Do you think Mrs. Jones is wise or foolish to trust Roger? Why?

The question of Mrs. Jones' decision to trust Roger is one of the interpretive questions often discussed when analyzing Langston Hughes' short story "Thank You, M'am."

When analyzing the question of her decision to trust Roger, readers often look at Roger's choice not to attempt to rob her again when Mrs. Jones leaves him alone within arm's reach of her purse and the door. One might say that Roger's choice not to rob her when...

The question of Mrs. Jones' decision to trust Roger is one of the interpretive questions often discussed when analyzing Langston Hughes' short story "Thank You, M'am."

When analyzing the question of her decision to trust Roger, readers often look at Roger's choice not to attempt to rob her again when Mrs. Jones leaves him alone within arm's reach of her purse and the door. One might say that Roger's choice not to rob her when again given the chance offers proof that her choice to trust him was wise. That is certainly one interpretation.

Looking deeper at the themes of trust, dignity, and integrity that Hughes weaves into the story, one could also say that regardless of the choice Roger made when the purse was again in his reach and her door open, she made the right choice in trusting him because she left him with the choice to choose to have dignity and integrity. One might say that treating him with dignity and offering him the chance to prove he was worthy of her trust and that he had integrity was the best choice she could make.