Symbolically, what's interesting about Hughes' description of Mrs. Jones' purse in the story Thank You, Ma'am by Langston Hughes?

"Thank You M'am" by Langston Hughes commences with a description of Mrs. Jones and her purse. It says, "She was a large woman with a large purse" and this alerts the reader to the importance of both in the unfolding story. What should have been a fairly straightforward exercise for Roger becomes a life-changing event for him and the fact that Mrs. Jones's purse is so large that it contains everything except "hammer and nails"...

"Thank You M'am" by Langston Hughes commences with a description of Mrs. Jones and her purse. It says, "She was a large woman with a large purse" and this alerts the reader to the importance of both in the unfolding story. What should have been a fairly straightforward exercise for Roger becomes a life-changing event for him and the fact that Mrs. Jones's purse is so large that it contains everything except "hammer and nails" suggests that it symbolizes her no-nonsense approach and her attitude in life. The weight of the purse is substantial because with Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, what you see is what you get and the purse symbolizes that fact. She is a woman who can be taken at face value with no hidden agenda.

As soon as Roger connects with Mrs. Jones's purse, he connects with her life and she immediately becomes responsible for him. Her first observation is that his face is dirty and she confirms her suspicions about the significance of this by asking him whether there is "nobody home to tell you to wash your face."  She takes Roger in hand and intends to use this opportunity to make the world a better place.

Mrs. Jones calls her purse a "pocketbook" suggesting that maybe she also carries a bank book in there which would contain the details of her savings and so her purse holds a deep significance for her, being indicative of her (perhaps) meager wealth or savings. This does not stop her from sharing what little she has. Her large purse infers she has a good heart and just as her purse goes everywhere with her so does her social conscience and her understanding of human nature, all to Roger's good fortune.