Alex Barrios Professor Conway ENG 201 Sec. 0517 September 14, 2022 Personally, Sylvia’s attitude towards her peers and to Ms. Moore contrasts to her friend Sugar but it’s relatable and understandable. Sylvia wasn’t all too interested nor was she concerned with the social and economic inequalities that were going on at that time period. She showed agitation towards Ms. Moore who is an educated and older woman that simply wanted the kids to know that there is more to experience out in the world. Sugar, who was more open and receptive to the lessons, asked questions and showed curiosity. She was aware that the toys were so expensive that even if you were to combine the allowances between all the kids. However, Sylvia only focused on taking the money for herself, which perhaps says a lot about her mentality. She was raised to spend money on what’s necessary only. That any toy regardless of the price was simply a luxury that she could never afford and that her passive-aggressive attitude could simply be her feeling jealousy and resentment towards her current circumstances and to Ms. Moore for reminding her of the hard reality that black people were living in during her time.
Daily Archives: September 14, 2022
The characters I plan on talking about would be Sylvia and Sugar. In the beginning, they were just kids in a neighborhood doing what kids do, then a lady name Miss Moore moved in and taught the class Sylvia and Sugar are in. Miss Moore asked the type of kids if they knew what money was. She then brought the course to a toy store called FAO Schwarz. The kids then began touching and looking at multiple toys, wishing those toys were theirs and how a kid name Mercedes said, “My father buy it for me if I wanted it.” Sylvia and Sugar were shocked by the price tags in the store. Sylvia saw a thirty-five-dollar clown. She started comparing what she could buy with thirty-five dollars; the whole household could visit Grand-daddy Nelson in the country, pay the rent, the piano bill, and a bunk bed for Junior and Gretchen’s boy. Sylvia was so shocked that a toy could cost so much. Sugar, on the other hand, started talking about the cost of a toy and society, “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. What do you think?.” Sylvia is unhappy about Sugar talking all smart, so she tries forcing Sugar to shut up by stomping her. Sylvia seems jealous and mad about how smart Sugar was talking in class, so in the end, Sylvia leaves Sugar and goes on her way, saying, “ain’t nobody going to beat me at Nuthin.”
Miss Moore vs Sugar Miss Moore is most likely the teacher for the group of kids. She is the one that took the group to the toy store and her response to the experience was probably the calmest of everyone. She planned the trip out to teach the kids the lesson and has seen this before in her life but she is still in this lower class of people. In the end, she was very happy that her lessons came through for some of the students for example Sugar, who is the narrator’s friend who also lives in Harlem with her family, who spoke up about the inequality she saw after the trip. Sugar started out the trip by asking “Can we steal?” Sugar asks very seriously like she’s getting the ground rules squared away before she plays.” (2). this really showed her thinking process of how stealing is normal where she lived but then she see the boat which made her realize the inequality in the society.
After reading “The Lesson” By Toni Cade Bambara. The two characters I will be choosing to compare during their visit to F.A.O. Schwartz are Sylvia, and Sugar. As sugar entered the store she expressed how everything is expensive and was upset about the $1,000 she wasn’t really fond of being there. When Ms. Moore asked “what did you think of FAO Schwartz?” sugars response was “I don’t think all of us here put together eat in a year what that sailboat cost”. Sylvia who I believe is the protagonist in the story reaction to Ms. Moore question was her feeling embarrassed because Ms.Moore gave her a shrilly look. After M.S Moore asked “did anybody else learn anything today?” she walked away because she didn’t like the fact that Ms. Moore brought her them to that expensive toy store. but overall I feel as though they both had the same feeling but sugar was more vocal and nice about the whole ordeal and Sylvia did not speak about it she chose the rude approach and walked off.
Upon arriving at FAO Schwartz all of the children seem to be very intimidated by the prices of items and the visual of fancy toys. However Mercedes did not allow that intimidation make her feel less than. Miss Moore took these children on a trip to show them something different from their normal everyday lives growing up poor. I feel like her hopes were to enlighten them to have a mindset that there is more to life, and they too can accomplish becoming wealthy. When the children approached the doors of this fancy toy store they hesitated. They had a sense of feeling like they didn’t belong. Mercedes confidence led the group inside. Her mindset became rich and that is how she portrayed herself regardless of her circumstances. Sylvia on the other hand was stuck in her ways and not budging to change her way of thinking. She felt like there was no point in being there especially if they didn’t have the money to buy anything. She even became upset with her cousin Sugar for interacting with Miss Moore about her experience in the store. In my opinion as Mercedes grow into adulthood that experience alone is going to motivate her to want more out of life. As for Sylvia she just may be content with what she is used to, which would be unfortunate.
