Quayyum Mustapha Discussion 3

If I were to write an essay about The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara without focusing on the socio-economic stuff, I’d probably explore the symbolism in the story. For example, the sailboat at the toy store really stood out. It’s priced at $1,195, which shocks Sylvia so much she has to reread the price tag. Her reaction says a lot about her view on money and what it represents in her world. The boat could symbolize the gap between different lifestyles—who can afford something like that and who can’t even imagine it. It also ties into how Sylvia sees wealth and what it means to her. For a title, I’d keep it simple, like “The Power of Symbolism in The Lesson.”