Roger’s behavior towards Mrs. Jones highlights his underlying guilt and remorse, suggesting he is not inherently a bad kid despite his attempt at theft. The absence of bravado and his non-defensive reaction to being caught indicate that such actions are not habitual for him.
Both Mrs. Jones and Roger have felt isolated and have turned to theft to fill that void. If Mrs. Jones can break away from her rocky past, it goes to show that Roger can do so too. Their efforts to help each other show that even though they haven't lived the easiest life, they are still kind and generous despite being isolated.
This really paints and ties all of the story together, on one hand Mrs. Jones is a lively bubbly women and on another Roger is a scared young boy trying to fulfill his desires. It shows how two different personalities can collide and learn something from one another. It also contributes to the theme in the sense that Roger’s isolation gives the story purpose. If Roger had seeked the guidance that he needed, he would have never met Mrs. Jones, leaving the story with no direction or purpose.
Throughout the story you can interpret that Roger doesn’t have a lot of company or peers for a matter of fact. Being isolated at home can take a toll on someone’s psyche, that's exactly what’s happened to Roger. If the young boy had friends or a support system, he would turn to them. There could also be the fact that he was ashamed of his financial situation and tried to take matters into his own hands, but this also adds to the argument of him not being confident in himself and feeling isolated. By not doing so and turning to theft, it further proves the fact that Roger is an isolated and lonely boy willing to go to extensive lengths for his desires.
If Roger didn’t feel so isolated as if the entire world was up against him, he would have turned to someone he trusted instead of putting himself in contact with Mrs. Jones. “Um-Hum! And your face is dirty. I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain't you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?” “No’m” said the boy. (Page 1). This quote provides intell on the fact that Roger doesn’t have anyone to even tell him to do basic everyday necessities. Further proving the point that he is so isolated and alone at home that he seeks attention outside the walls of his home.
It is clear that Roger is an unsupervised and isolated child. “There’s nobody home at my house.” said the boy (Page 2). This provides further evidence of the fact that even so late at night, Roger is free to do whatever he pleases, even go as far as stealing someone's pocketbook. His absent family led him to make decisions that could severely impact his future.
Frightened
There are some people in my life that have taught me to grow as a person but also fear them. Both Roger and I have this in common. As Roger grows and learns throughout the story I have done the same alongside certain individuals.
Without Roger’s fear, Mrs. Jones would not have been so lenient with him and would have put him in the hands of law. This would have greatly disrupted the story's plot and Roger would have ended up at a completely different place than where he actually ends up in the story. Roger’s fear contributes to the theme of the story as it is all about growth and learning from your mistakes, the young boy would have not been able to do this without fear.
Roger was frightened by Mrs. Jones and how she carried herself. She wore angry very well, which didn’t sit well with Roger. Throughout the story you can clearly tell that even as Mrs. Jones is opening up to Roger, he still fears her and what she is capable of doing. Even when he has a chance to run he doesn’t because with the respect he's gained for her the fear still lays there. “Well, you didn’t have to snatch my pocketbook to get some suede shoes,” “You could have asked me.” “M’am?” (Page 2). Roger did not talk back here, it clearly shows that there is respect and fear towards Mrs. Jones.
Roger’s demeanor indicates that he is frightened by the consequences his actions could cost him, not by the actual crime he committed. It was an act of desperation and when it backfired that’s when his fear kicked in. He was very bold and confident when he was initially going to steal from Mrs. Jones. When Mrs. Jones was very stubborn on the fact that she wanted to take action, Roger was worried that it would be legal, when it ended up being a talk between the two, he clearly more calm and relaxed. “You gonna take me to jail?” (Page 2).This proves that Roger did regret his actions and was frightened for what it could mean for him.
It has been established that Roger is isolated at home, his family neglects him and leaves him stranded to fend for himself. Even at times of need Roger does not speak up or alert them of his situation, his actions can be interpreted as fear. Fear of what his family could do to him since he is already so irrelevant to them. “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry?” “No’m,” said the being dragged boy. “I just want you to turn me loose.” (Page 1). This is evidence to the fact that Roger is so used to keeping to himself and being neglected that he doesn’t know how to respond to kindness and open up to someone new. His family’s actions took a toll on how he sees the world.
Guilt
Connection;
Both Roger and I make bad decisions due to stressful times. However, if I’m able to find some common ground with a certain individual, I am able to go back and fix what's been done. Past mistakes have taught me right from wrong, similarly how Roger was taught.
Significance;
Without Roger’s guilt, the story wouldn’t encompass an important message. Roger’s guilt shapes the story and gives it a purposeful theme; a young boy recognizing that what he did was wrong. Roger would continue to steal from others for his own benefit and would have never learned the importance of integrity and compassion from Mrs. Jones. Alongside the fact that without Roger’s guilt, the theme of the short story would have completely taken a different turn. It contributes to the theme of the story because if Roger wasn’t feeling guilty he would have tried to escape and the readers would have then not been able to have a better understanding and connection with the characters, as both characters connect over their similar past experiences.
Peers/Ones Around Him;
The behavior Roger exbited with Mrs. Jones’ was the opposite of bravado of “bad kids”. If he had this bravado, Roger would not feel any guilt or remorse towards his actions. His initial response was not rude, brash, or excessively defensive, proof that he does not frequent this behavior and is therefore NOT a bad kid but rephrase bad kid. This also adds to the fact that Roger failed to express his regret and guilt to Mrs. Jones. Due to the lack thereof a support system for Roger led him to make bad decisions such as theft. An individual such as Mrs. Jones made him realize the consequences he could potentially face, intientailly making Roger feel more guilty. “Now ain’t you ashamed of yourself?” (Page 1). This quote provides evidence in the sense that Mrs. Jones was informing Roger of his poor behaviour. If good behaviour wasn’t an aspect of his normal behavior he wouldn't have been able to easily transition into trying to resolve his guilt. Roger was quick to think of ways to make up for his wrongdoing, this is not new, he did not stumble or hesitate.
Personality;
Throughout the story, Roger exhibits many characteristics but guilt is the most prominent one. It is clear that the young boy regrets his actions and choices of stealing, it becomes even more clear when both characters sit down and talk in Mrs. Jones’ home. Roger sees a more wise and different side of the elderly women, as Mrs. Jones’ shares her experiences, Roger feels sorrow and guilt that he has now added onto the list of experiences. He sees similarity between the two, he feels guilty for the fact that he did not want to face the consequences of stealing, he wanted to be turned loose and not wanting to take responsibility having to do with facing all the guilt of getting to know his "victim". “If I turn you loose, will you run?” asked the women. “Yes’m,” said the boy. (Page 10). Roger wanted luxury not necessity and was willing to compromise his integrity and self-worth to steal from someone for it. “I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes,” said the boy. The guilt is clear in his actions and personality, when he has the chance to run, but stays to mend fences between the two.
Family;
With an absent family at home, Roger being the young boy that he is has many desires, but no one to fulfill them. An absent family and seemingly complacent parenting gives Roger a lot of freedom that can be abused – and in this instance it was used as an opportunity for theft. As he is described in the story, he clearly has no job, so he turns to stealing. In the circumstances that he meets Mrs. Jones, he is portrayed as an guilty young man trying to fulfill his desires. When he tried stealing from Mrs. Jones and landed himself in trouble, Roger felt guilty for the fact that because he had no family providing for him, so he had to steal from this stranger whom he didn’t know at all. “Was I bothering you when I turned that corner?” (Page 1). This further provides evidence to the fact that Roger was willing to go to extensive lengths to buy the blue suede shoes that he so desperately wanted but due to the lack of family presence, he couldn’t have, therefore the had to steal them. As the story progresses and Roger learns more about Mrs. Jones and her past struggles of dealing with theft, he feels guilty for causing trouble for someone who is so understanding and comes from the same background as he does. This further proves, if Roger had a family he would not have stolen from Mrs. Jones.
