In the short story “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes, external conflicts play a significant role in driving the narrative and developing the characters.
One of the primary external conflicts is between the two main characters: Roger, a young boy, and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, a strong and determined woman. The conflict begins when Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse. This act of attempted theft creates an immediate tension between them, highlighting Roger’s desperate circumstances and Mrs. Jones’s resilience.
Another external conflict is Roger’s internal struggle against societal expectations and his environment. He faces poverty and the influence of a challenging neighborhood, which push him toward a life of crime. This conflict is evident when Roger must decide between his desire to run away and the opportunity to learn valuable lessons from Mrs. Jones.
Additionally, there is a social conflict represented by the broader issues of inequality, poverty, and the struggles faced by marginalized individuals. Mrs. Jones, as a working-class woman, understands Roger’s plight and responds not with punishment but with empathy, demonstrating a conflict between societal norms and human compassion.
In summary, the external conflicts in “Thank You, M’am” revolve around the interactions between Roger and Mrs. Jones, Roger’s personal dilemmas, and the societal challenges that illustrate the depth of their character development and the story’s themes of understanding and redemption.