In reading Toni Cade Bambaras “The Lesson” the two characters that stuck out to me the most were Sugar and Mercedes. I chose these two because I feel that their final outlook on the lesson contrasted the most.
It is subtly made clear that Mercedes is more affluent than the other children by her comments of “My father’d buy it for me If I wanted it” and the fact that she has things the other kids do not (A desk & stationery). Despite being taught the lesson of class disparity she still exudes an heir of superiority which is cemented when she expressed desire to return to the toy store on her birthday completely unfazed by the lesson
After her visit to the toy store, it is clear to Sugar that there is a financial gap between those from her neighborhood and others. Made apparent when she compares the price of the toy sailboat to the combined total their parents have to feed them every year which is probably low because of income disparities even going as far as to musing about the logic of a society where some people can frivolously spend the equivalent of what others depend on for survival. This gives her character some form of growth/development
Side note: In my opinion, Sugars character development (realization of class injustice) is overshadowed by her desire to frivolously spend the money Sylvia unjustly obtained
