As a psychology student, I would analyze The Lesson by focusing on Sylvia’s development and the emotional relationship between the kids rather than the big social issues. I think Sylvia’s sarcastic and tough personality is just a mechanism to protect herself from feeling vulnerable. She feels like Miss Moore is trying to make her feel less than her, which might be the reason she doesn’t like her. In reality, Miss Moore doesn’t force the kids to agree with her. She shows and teaches them things and lets them think for themselves. However, by the end of the story, we see Sylvia starting to think about things differently, even if she doesn’t want to admit it. I would present this in my essay to support my argument on Sylvia’s personal growth. Additionally, Sylvia’s conflict with Sugar would also play an important part in my essay. They’re close, but as Sugar starts to understand what Miss Moore is teaching, Sylvia feels betrayed. This tension shows how growing up can sometimes mean growing apart from people you’re close to. We can tell that Sylvia doesn’t want to be left behind, but she’s not ready to change yet, either. The essay title could be The Journey to Self-Discovery, focusing on how Sylvia’s internal conflict is a key part of the story. It’s less about money and more about how she’s learning, even when she doesn’t want to.
Daily Archives: September 19, 2024
In an essay about “The Lesson”, by Toni Cade Bambara, regarding a different issue rather than the socio-economic issues and more about other interesting/important details or elements in the story I would write about how it emphasizes class distinction and identity through language. Sylvia’s rebellious, streetwise behavior and her contempt for authority are reflected in her casual, bold speech. Calling Miss Moore a “nappy-head bitch with a goddamn college degree” is an example of how she resists formal education and society norms through the use of slang. Because of her working-class background, Sylvia’s vocabulary reflects her pride in her neighborhood as well as her rejection of anything that goes against her worldview. On the other hand, Miss Moore stands out as an outsider due to her formal, educated vocabulary, which symbolizes her middle-class background. Despite having the same racial background, the different speaking styles emphasize their different social classes. Miss Moore’s lessons on injustice are alienating and transformative because of her proper English, which places her in a world of privileges and opportunities that the children, like Sylvia, cannot access. A title I would give to the story is “The Cost of Reality”.
The short story, The Lesson, left me with thoughts that I find a little hard to describe. The main lesson being taught to the children by Miss Moore seems to be clearly about their socio-economic standing and the disparity between them and the people who may shop in the store. However, there seems to be a lesson more directly targeted towards Sylvia. It’s implied towards the end when Miss Moore says, “Anybody else learn anything today?” She asked that while staring at Sylvia, clearly directing the question at her. It may just be my personal bias, however, Sylvia’s attitude throughout the story possessed an air of entitlement. She would speak ill of others and seemed to think of herself as better than others in certain aspects. She also seemed to lord over her companions. There were also mentions of both anger and shame when upon experiencing the toy store, its atmosphere, and its prices. In the end, Miss Moore’s targeted question was the metaphorical final nail in the coffin that both sparked Sylvia’s competitiveness and humbled her. It made her stop and think about the day and what she experienced. It made her want to be better. That’s what I think I’d try to write about in an essay about this short story. An essay titled “A Lesson on Humility” about Sylvia’s shift and the lesson that was meant for her specifically.
