Monday, May 8, 2017

If I were Roger from the story "Thank You, M'am" and I had to write a letter to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones 10 years after the incident in the story, what could I write?

Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones made a strong impression on Roger the evening he attempted to rob her by treating him with hospitality and grace after the incident. As an unsupervised teenager growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood, it is reasonable to believe that Roger had never been treated with such kindness and sympathy before in his life. Instead of being punished for his actions, Roger was given a hot plate of food and ten dollars to buy himself a pair of blue suede shoes, all courtesy of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. Throughout his encounter with Mrs. Jones, Roger is astonished and desires to earn her trust after experiencing her hospitality, sympathy, and tolerance. At the end of the story, Roger is so taken aback by Mrs. Jones's mercy and charity that he can barely muster the words to thank her.
If one were to write Mrs. Jones a letter from Roger's perspective, it would be best to thank her for her hospitality and mercy. One could elaborate on how the interaction positively affected Roger's life and mention that he changed for the better. Roger might also tell Mrs. Jones that he was inspired to treat others with respect, sympathy, and tolerance because of her actions. Roger could also elaborate on how Mrs. Jones's compassion influenced him to become a charitable individual and share the important values she demonstrated on the evening he attempted to steal her pocketbook.

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