September 20th 2010,
Theme Notebook #2
Showing someone you believe in them helps them feel highly regarded, is a dominant theme in the "Thank you Ma'am" by Langston Huges. This means that when youshow someone that you really care about them, they feel highly valued. Ms.Luella Bates, a lady who worked in a beauty-shop was walking down the road with a very heavy purse, when came a boy and tried to steal her pocket-book. The boy fell on his back due to the weight of his purse. Luella walked up to him and held by his shirt front and dragged him home.
The women did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the day-bed. Despite the fact that roger tried to steal her handbag, Ms.Luella cared enough. This statement also suggests that Luella trusted him, which was an unexpected twist. Most people would probably leave or run away from the robber or if possible, take them to jail. But she took Roger home and taught his a lesson. She made him feel comfortable by telling him that when she was young, she also wanted things she couldn't get. This suggest that Luella knew he trusted her. Roger also knew that Luella trusted him. And he didnt wanted to be mistrusted anymore. "Need help? maybe i can get you something from the store." For all Luella had done for Roger, She made him feel valued and trusted. He coudn't believe that he had done such a misery to Luella.
Reffering to the Story of "Thank you Ma'am", another such odd request was for Lauren Rinder, a photographer who liked to share his one memory with public. This story was named the "Unexpected Request" which is a story about a 90 year old lady asking her photographer to take a nude picture of her, Because when she dies she would want her body to be celebrated. The photographer was stunned by listening to such request. He had taken nude pictures before but never a person whose age was 90s and below. He said OK just because he didn't want to let her down. He cared about his job and also cared to take responsibility to take her picture. By doing this, he made her feel respected. Now, she could make sure he cared about her request.
The case in "Thank you Ma'am", Luella made Roger feel valued as she provided him with food and care. After Snatching Luella's pocket-book, certainly made feel Roger that he had done something wrong. This was very astonishing to most of the readers. Lauren Rinder's story shows the empathy of valuing someone's request and accepting it, makes someone feel valued and cared. The story had a twist that was truly unexpected. Both the stories had a connection. Ms.Luella was kind enough to take care of that boy who tried to steal her purse, knowing that he was stealer, Luella knew he needed to be taught. In Lauren Rinder's story, he didn't expect such a request from a lady who was at her 90's. But he cared to fulfill her wish. Lauren Rinder's photography and Langston Huges's Story "Thank you Ma'am", Both have the theme that connects to "Showing someone you believe in them helps them feel highly regarded". It is very important to understand people what they expect. No one knows where life will take you to. Make someone happy, will make you proud. Price is what you pay, love it what you get.
