The Lesson Essays (615 words) - The Lesson, Sylvia,

The Lesson The theme in The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara appears to be a lesson on Social Class and having a choice which society you choose to live in. Miss. Moore who takes on this responsibility to educate the young ones has more then a lesson to teach, but a challenging group of city kids to come by. Sylvia and Sugar which seems to be the leader of the group of neighborhood kids gives Miss. Moore that challenge and not give her the satisfaction. Sylvias stubborn and stern attitude is sear towards Miss. Moore perhaps Sylvia got a bad impression of Miss. Moore from all that was said about her by the grown-ups. The narrator speaks as a second person and to me Sylvia is the narrator in the story. When the narrator speaks it is she would always say I and when Miss. Moore asked Sylvia she states Im mad, but I wont give her that satisfaction. The story takes place in what some people might call the projects, or the gutto but in this case its called the slums by Miss, Moore. Miss. Moore starts and finishes be telling them what things cost and what their parents make and how money aint divided right in this country which is already part of what the lesson Miss. Moore is trying to come across. I feel that Miss. Moore kept an eye on Sylvia the most then Sugar, Junebug, Flyboy, Rosie and Mercede because Miss. Moore wants to get the message through to Sylvia, plus Sylvia is the one who influences Sugar and the other kids. When they arrived on Fifth Avenue that was when Sylvia and Sugar realize that the society they are surrounded by is nothing like the one they live in. To me Sylvia might have been kind of intimidated by her surroundings on Fifth Avenue thats why she hesitated to go into F.A.O Schwarz. So me and Sugar turn the corner where the entrance is, but when we got there I kinda hung back that was the line that gave me the impression. Sylvia ,Sugar and the rest of the kids gets a taste of society on Fifth Avenue, but it was miss. Moore who gives them the chance to experience it for themselves. Society is often perceived as a rich and fashionable social class depending on how you want to put it, but to the characters in the story of The Lesson They are naive, they are experiencing something that is totally new and it would be understandable if they didnt get Miss. Moore whole point of bring them to Fifth Avenue. It was obvious that Sugar and Mercede didnt get the point they only know that white people are crazy because of the prices they pay for a toy and fur coats. They were given a choice to change it all and be able to afford things white folks buy and live in a society theyve seen on Fifth Avenue. Although, Sylvia never wanted to give Miss. Moore the satisfaction I think that she was the only one who actually got the point and was thinking of what her future holds for her, plus she knows what she wants From my perspective this symbolizes different social classes, and I would say the difference in opinion each character has in the society theyve encounter. I personally like the title of The Lesson it speaks for itself and I think that by the title it really attracts a readers attention because of curiosity as to what the lesson is about. English Essays