Previous Next

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

The Power of Generosity

The power of generosity to transform lives is one of the most important themes of “Thank You, M’am.” Mrs. Jones’s insistence on showing Roger generosity after he attempts to rob her changes the power dynamic in their relationship. Mrs. Jones begins the story as Roger’s intended victim, but by the middle of the story, she has overpowered him not just physically but also by the weight of her acts of generosity. Her gift of maternal care transfixes Roger, almost holding him in a spell. He is captivated by the idea that a stranger would show him such generosity, and it is clear such generosity is a novel experience for him.

Mrs. Jones’s generosity causes Roger’s behavior to transform from that of a nervous thief to that of a trustworthy young man who chooses to be respectful of her, her home, and her belongings. Mrs. Jones’s most surprising gift—the money to buy the blue suede shoes—is accompanied by the gift of her revelation that she was once like him, committing acts she now regrets in order to get things she wanted. This moment suggests that a similar act of generosity might have changed her at his age, as she clearly hopes to change Roger. Her disclosure and the gift of ten dollars leave Roger so moved that he can barely thank her at the end of the night. Her generosity changes his life.

The Importance of Dignity 

The importance of dignity is evident from the very start of the story when Mrs. Jones confidently orders Roger to pick up the purse he tears off her shoulder. Far from a hapless victim, Mrs. Jones is a force to be reckoned with who lives her life with deep and abiding dignity. Although she works late hours at a job that likely does not win her much respect, she carries herself with a fierce conviction and sense of her own rectitude. When Roger tries to convince her to let him go, she informs him that he will long remember her, using the third person and her long full name to refer to herself, a rhetorical flourish that lends the moment a kind of grandeur.

An important aspect of the maternal care Mrs. Jones shows Roger is teaching him how to live with dignity. She insists that Roger wash his face and later comb his hair before sitting down to dinner. As they eat, she models polite conversation, telling him about her job and avoiding topics that may embarrass him. Even when she reveals that her own youth included deeds she is now ashamed of, she maintains her dignity in the revelation, not providing specific details beyond her understanding of Roger’s situation. Her gift of money for Roger to buy blue suede shoes is a gift of dignity, allowing him to have what he wants without compromising his self-respect. 

The Gradual Development of Trust

The theme of gradual development of trust is explored over the course of the story as Mrs. Jones and Roger move from an adversarial relationship to one of mutual trust. At the beginning of the story, there is no trust at all between the pair as Roger’s attack on Mrs. Jones breaks the most basic of boundaries between strangers. Mrs. Jones responds in kind by physically detaining him against his will. She does not invite him to dinner but rather drags him to her home, knowing that he does not trust her and will run away if she lets go. Trust begins to develop only after they arrive at Mrs. Jones’s room as a result of Mrs. Jones and Roger each demonstrating increasing vulnerability. When Mrs. Jones lets go of Roger so that he can wash his face, she leaves her door open, the first time since his attack that she has relinquished any control. Roger, in turn, now trusts her enough to stay in the room and make himself physically vulnerable as he washes his face. 

Mrs. Jones leaves her purse on the bed when she goes to prepare their meal, an intentional act of vulnerability that shows she is beginning to trust Roger. Roger deliberately sits where Mrs. Jones can see him as she cooks, unwilling to risk breaking their growing trust by making her wonder whether he’s going to take the purse. Their trust increases as Mrs. Jones reveals her past to Roger and culminates in Mrs. Jones sharing her meal with Roger, the ultimate symbol of mutual trust between humans. By the end of the story, Mrs. Jones’s and Roger’s willingness to be vulnerable with one another transforms their relationship of mutual antagonism to one of shared trust.

Previous section Main Ideas Next section Motifs

Take a Study Break