Roger's treatment of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones mirrors his transformation as a character. At the beginning of the story, he is wrapped up in his own self-interests, unwilling to consider other people and their needs as equally valid to his own. His choice to attempt to steal Mrs. Jones' purse shows that, even though he calls her "m'am," he does not truly feel the respect that such a title suggests. His lying and attempts to escape show that he is only concerned about his own well-being and avoiding the consequences of his actions.
When Mrs. Jones brings him to her house to feed him dinner and takes a genuine interest in his well-being, however, Roger gains respect for her. He suddenly cares what she thinks of him, choosing not to run when he has the chance and hoping that she will trust him if he sits far away from her purse. Though he does little directly to Mrs. Jones, the actions he takes in her house are considerate of her feelings and opinion of him, showing that he has grown as a character. His respect is no longer superficial and the gratitude he feels when they part is genuine. The hope of Mrs. Jones and the reader is that this respect and consideration of others will stay with the boy from now on.
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