Mrs. Jones In Langston Hughs 'Thank You M Am'

In the short story “Thank You M’am”, by Langston Hughs, the main protagonist, Mrs. Jones, presents herself as an agressive woman, but as the story progresses, she is revealed as a motherly figure. When Roger “[tries] to snatch [her] purse” and she “[kicks] [him]”(1), she gives off an assertive and scary vibe. Mrs. Jones doesn’t want Roger to be let off easy so she exerts her strength on him. She realizes that she needs to teach Roger a lesson and better morals. However, when she “[drags] the boy inside […] and into a large kitchenette-furnished room”(2) and tells him to “go to that sink and wash [his] face”(2), Mrs. Jones shows a more maternal side. Her maternal insticts start to shine through her forceful personality when she learns Roger