What do the blue suede shoes symbolize to Roger? Why are they so important?

In the story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes, the boy named Roger has tried to snatch the pocketbook of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. The excuse he gives her for wanting to steal the pocketbook is that he wanted to buy some blue suede shoes with it. This is in response to Luella's assumption that he must have been hungry and needed to steal in order to afford food for himself. After she forces...

In the story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes, the boy named Roger has tried to snatch the pocketbook of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. The excuse he gives her for wanting to steal the pocketbook is that he wanted to buy some blue suede shoes with it. This is in response to Luella's assumption that he must have been hungry and needed to steal in order to afford food for himself. After she forces him to come home with her for a civilized dinner and conversation, Luella acknowledges her understanding of Roger's bad behavioral choice by commenting, "I were young once and I wanted things I could not get".

At first the shoes represent "things Roger cannot get". They are a temptation that causes him to attempt committing a crime in order to obtain them. Luella cautions him that any shoes he might obtain in a "devilish" way would burn his feet. In other words, she warns that no crime goes unpunished. Roger would be setting himself up for negative consequences if he were to succeed in getting the coveted shoes by dishonest means.

Suddenly the symbolic meaning of the shoes changes, however, when Luella hands Roger some cash and tells him to go buy himself the shoes. He is dumbfounded by her generosity, especially in light of the fact that he had tried to rob her. He can barely utter a word of thanks before she bids him good night and shuts the door. Now the shoes represent Luella's grace; she has shown mercy, compassion, and a strict sort of love for the boy who was a perfect stranger to her before this night. If Roger indeed uses the money to go buy the blue suede shoes, he will surely be forced to remember Luella's example of grace every time he puts them onto his feet. If he follows her lead as he grows up, he may one day become an adult who is in a position to shepherd young people back onto the straight and narrow path.