Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” is a short story that provides insight into the lives of poor urban children. Miss Moore, a black American woman with a university education, takes a group of kids to FAO Schwartz, a toy store known for its outrageously priced items. She hopes to impart knowledge on them regarding racial inequality in the United States, the value of frugality, and the distinctions between social strata.
Sylvia, Sugar, and Mercedes all have very different times at the toy store throughout the story. The high prices and the realization that they can’t buy anything shock them. Sylvia is infuriated and embarrassed by her realization that she is out of place. Sugar’s perspective shifts and she begins to constantly make comparisons to items she has seen in the supermarket. The other kids often look down on Mercedes, the rich kid, because she has access to more affluent peers’ luxury items.
The author draws attention to the issue of economic disparity by concentrating on the various levels of wealth possessed by the people in the story. The events of this narrative illustrate how a childhood spent in poverty may skew a person’s viewpoint to the point that they do not appreciate the things that they do have. The children were stimulated to think critically and given exposure to a more expansive world as part of Miss Moore’s approach to guiding them. A significant takeaway from this narrative is the devastating impact that poverty can have on a person’s life, as well as the transformational potential of receiving an education.
One thought on “Ihab Gomaa discussion 4”
Ihab, this is a commentary on the themes of the story. I really want the focus of the discussion to be on the characters though. The reason for this is that as the readings become more complex, analysis of character also becomes more important to an understanding of the stories. Sylvia is different even from her best friend/cousin Sugar in how she internalizes the lesson. I like what you write about Mercedes and how the kids seem to be wise to her and are unimpressed by her slightly more advantaged life. In a way, they seem to feel a touch of moral superiority.