Student Question
What is the perspective in "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes?
Quick answer:
The perspective in Langston Hughes's "Thank You, M'am" is third-person omniscient. This allows the narrator to provide a comprehensive view of the characters and events without bias. The narrator knows the thoughts and motivations of both Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones and Roger, enriching the story with insights into their developing relationship. This perspective helps highlight the transformative encounter between the characters, revealing themes of empathy and personal growth.
The short story Thank You M'am by Langston Hughes is told from an omniscient third person perspective. The narrator sets the scene by describing Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones on her route home from work one late evening at around 11 pm. A third person omniscient narrator ensures that this story is placed in its correct context without a need for the reader to form an opinion or make a judgement about the hapless boy, Roger. At first it seems Roger is unlucky because he has been caught but it is revealed that his random encounter with Mrs Jones is the perfect opportunity for Roger to turn his life around.
There are various possible choices for a narrator of a story including the first person narrator who, as the name suggests, tells his or her own story. That would have been too subjective for this story and would have revealed...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
either Roger's own story or Mrs. Jones's story making it an unreliable account of what happened. Using a third person omniscient narrator ensures that the reader can explore the situation as a whole and make an assessment based on all the information. The reader is also able to understand both characters. The relationship which develops between Roger and Mrs. Jones is apparent and their interspersed dialogue contributes to the character development. This relationship is a crucial element of the story and is best told by a third person narrator as it creates an unlikely bond between old and young and leaves the reader with a sense that there are commonalities between the two characters which bodes well for Roger's future and removes any uncertainty.
How many narrative points of view are in "Thank You, M'am" by Langston Hughes?
In my opinion, the narrator in this story is a third person narrator, but one who is omniscient. The narrator does not always make use of his (or her) omniscience, but he is able to use it at times.
The narrator is clearly a third person because the story is not told from the point of view of anyone who actually takes part in the events that happen. The narrator does not say, "And then I grabbed her purse..." or anything like that.
The narrator is omniscient because he knows what the characters are thinking. He knows, for example, that Roger wants Mrs. Jones to trust him.
So I suppose you could say the narrator is limited at times (when he just says what is happening) but is omniscient at others (when he says what a character is thinking.