What do Mrs. Jones' actions reveal in the beginning of the story?

Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones doesn’t “play,” and the characterization of her by Langston Hughes shows this.  Mrs. Jones is a formidable woman who is large in stature with a large purse that, according to Hughes, has “everything in it but hammer and nails.” When Roger tries to steal her purse, the strap breaks, and Roger ends up on the ground.  Mrs. Jones kicks him in the rear end and picks him up by his shirt collar to face her.  When she asks Roger if he will run away if she lets him go, and he says, “yes,” Mrs. Jones drags him back to her apartment to clean him up, give him a meal, and teach him a lesson. Roger has met his match and tried to steal from the wrong person.  However, the tough exterior that Hughes suggests Mrs. Jones has is just a mask for the kind, caring person she really is.  She tries to teach Roger about doing the right thing because she made mistakes in her past as well.  Hoping Roger will turn his life around, Mrs. Jones gives him the $10.00 he wanted for a pair of blue suede shoes.  The characterization of Mrs. Jones at the beginning of the story does not match who she really is as a person, and perhaps, that was Langston Hughes’ intention or message from the very start.