Yes Ma'am

Yes ma’am

By Andrea Basile

Authors Note: I’m going to talk about why in the story “Yes Ma’am” I think that Rogers learned his lesson on not to steal.         

In the captivating story “Yes Ma’am” by Langston Hues Rogers, the main character in the story, learns a lesson from a strict lady named Mrs. Jones. I believe Rogers learned his lesson of not to steal.

One of the reasons I believe Rogers learned his lesson because he was awed at how the Mrs. Jones reacted. She was harsh but nice at the same time. He was so scared that he would obey anything she said. He was struck with horror as she grabbed him and kicked him in the “sitter.” Her reaction to him trying to steal her purse is the only reason why he went to her home willingly.

Since Rogers was doing everything Mrs. Jones said, he started to see what a good person she was, she fed him food ad didn’t ask questions about where he lived or who his parents were. She also told him to clean his face and wash up for dinner. He learned some manners and when Mrs. Jones said “You don’t need to go stealing purses to get some shoes. You could have just asked.” I think when she said that that REALLY changed Rogers into not stealing. I also believe that when she said this, he might have thought about how wrong it was to try to steal her purse, and instead he might be thinking of another way to get money…like maybe getting a job.

To wrap things up I just really think that Rogers was changed by this experience. If it was another woman he tried to steal from, I bet that lady wouldn’t have reacted the same as Mrs. Jones. Therefore him stealing from Mrs. Jones changed his life probably forever!