The first character I picked was the main character, whose name I believe is Sylvia; her reaction to the experience of visiting the FAO Schwarz toy store was first embarrassment and ashamed, but by the end, it had transformed into a type of motivation for her. I say this because when she approached the toy store, she felt ashamed and pitiful as she proceeded to open the door. I believe she felt this way because of her upbringing; her views of some things were already tampered with by what her family could afford. But, in the end, she states, “I ain’t going to let anyone beat me at nothing,” which, in my opinion, suggests that she will do whatever it takes to achieve in life.
Sugar, the second character I picked, had a similar reaction to her cousin Sylvia’s to the experience of visiting the FAO Schwarz toy store, but she was more receptive to the lesson that was being given. I say this because she had the same feelings as Sylvia when they first entered the toy store, which were embarrassment, shame, and pity, but when they returned home and Ms.Moore asked what she thought of the toy store, she was honest and admitted that none of their families could afford to eat as much as the price of the toy sailboat. She viewed this as a sign that having an equal likelihood of happiness means having an equal chance of making money and living as well as the wealthy.
2 thoughts on “Dasia Alexander Discussion 4”
Dasia, I like your comments a lot. I tend to think, however, that Sugar has learned the “lesson” on more of an intellectual level. Yes, she can make intelligent remarks about socioeconomic unfairness and the dysfunction of American democracy, but Sylvia take the lesson in a visceral, deeply personal way that makes her motivated to fight the system and live a different kind of life.
I like this interpretation of Sugar and Sylvia’s responses to the FAO Schwarz visit. I also wrote about both of them, and got the sense that Sylvia being noticeably upset with Sugar and more so with Miss Moore at the end of the story gave a sense of sadness and hopelessness. But now I am reconsidering that judgement. That last line “I ain’t going to let anyone beat me at nothing” does show a notion of perseverance in Sylvia, despite the racial injustice she has to face in the world around her.