Integrity In Thank You Ma Am
In the short story “Thank You Ma’am” written by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones teaches the importance of integrity to Roger. “Thank You Ma’am” is about a thirteen year old boy named Roger who tries to steals a ladies purse. The lady named Mrs. Jones drags Roger to her house, feeds him, allows him to wash up, gives him money and educates him about the importance of integrity. Integrity is being honest and having strong moral principles. Within integrity a character must develop trustworthiness, fairness, and honesty. Mrs. Jones first teaches Roger about trustworthiness. Roger has to trust that other people will help him buy what he needs. He didn’t trust that Mrs. Jones knew what he was going through but in fact she did “I have done things, too,
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Jones teaches him about fairness. She teaches him not to judge people based on one incident but to judge based on your past and what you know. Mrs. Jones didn’t judge Roger when he tried to steal her purse instead she thought of her childhood and saw that he was desperate, lacked guidance and care so she takes him in as her own son. She is trying to teach Roger that punishment isn’t always the best answer. She teaches him that calling the cops isn’t always the best answer instead she teaches him. Finally Mrs. Jones teaches Roger about honesty. If Roger had asked Mrs. Jones about the shoes he wanted, Mrs. Jones would have given it to him. Roger already had an idea about being honesty. Whenever Mrs. Jones asked would she let him go if he would run, he replied “yes’m”(1). Roger clearly is inexperienced about stealing from people and was scared when Mrs. Jones caught him. Mrs. Jones teaches Roger that being honest is important and lying will never help you in the long run.
In conclusion, Mrs. Jones teaches Roger integrity through trustworthiness, fairness and honesty. Roger leaves Mrs. Jones house with new knowledge about integrity and how to treat people. If Roger never met Mrs. Jones he would probably still steal from people and become way more experienced. He would never learn about integrity and how to properly care for
Jones teaches him about fairness. She teaches him not to judge people based on one incident but to judge based on your past and what you know. Mrs. Jones didn’t judge Roger when he tried to steal her purse instead she thought of her childhood and saw that he was desperate, lacked guidance and care so she takes him in as her own son. She is trying to teach Roger that punishment isn’t always the best answer. She teaches him that calling the cops isn’t always the best answer instead she teaches him. Finally Mrs. Jones teaches Roger about honesty. If Roger had asked Mrs. Jones about the shoes he wanted, Mrs. Jones would have given it to him. Roger already had an idea about being honesty. Whenever Mrs. Jones asked would she let him go if he would run, he replied “yes’m”(1). Roger clearly is inexperienced about stealing from people and was scared when Mrs. Jones caught him. Mrs. Jones teaches Roger that being honest is important and lying will never help you in the long run.
In conclusion, Mrs. Jones teaches Roger integrity through trustworthiness, fairness and honesty. Roger leaves Mrs. Jones house with new knowledge about integrity and how to treat people. If Roger never met Mrs. Jones he would probably still steal from people and become way more experienced. He would never learn about integrity and how to properly care for