Comparative Essay Sample: Raymond’s Run and Thank You Ma’am

Literature offers readers a way to learn lessons about life. Two stories that teach the reader a lesson about life are Raymond's run and thank you, ma'am. In Raymond's run by Toni Cade Bambara, squeaky wanted to win the race and be the best, but Gretchen came into the story as her competition. So, when the coach hinted that Gretchen should be allowed to win, squeaky didn't take this well and yelled at Gretchen. Then squeaky ends up winning the race and realizes that Gretchen is a very good competition. Squeaky also realizes that Raymond is very good at running. Gretchen and Squeaky realize that they can coach Raymond together. In, thank you, ma'am, by Langston Hughes, Roger wanted blue suede shoes, so he decided to steal from Mrs. Jones on her way home from work. But, he was not successful. Instead of calling the police, Mrs. Jones grabbed him and took him home. So while at home, she made him clean himself up and fed him. Then they began to talk and trust each other. After dinner, She let him go and gave Roger money for shoes. Both stories teach the reader the same theme; work for what you get.

The story Raymond's Run teaches the theme work for what you get through the plot, character actions and reactions, and symbolism. The author uses the plot of the story to teach the lesson work for what you get. Squeaky works hard every day to make sure that she is first, she does breathe exercises and practices running. She works hard to be first and that hard work pays off. Also in the text, it states “which I have to do on account I'm serious about my running” this shows that squeaky works hard and is serious about running. In the story, you never hear about Gretchen practicing or working hard to win but Gretchen wants to win. She says it multiple times in the text, but she doesn't work hard enough. The characters' actions and reactions also reveal the theme that you work for what you get the story, beanstalk said, “well, Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, going to give someone else a break this year”. He was trying to get her to let someone else win because he knows that she works hard every day. the author teaches the theme of work for what you get through symbolism. Running is tradition, friendship is something Gretchen and squeaky have. In the story when Raymond was practicing with squeaky she didn't realize he can keep up with her, he works hard by practicing with squeaky. squeaky works hard. 

In the story thank you, ma’am, the author teaches the theme that you work for what you get through the plot, characters' actions and reactions, and through the use of symbolism. The plot teaches the same theme as Raymond run work for what you get. In the story, thank you, ma'am, Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones's purse and as a result, she doesn't call the cops, she brings him to her apartment. She was going to teach him a lesson but not the way you think. Mrs. Jones helped him out. She made him wash his face, brush his hair, and feed him. He was starting to trust Mrs. Jones. I know this because in the text it says “Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes”. This shows that Roger worked for what he got by earning her trust. Normal people would have called the cops right then and there, but she talked to him to see what his reasoning was. The characters' actions and reactions also reveal the theme you work for what you get. In the story thank you, ma'am, I noticed that Roger waited till the night to steal a purse. You could tell he had never done it before but his action caused Mrs. Jones to pick him up and squeeze his shirt. Also, Roger changes throughout the story like, in the beginning, he was trying to steal someone's purse but now he is eating at their house. This is weird to me because you tried to steal, got caught, and are not eating food in a stranger's house. Another thing is Mrs. Jones makes sure he is all clean and fed and in the end, she gives him the money after he tried to steal. 

In conclusion, Raymond's Run and thank you, ma'am, share the same theme that works for what you get. They share the same theme because both characters in each story work hard in different ways to get what they want. This is an important theme in life because you need to work for what you get because you can't cheat your whole life.