to go to the sink to wash his face. Then giving him a clean towel, she told him to allow the water running until it gets warm. At this caring attitude of the lady, the scared boy gathered courage to ask her the above quoted questions.

*****

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