Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones Essay Example

Although Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones has a very vigorous presence in this story, the characterization of Mrs.Luella Bates was done with a believable personality and a touch of credibility. Furthermore, Roger's timid personality was also shown through amazing actions, being credible enough to analyze his character.

Mrs. Luella Bates, is depicted directly to the point, as shown when she says “You a lie!" to Rogers. She keeps her remarks short with an aggressive tone. Progressing through the story, the author, Langston Hughes, builds up her character. Further supporting Mrs. Luella Bates’s characterization, she has a strong mind and a direct tone of speech. This is when she said, “Then it will get washed this evening,” highlighting the language that she uses. This language creates the tone of demanding and bossy. Why? Since Mrs. Luella Bates’s character had already been set in place right at the beginning, she was a large woman who rattled the teeth out of the boy until he gave back her snatched pocketbook. Mrs. Luella Bates uses straightforward language, her use of slang and southern dialect adds to the strongness of her voice.

She bluntly tells Rogers “Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?” Mrs. Luella Bates doesn't sugarcoat her words but she makes sure that her words are blunt enough to teach the other a lesson. By using a certain dialect and tone of voice, Langston Hughes has created a credible character for Mrs. Luella Bates. Although Mrs. Luella Bates is blunt and straightforward, it does not mean she is not compassionate and empathetic. When she helps Roger and gives him a lesson through actions, the intent of her actions shows that she is willing to help someone that is making bad decisions because of the circumstances they are in.  This was proven throughout the ending of the story.“Then we’ll eat,” said the woman, “I believe you’re hungry—or been hungry—to try to snatch my pocketbook.” Mrs. Luella Bates had taken on a motherly role for Rogers. Her trust and belief that Roger is a good kid is exemplified by  “The woman did not watch the boy see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the day-bed.” This builds character in both Mrs. Luella Bates and Rogers. Mrs. Luella Bates believes Roger is not a bad kid who just steals.

“Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes.” The generosity of Mrs. Luella Bates shocks Rogers, but by this action and fortitude, deducing that. While showing compassion, this sentence enforces the concept that she doesn't let someone down easily, but she forgives them and teaches them a lesson that they will remember.

Roger is naive. Rogers's characterization is minimal but present. Even with the small number of words spoken by Rogers, his actions and thoughts had shown what was needed to understand and make him a credible character.

“But the boy’s weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance, so instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk, and his legs flew up. The large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter.” Rogers is impulsive and just by a short excerpt from the text, the author had the intent in making it a failed robbery. By having impulsive thievery, this builds up his character, that he has the mind of an amateur robber and boy. Rogers stole Mrs. Luella Bates's pocketbook but failed to immediately flee the scene, right when he got caught, his timid persona is noticeable. Rogers just wants to get out of the situation as quickly as he can, not wanting to stay longer than needed, “I’m very sorry, lady, I’m sorry,” whispered the boy.” He practically pleads with the lady to let him go, yet he doesn't get released, which pushes forward his lack of confidence in speaking for himself.

“He looked as if he were fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow-wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans.” Contrary to Mrs. Luella Bates, Rogers is faint-minded, he's less outspoken, keeps his thoughts to himself, additionally adding onto his shy and reticent personality. Yet, throughout the story, Roger is not disrespectful, he keeps to himself and refrains from doing impulsive actions, which is the turning point in his mindset about thievery. In the beginning, it's shown that he doesn't think about his actions, absent-minded about the consequences of his actions, “caused him to lose his balance so, instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk, and his legs flew up”, a spontaneous and hasty attempt at getting easy money. His actions and thoughts are spontaneous and impulsive, yet his words express him as timid and reserved.  Rogers' character is built upon impulsivity, “He could dash it down the hall. He could run, run, run, run, run!” What would Rogers go after he ran? His impulsive thoughts compelled him into stealing the pocketbook for money, however, after Mrs. Luella Bates took him in and took the role of a mother figure, Rogers was compelled by his thoughts to run or the voices in his head to do impulsive, this builds up the depth in his character as progressing further into the story.

“No,” said the dragged boy. “I just want you to turn me loose.”  The words he uses are bashful and get straight to the point.

Rogers seems incredulous, he doesn't trust too easily, even after Mrs. Luella Bates had taken him to her house and offered supper, he still considered that he’d be taken to jail for stealing a pocketbook.  “You gonna take me to jail?” asked the boy, bending over the sink.” He knows his actions are wrong and, he knows that he may be taken to jail, Rogers is aware of his actions and consequences after the action is done, adding to the character trait of being hasty and timorous.

Throughout the characters' actions, Mrs. Luella Bates and Rogers had characteristics that were directly related to the story and helped build up the story. Mrs. Luella Bates is depicted as strong-minded, outspoken, and uses slang often, although Mrs. Luella Bates has strong character traits, it does not overtake her compassion and warmth.  The following story demonstrates credible and believable characterization, by showing us all sides of the characters and their actions, beliefs, and thoughts. Mrs. Luella Bates shows her side of a strong compassionate woman, willing to help others and give what they need to get what they want while helping them learn in life. Rogers showed his side of what goes in his mind, and the conditions on why he tried stealing Mrs. Luella Bates's pocketbook. After all, a strong person will help others up, even after what they've done.