At the end of the story, it says that the boy wanted to say something else other than ‘Thank You’ to Mrs Jones, but he could not-What were the circumstances that led him to thank Mrs Jones?

At the end of the story, it says that the boy wanted to say something else other than ‘Thank You’ to Mrs Jones, but he could not-What were the circumstances that led him to thank Mrs Jones?

At the end of the story “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes, Roger wanted to thank Mrs Jones for the kind treatment he received and for her guidance and advice which helped him to change his outlook towards life thereafter. When Mrs Jones dragged him home he had struggled to escape as he feared that she would hand him over to the police. But concern for him, her sympathy for his helpless condition, astonished him as well as moved him greatly. She said, “You ought to be my son” and treated him just like her own son. Though she herself was tired and hungry yet she shared her food with him. She did not embarrass him with any personal enquiry. Before leaving she gave him ten dollars to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. All these filled Roger’s heart with a deep sense of gratitude and he could not find appropriate words to express his feelings at that moment. He only managed to murmur a faint “Thank you, ma’am” before the door closed.

Who do you think is the central character of the story-Mrs Jones or Roger? Give reasons for your analysis.

Both Mrs Jones and Roger are important in their own way and both can claim to be the central character of the story. To begin with, this story can be looked upon as the story of a poor young boy who turns into a thief out of circumstance and a chance meeting with Mrs Jones changes him into a new man with a new outlook towards life. He is undoubtedly a good soul otherwise mere kindness and sympathy could not have brought this change in him. On the other hand, Mrs Jones is portrayed from the beginning as an energetic, perceptive yet generous woman who has the power to bring about a change in a person. She acts as the author’s spokesperson, delivering the important message of life. She tries to transform a thief into an honest boy by advising him that he would never live peacefully if he earns things with the help of wrong means. She rightly says that one cannot forget Mrs Jones as we the readers too cannot forget her. Thus both the characters demand equal importance in this story.