Most of the discussion in Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” is about economic disparity, but part of the merit of the story is Sylvia’s refusal to learn and change. Rather than simply accepting Miss Moore’s lesson in institutionalized unfairness, Sylvia resists, holding onto pride and superiority to the other children. This isn’t stubbornness—it’s survival. She also won’t grow weak, illustrating how entrenched in her conviction is.
The utilization of the first-person narrative by Bambara is critical in presenting Sylvia’s internal conflict. Her rapid, sarcastic voice captures her intelligence and confidence, but when the story ends, her silence and not wanting to think about it disclose that Miss Moore’s lesson has sunk in. What this shows is that development may not be in tangible terms. Sylvia’s defiance act, rather than being a sign of not learning, can actually be the beginning of true self-awareness.awareness.
2 thoughts on “Zoe Jimenez Discussion 4”
I think your analysis of The Lesson is powerful and well thought out. You do a great job of explaining Sylvia’s resistance and showing that it’s not just stubbornness but a way for her to stay strong. I really liked how you pointed out that the first person narrative helps us understand Sylvia’s thoughts and emotions. Your explanation of how her sarcasm shows intelligence was also thoughtful. The way you connected her silence at the end to her personal growth was especially powerful. You make it clear that change doesn’t always happen in obvious ways, which is a great point. Overall, your response is well-written and does a great job of exploring another interesting facet of the story!
Zoe, you have some good ideas here. However, I would really have liked some reference to specific scenes in the story to illustrate your points. Some of the language could use some explanation. You write about Sylvia being “entrenched in her conviction,” but do you ever tell us what her conviction is? I like how you contrast her sharp tongue with her silence at the end, but again, some specific quotes or reference to the story would help your reader a lot.