Mrs. Jones's Purse

Mrs. Jones's purse symbolizes her personality. Like herself, the purse is full of various items and is large and heavy. The purse comes to represent Mrs. Jones's depth as a character with a complicated past who speaks forcefully but is ultimately kind-hearted. The purse, like her character, is multi-faceted and weighty, and the boy's inability to steal the purse showcases the strength of Mrs. Jones herself.

Blue Suede Shoes

The blue suede shoes symbolize prosperity. Roger admits to Mrs. Jones that he tried to steal her purse so he could buy blue suede shoes. The song "Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley came out in 1956, two years before "Thank You, M'am" was published. The boy's fixation on the blue suede shoes suggests that he is affected by popular culture and the image of success, and that he wants to achieve this image for himself...