she has also "done things" she is not proud of. Before Roger leaves, Mrs. Jones gives him ten dollars to purchase a pair of blue suede shoes, which is a gesture of her kindness and a way to encourage Roger to make better decisions.

The first thing we learn about Mrs. Jones is that she's as tough as nails and very brave. Most women, after an attempted mugging, would scream or run away. Mrs. Jones, on the other hand, successfully fights back and inflicts pain on Roger, her attacker.

Perhaps the most interesting thing we learn about Mrs Jones is that, in her tough way, she is an extremely compassionate woman. Having assumed that her attacker must have done what he did because he was hungry, she frog-marches him to her home, where she gives him a meal. It is clear that Roger, by this time, has realized on some level that she is a compassionate woman. When he has the chance to run away, he chooses not to do so.

When Mrs Jones discovers that Roger attempted to rob her so that he would be able to buy a pair of shoes, she admits that she also has made mistakes in the past. This, coupled with the fact that she eventually gives Roger the money he needs to go and buy the shoes, tells us that she regrets the mistakes she made and doesn't want Roger to repeat his mistakes.

In the short story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones, the main character, demonstrates that she is a tough, yet sincere and honest woman. One of my favorite descriptions of her comes from the very first sentence. Hughes writes, "She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails." 

Immediately after Roger attempted to steal that large purse, Mrs. Jones asked, "Now aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Following her line of questioning, it was clear that Roger just wanted to be let off the hook, but she insisted on teaching him a lesson. This shows that she is tough (but) because she wanted to ensure that Roger would learn from his mistakes and never steal again. 

Just before dragging Roger to her house, Mrs. Jones said, “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong." When they arrived at her home, she made him clean himself up a bit and even made him some dinner. This shows her as sincere because she almost becomes a motherly figure to Roger; this is especially important, because we learn that he doesn't have any family. By being a role model, Mrs. Jones is one step closer to achieving her goal of ensuring that Roger doesn't make a mistake again. 

Towards the end of the story, Mrs. Jones admits to Roger, "I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if he didn’t already know.” Through this revelation, Mrs. Jones continues to be a role model to Roger by showing him that he doesn't have to continue living the way he does. This makes her an honest person because she didn't have to admit to her past mistakes to him, but by doing so, she was able to connect to him on another level. 

While we know Roger never sees Mrs. Jones again, I think it's safe to bet that she had an influence on the rest of his life due to her tough, compassionate mannerisms. 

Character traits become obvious from a person's behavior and attitudes which is certainly true of Mrs Luella Bates Washington Jones in Thank You, M'am by Langston Hughes. She is a very dignified person, proud to be an upstanding citizen, with high expectations of herself and others. She is morally responsible, kind and caring and has recognized a need in Roger to have role models in his life, even momentarily and sees her own part in providing for him and making an impact on his life believing that the "Least I can do right now is to wash your face." 

She has been through difficult times herself and has "done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if he didn’t already know." In her younger days she, "wanted things I could not get" but she remains humble, God-fearing and non judgemental and wants Roger to believe that he will grow up fine, provided he behaves himself and does not go stealing other people's purses to get the shoes he wants because "shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet." Honesty, integrity and sincerity are some of her strongest characteristics.  

In Langston Hughes's short story "Thank You, Ma'am," the reader meets Mrs. Jones in the opening sentences, describing her as a large figure walking alone at night. Though a woman walking by herself at 11pm might typically suggest vulnerability, in the case of Mrs. Jones, she is an image of physical strength as evidenced by her reaction when the boy tries to steal her purse. Her size combined with her ability to overpower the boy communicates a sense of power that characterizes both her physical person and her personality.

The maternal qualities of Mrs. Jones become apparent when she takes Roger, the boy, back to her home. She insists that he clean up and eat some food, which are both motherly behaviors. She even offers Roger hot cocoa, which is a kind and motherly thing to do, especially as she chooses to look after Roger rather than take him to the police station for attempting to steal her purse.

As well, Mrs. Jones has a serious talk with Roger about his behavior, telling him about her own experiences with wanting things that are out of her reach. She scolds him, reminding him to behave himself and to avoid making mistakes like the one he made earlier in the evening. Her tone of voice is not described, but the content of her life lesson is serious as she discourages Roger from making a habit of attempting bad behavior that could lead to even more trouble in his life if he were to get caught trying to steal again.

Mrs. Jones displays her motherly character in the way she addresses Roger and the way she holds him accountable for his actions.

When she catches him in the act of stealing her purse, she interrogates him about his motives. While she talks to him, Mrs. Jones keeps her hold on Roger; essentially, she doesn't let go of him until they reach her house. There, she expects him to wash his face before he comes to the table for a meal. Like a mother often does, Mrs. Jones lectures Roger about doing the right thing, even when he wants something he can't have.

In combination with her stern attitudes about theft, Mrs. Jones also exerts a compassionate maternal influence on Roger during the short time he is with her. For dessert, she shares a small cake with him; she feeds him well and even gives him ten dollars to purchase the blue suede shoes he has his eye on. Mrs. Jones never patronizes Roger or tries to shame him; she admits to him that, when she was young, she also wanted things she couldn't afford.

She is a powerful presence in Roger's life for a brief time; the combination of her compassion, sternness, and generosity so affect Roger that he is barely able to thank her before he leaves. The text tells us that Roger never sees Mrs. Jones again, but it is very likely that her powerful example will serve as a positive influence on Roger for the rest of his life.

Luella Bates Washington Jones, in Thank You M'am, is a character  who reveals contradictory traits. The reader is immediately introduced to an imposing woman, which fact is clear from the contents of her purse where she keeps everything except "hammer and nails." She takes no nonsense and wants to teach the boy a lesson but, at the same time, has compassion and empathy with him. 

This leads to an understanding that she is powerful which is reinforced by the boy's efforts to release himself - unsuccessfully - from her grasp. She also has an inner power which can be seen when "Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink."

Roger wonders whether Luella is going to take him to jail but she has noticed his dirty face and her concern for him is genuine and motherly and "I got a great mind to wash your face for you" makes this clear. She goes on to mention how she would teach him right from wrong if he were her son.  

All these characteristics build an image of a strong woman who is not judgemental but helpful and kind-hearted despite her exterior appearance. 

Physically, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is a large woman and strong enough to manhandle Roger, the boy who tries to steal her purse. She puts a half-nelson on him and escorts him back to her apartment. The woman shows her concern for the boy in many ways. She respectfully asks his name and tells him that she, too, has done thing of which she is ashamed. She is saddened by his dirty appearance, and orders him to wash his face and comb his hair. She shows her trust in him by leaving her purse within his reach and the door open. She exhibits generosity by sharing her meager dinner--ham and lima beans--with him, and instead of showing her anger or calling the police, she gives him a $10 bill so he can buy the blue suede shoes he so desires. She is a proud woman who lives on her own, and she works long hours in order to support herself.