Analysis Of Toni Bambara's The Lesson

In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, Sylvia was presented as a character with outstanding traits. Bambara was able to reveal these traits by telling this short story from Sylvia’s first-person point of view. Although Sylvia’s character might seem rude and childish at first, Sylvia actually is tough and has a sense of righteousness. Sylvia is a tough character.

In the book beatriz would wear multiple sweaters because she was always cold “ I grabbed the first overcoat I could find. When that proved insufficient to keep the chill off, I threw on another. Then another two and in my slippers, pajamas and for housecoats”.(Skyhorse 67) Beatriz would put on the coats because she felt alone and empty. She felt warmth when she had finally found her daughter but the warmth did not last her.

Before the children even begin to go to the store, Miss Moore asked them an upright question: “And Miss Moore asking us do we know what money is, like we a bunch of retards. I mean real money, she say, like it’s only poker chips of monopoly papers we lay on the grocer” (1). Miss Moore was setting up the idea for the rest of the story. The children knew what money was, but didn’t understand how it works. Miss Moore is surprised when Sugar speaks about what she has learned by saying: “imagine for a minute what kind of society it is in which some people can spend on a toy what it would cost to feed a family of six or seven” (6).

Rhetorical Analysis of Jerome Cartwright’s "Bambara's the Lesson” Jerome Cartwright’s feature article on Toni Cade Bambara’s “the Lesson” was published in 1989. This piece provides a scholarly secondary source for Bambara’s short story because it was featured in The Explicator, a quarterly journal of literary criticism published by Taylor & Francis, Inc.

But somehow I cant seem to get hold of the door, so I step away for sugar to lead. But she hangs back too” (389). They both look at each other not being able to open the door of the store. They have never been shy to do anything until they are shown the class of what others

A Lesson Learned In Toni Cade Bambara’s story “The Lesson,” Sylvia, the main character, changes drastically from the beginning of the story to the end. She is, in other words, a dynamic character. To begin, Sylvia is a dynamic character because she is learning a lesson, although trying hard not to. For example, Miss Moore, an intelligent, highly regarded self-appointed advocate, takes Sylvia and the other children to an expensive toy store.

Despite the fact that F.A.O. Schwartz is only a little part of that world, the excursion here with Ms. Moore demonstrates the youngsters an awesome arrangement about what the outside world resembles and how anybody can have that bit of the pie. Despite the fact that the youngsters would never manage the cost of the toys, Ms. Moore conveys them to the store to show them they have the same amount of appropriate to be there and the same amount of ideal to carry on with the rich life as any other individual. Sylvia, the storyteller, is furious about the disparity. She is desirous of the life she can't have and is furious that Ms. Moore would open her to these actualities. In spite of the fact that, Sylvia could never let her know this.

Sylvia feels she betrayed by her best friend because at first they hate Miss Moore and after the trip, everything has changed. However, Sylvia realizes that what Sugar say are all true. Sylvia and other children understand what Miss Moore is trying to teach them a lesson. Sylvia changes her point of

They are in the cold and she is the moment of warmth that makes the cold even

Towards the end, Sylvia and her group see the riches of the “white folks” and now sees that there is economic and social inequality. Sylvia is a round character due to her attitude and bitterness while her development reflects her understanding the lesson, and this knowledge creates an epiphany in her. She is now aware of the class inequality and unfairness towards

Miss Moore shows a high level of confidence towards the children. While they may talk behind her back and make many rude gestures, she still stands up for herself and give the children a the guidance she feels they deserve. The story portrays a town that is full of unfortunate children. The children may not have been shown proper way to do things or the correct social skills in life. Miss Moore makes them work hard and shows them how a respectable adult should behave.

The symbols present in “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, depict the economic and social injustices faced by specific members of society, specifically the children in the story. The characters in the story are being mentored by Miss Moore, a woman from their block who has taken up the role of taking them out on weekly outings. The story touches on the situation of the children that are stuck in living in almost poverty. “The Lesson” focuses on the socioeconomic disparities between the different racial groups and how. Bambara uses several techniques such as irony, othering, and second person point of view to make the story meaningful and demonstrate the characteristics of the characters.

Like the title suggests, there is a lesson learned at the end of Bambara’s story but Sylvia has a hard time admitting she learned anything. When asked about what they’ve learned, Sylvia “[walks] away and Sugar has to run to catch up”(Bambara 6). Since Sylvia is the narrator, readers are aware of her thoughts and know Sylvia has indeed learned a lesson. This is clear when Sylvia talks about the importance of $35 to her family compared to the people who shop at FAO. Instead, Sylvia stays silent when asked, not wanting Miss Moore to know she has learned something.

When people are poor, they often have a lot of problems in their life. They struggle through every day, but they learn to appreciate everything that they have. However, when people are going through tough times, they often think that money will solve all of their problems. In “A Raisin In The Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, she guides the audience through a black family -- impacted by the need for money -- living on the south side of Chicago. The Younger family gets Lena Younger’s dead husband’s insurance check and buys a house in a white neighborhood, and they save the remainder of the money for Beneatha’s medical degree and for starting a liquor store.

Marxist Criticism, specifically the Hegelian Dialectic is applicable in Bambara’s short story, “The Lesson”. Social class is predominant at the time “The Lesson” was written and the story focuses on the main character, Sylvia’s perception of her own class, the struggles that it brings and what she is then introduced to by Miss Moore. The Hegelian Dialect can be applied to this story as the transformation ensues within Sylvia upon her enlightenment of the difference in social classes. What appeared to be anger, frustration and resentment within Sylvia, undergoes a conversion into an upheaval curiosity of a newfound “culture”. Does the enlightenment occurring within Sylvia, present a new synthesis of which she uses as a platform for change?