Thank You, M'am | Analysis

This study guide will help you analyze the text “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes. The text is found in Targets, p. 157. We will show you examples of elements in the text that will be relevant for your analysis. In these notes, we will focus on plot and structure, characterization, themes and on the questions you find in the Targets.

Presentation of the text

Title: “Thank You, M’am”
Author: Langston Hughes
Genre: Short Story
Year of Publication: 1963

Langston Hughes was one of the most famous black writers in the USA. The dominant theme in his literary works is the fight for the black cause in times of segregation. The short story “Thank You, M’am” was published in 1963 as part of a collection titled “Something in Common and Other Stories”.

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Resolution. It is interesting to observe that the short story “Thank You, M’am” almost lacks a resolution. In fact, we actually notice an open ending. Mrs. Luella gives the boy ten dollars to buy the pair of shoes and closes the door in front of him. Outside, the boy is so amazed that he can only mumble a “thank you”. When he remains outside, facing the closed door, the boy is facing a decision. He can either do something good with the money he received or he can keep his bad habits. We do not know what he is going to do:

The boy wanted to say something other than “Thank you, M’am,” to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but although his lips moved, he couldn’t even say that as he turned at the foot of the barren stoop and looked up at the large woman in the door. Then she shut the door.