Sylvia and Sugar are the two characters in Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” who have opposing reactions to visiting the FAO Schwarz toy store. Sylvia is the story’s protagonist, and she approaches the toy store with a sour attitude at first, but Sugar is more open to the experience and exhibits delight. Sylvia is a streetwise, self-assured young girl from the slums who is first reluctant to Miss Moore’s efforts to educate her and her pals. As the party goes to the toy store, Sylvia is instantly turned off by the store’s grandeur and rich environment, which she views as being in striking contrast to her own circumstances. She feels awkward and out of place, and her annoyance rises when Miss Moore questions them about the excessive costs of the toys. Sugar, on the other hand, is a more reserved and modest individual who appears to be more open to the experience of visiting the toy store. She is initially taken aback by the toy store and the wide range of toys on display. Sugar, unlike Sylvia, does not appear to be uncomfortable or out of place, and she admires the costly toys on display without feeling guilty of her own lack of access to them.
Daily Archives: February 18, 2023
In the story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, children were being taught more about brutal reality of inequality. Sylvia, a woman of color, doesn’t even have enough cash to afford toys. Not everybody can afford the toys at FAO Schwarz, and yet a relatively wealthy kid in the group named Mercedes is frequently judged for having things they can’t control. Sylvia could not even afford the toys she desired, so even though Mercedes could. The author acknowledged the problems of inequality by incorporating their financial differences. “So we heading down the street and she’s boring us silly about what things cost and what our parents make and how much goes for rent and how money ain’t divided up right in this country” (Bambara 2). In my opinion why would someone take kids and show them stuff they aren’t suppose to be learning ? I also believe that Slyvia was frustrated enough because she did not have the money that others may have to afford what others can.
In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, Sylvia and Miss Moore have distinct responses to visiting the FAO Schwarz toy store. Sylvia is a streetwise and cynical girl from the ghetto who is initially unimpressed by the lavish store. She dismisses the toys as overpriced and unnecessary and resents Miss Moore for bringing her and her friends to the store. Sylvia is resistant to the lesson on social inequality that Miss Moore is trying to teach and feels that it is patronizing and unfair. Throughout the story, Sylvia’s defiance and skepticism towards Miss Moore’s lesson intensify. Miss Moore is a socially conscious and empathetic adult who recognizes the stark contrast between the luxury of the toy store and the poverty of the children’s home environment. She sees the visit as an opportunity to expose the children to a different world and to open their eyes to the injustices of society. Miss Moore hopes that the experience will encourage the children to think critically about the distribution of wealth and resources. She tries to impart this perspective to the children, but her efforts are met with resistance from Sylvia. Overall, Sylvia and Miss Moore have different responses to the visit to the toy store. While Sylvia is dismissive and resistant, Miss Moore is empathetic and socially conscious, hoping to use the experience as a teaching tool for the children.
In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara there are two characters that caught my eye. The two main characters Sylvia and Sugar. The story is about a girl named Sylvia and her friends who live in a poor area but are taken on a school trip to a toy store in a rich area called “FAO Schwarz Toy Store” by a woman named Ms.Moore who wants to teach them about social inequality. Sylvia, the main character is originally skeptical and suspicious of going to the toy store with Ms,moore and her friends. She was skeptical on Ms.moore and doesn’t care about the expensive displays and toys that are for sight, She sees all of these customers who are spending a lot and making expensive and extravagant purchases. The way she acts and thinks throughout all of this is resentfulness and emotional because the toys she sees are out of her reach. she sees how difference in compared to her shopping and the people she sees shopping. Sugar on the other hand has a more fun, positive experience on the field trip. She is very admirable on the large expensive sailboat and wants to buy it regardless of the price. Sugars response to the store was in awe. in conclusion, the two character expressed two very different feelings int eh same scenario. both of their reactions mark the majority of social and economic dilemmas that exist in society
Although Sugar and Sylvia, as all the other children – except Mercedes perhaps – initially had the same mentality when first venturing on this trip, Sugar’s outlook seems to have shifted, learning something new and giving her maybe hope to be better and do better. I think Sugar learned humility, while the trip to FAO Schwarz hardened Sylvia just a little bit more. Ms. Moore, recognizing we are all a product of our surroundings and society, is emphatically trying to teach them all to do better. Her teaching method reminds me of a common phrase in the black community “if you knew better, you’d do better”. Sugar seems to have had that click in her head, the metaphorical light bulb going off for her; now that she knows better, or on her way to knowing better, she can and will do better. Sylvia on the other hand, is hardened by the thought of people being able to frivolously spend money on a toy while the thought of her even asking for a toy that costs $35 would be met with looks of audacity for even asking. I say Sugar seems to have been hardened and prideful. She says something, at least twice in the writing, that alludes to her pride. On the last paragraph of page 4, Sylvia says she won’t talk to Ms. Moore because she won’t give her the satisfaction, and the very last sentence of the writing, she states “but ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin”. In another instance, she states she’s mad, but she won’t but won’t give Ms. Moore the satisfaction, yet again, of knowing she was affected by the trip to the store. Sylvia seems to feel defeated and ashamed of who/what she is, while Sugar seems either be hopeful for better, or […]
This piece – although very short – spoke volumes. If I had to describe Langston, the 12 year old prepubescent boy, I might describe him as inquisitive, honest, trustworthy and hopeful. I assume he’s prepubescent because of his innocence and naivety, with waiting for the metaphorical light to come into him. Waiting for Jesus to just…..fill him with the Holy Spirit as it is described and as we often hear (in certain cultures and communities). In a few short sentences though, Langston was no longer naive and innocent, but doubtful, saddened, disappointed and maybe slightly angry. The complexity of the many ironies that occurred in this piece, this can be a heavy topic of discussion. Westley exclaiming “God damn!…….” before going to be “saved” to avoid being encouraged to be saved any longer. Langston’s aunt assuming he was crying tears of joy and love for Jesus entering his life, when in reality it was the opposite. I think the biggest irony I noticed was Langston losing hope, sight and belief in Jesus in the very place that worshippers go to find him and be closer to him. Langston grew up on a Sunday afternoon, after not finding Jesus.
In the story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, the two characters that caught my attention were Sylvia and Mercedes. The story begins by illustrating a group of students who are going to be taken on an eye-opening trip to FAO Schwarz, a toy store, with the purpose of showing them and teaching them about economic inequality. Throughout the story, one can appreciate how economic inequality affects children and their development and also can see how they act after they see the expensive toys at the store. Sylvia was a low-income kid from Harlem. She was so disrespectful and expressed her anger verbally attacking Ms. Moore because of her proper behavior. At the end of the story, she realized the lesson Ms. Moore tried to teach them and becomes more reserved and well behaved as this lesson changed her life perspective and she kept thinking about the inequality and unfairness of how money is divided in America, while one has plenty of money, other families suffer. Mercedes, unlike the other kids, was wealthier, well-spoken and open minded. The kids used to make jokes and mock her because of that every time she talks about her family’s money. At the end of the story, she doesn’t seem to get the message at all, she values things based on their price.
