Breaking the Stereotypes: A Feminist Analysis of Unconventional Female Representation in Langston Hughes’ Thank You, Ma’am

Abstract

This research paper attempts to analyze Thank You, Ma’am (1958) which is based on an unconventional representation of woman defying societal notion regarding women. The short story by Langston Hughes with its non-stereotypical manifestation of woman has challenged the long-established viewpoint over woman. In different literary and feminist discourse, this story has been evaluated textually in distinct way. The existing textual and contextual analyses have responded to the text in terms of stylistics, art of characterization and moral standpoint. The reason for analyzing the text is to examine unconventional representation of woman in Thank You, Ma’am through feministic lens. The feminist analysis of the study discloses a new and significant portrayal of woman unlike historical narrative regarding woman as weak gender. Using comparative analysis of classical manifestation of woman with Hughes’ portrayal of Mrs. Jones, the study creates a specific notion to understand the essential worth of woman considering both representations respectively.