Summary:
Roger tries to steal the purse of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, an elderly Black woman, as she walks home. However, Roger’s attempt is thwarted when he trips and falls. The woman leaves her door open so that Roger can come inside. She gives him food and asks him why he tried to steal from her. He tells her that he wants to buy a pair of blue suede shoes. She graciously gives him the money.
Character, Character Roles, & Character Qualities.
• She is strong, kind, independent, and non judgemental woman.
• She is tough and caring woman.
• She is also unusually forgiving and generous.
• He is a teenager boy who failed thief.
• He is honest, and polite.
• He is a clumsy thief who fails in his attempt to rob Mrs. Jones.
Setting:
• The setting in story is Mrs. Jones’s house and in the dark street where roger tried to rob Mrs. Jones at 11pm.
Point of View:
• The point of view in the story is told from an Third-person limited. The narrator is not the character.
Conflict:
• The conflict Man versus Man because when Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Jones purse, she defends herself. Roger tried to steal Mrs. Jones purse because he wanted to buy a new shoes. Mrs. Jones figures that he is a good kid but makes bad choices. So she gave him the money to buy the shoes because she knows what it is like to want something and she knows what it is like to not have a lot of money.
Theme:
• The theme in the story is forgiveness and trustworthiness. Mrs. Jones believed that Roger is a nice person. She didn’t judge him beacuse of his appearance. She forgive Roger because she knows that he is a good kid but makes bad choices.
Plot:
• The story begins with Mrs. Jones is walking home late at night from work with a large purse. A boy running down the street and tried to snatch her purse. The purse straps breaks and the boy falls down. Mrs. Jones drags Roger down the sidewalk to her house because she wants Roger to wash his face. Roger confesses that he tried to steal so that he could get a pair of blue suede shoes. When Mrs. Jones let go of him, Roger has a chance to run awat but he washes his face instead of running away. Mrs. Jones tells Roger that she’s done some bad things too that she’s not proud of and begins to prepare a meal to share with him. Mrs. Jones reminds him that stealing is wrong and to behave. She also tells Roger she needs to rest. She gives him the money for the blue suede shoes. Roger wanted to say “thank you” as she closes the door. They never see each other again.
KiaC. 