Why is Mrs. Jones forgiving?

Mrs. Jones forgives Roger for trying to steal her purse because she sees herself in Roger.  She admits to Roger that when she was younger she did some things she wasn’t proud of as well.  She tells him that she understands how it feels to want something you don’t have like Roger wants a pair of blue suede shoes.  Mrs. Jones also tells Roger about her life so he can see how his life can...

Mrs. Jones forgives Roger for trying to steal her purse because she sees herself in Roger.  She admits to Roger that when she was younger she did some things she wasn’t proud of as well.  She tells him that she understands how it feels to want something you don’t have like Roger wants a pair of blue suede shoes.  Mrs. Jones also tells Roger about her life so he can see how his life can be different if he chooses it to be.  Her ability to empathize with Roger leads to her forgiving him and giving him a second chance.  Giving him the ten dollars for the shoes shows that she trusts him to do the right thing and to never steal again.  Roger is somewhat dumbfounded by her kindness, and as readers, we can only hope that her gestures throughout the story affect him in profound ways.