Isla Bennett
In Langston Hughes' short story 'Thank You, M'am', the protagonist is described as a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but a hammer and nails. This sentence is used to create an image of a strong, no-nonsense woman who is ready for anything. The hammer and nails are used to symbolise the fact that, despite her many good qualities, she is not perfect and is unable to fix everything.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hyperbole | The sentence is an exaggerated statement |
| Compassion and generosity | Mrs Jones is represented as a saint because a carpenter uses hammers and nails and Jesus was the most famous carpenter |
| Standing up for yourself | Mrs Jones beats up the thief and takes her purse back |
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What You'll Learn
Mrs Jones is a strong, no-nonsense woman who is ready for anything
Mrs Jones is also represented as a saint because a carpenter uses hammers and nails, and Jesus was the most famous carpenter. She is a woman of modest income, but she has a lot of compassion and generosity inside of her. This is shown when she gives Roger $10, which is actually quite a sacrifice for her.
Mrs Jones is a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to stand up for herself. When her purse is snatched, she beats up the thief and takes it back. This can be seen as a metaphor for standing up for yourself in life and not giving up.
Overall, Mrs Jones is a powerful and resilient character who is ready for anything that comes her way. She is a positive role model, especially for women, as she shows that it is important to be strong and independent.
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She has a lot of compassion and generosity
In Langston Hughes' *Thank You, M'am*, the hammer and nails in the first sentence are used to show that Mrs Jones has a lot of compassion and generosity. Hammers and nails are used to fix things, and Mrs Jones helps Roger become a better person. She is also represented as a saint because Jesus, the most famous carpenter, would have used hammers and nails. The sentence is an example of hyperbole, as it is impossible to carry around a bag so large that it contains all of your personal possessions.
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She helps Roger become a better person
In Langston Hughes' *Thank You, M'am*, Mrs Jones helps Roger become a better person. She is described as a woman with a lot of compassion and generosity inside of her, and she is also represented as a saint because a carpenter uses "hammers and nails" and Jesus was the most famous carpenter. Mrs Jones is a woman of modest income, and she gives Roger $10, which is actually quite a sacrifice for her.
The story begins with Mrs Jones having her purse snatched from her by Roger. Instead of just giving up and letting the thief take it, she beats him up and takes her purse back. This can be seen as an example of standing up for yourself in life.
Mrs Jones is described as a "large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammers and nails". This is an example of hyperbole (an exaggerated statement) because it is impossible to carry around a bag so large that it contains all of your personal possessions. The phrase "but hammers and nails" is used to show how much she had in her purse.
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She is mugged by a young man who grew up on the streets of Harlem
In Langston Hughes' *Thank You, M'am*, the hammer and nails in the first sentence are used to suggest that Mrs Jones is a compassionate and generous person. Hammers and nails are used to fix things, and Mrs Jones helps Roger become a better person. The fact that she is described as a large woman with a large purse that has everything in it but hammers and nails is an example of hyperbole, as it is impossible to carry around a bag so large that it contains all of your personal possessions. The sentence also helps to give the reader a perspective of the situation, as Mrs Jones has her purse snatched from her by a boy, and instead of giving up, she beats him up and takes it back. This can be seen as a representation of a bigger meaning, such as standing up for yourself in life.
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The hammer and nails are used to fix things
Mrs Jones is also represented as a saint because a carpenter uses hammers and nails, and Jesus was the most famous carpenter. The hammer and nails in her purse symbolise her ability to fix things and make them better. This is further emphasised by the fact that she stands up for herself when her purse is snatched, beating up the thief and taking it back. She is a strong, resilient woman who knows how to fix a bad situation and turn it into something good.
The hammer and nails in her purse also symbolise her resourcefulness and practicality. She is a woman of modest income, and the $10 she gives to Roger is a sacrifice. Yet she is willing to help him, showing her generosity and kindness. The hammer and nails in her purse represent her ability to be prepared for anything and to make the most of what she has.
Overall, the hammer and nails in Mrs Jones' purse are used to fix things, both literally and metaphorically. They symbolise her strength, resilience, compassion, and generosity, and show how she is able to turn a bad situation into something good.
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Frequently asked questions
The hammer and nails refer to the only things missing from Mrs. Jones' purse.
Mrs. Jones' purse represents her compassion and generosity.
Hughes' first sentence tells us that Mrs. Jones is a strong, no-nonsense woman who is ready for anything.
Mrs. Jones helps Roger become a better person.
The hammer and nails suggest that Mrs. Jones is a fixer and is prepared for any situation.
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