Story Analysis: The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara

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Yome Odharo Mrs. Lescure English Comp. II March 12, 2015 Analysis on “The Lesson” “A quality education grants us the ability to fight the war on ignorance and poverty,” Charles B. Rangel. This holds true for Toni Cade Bambara, an African-American editor, teacher, writer, cultural and community worker who was affected deeply by the Civil Rights Movement (Pusch). “The Lesson” was published in 1972 in the short-story collection Gorilla, My Love. Bambara tells “The Lesson” through a first person point of view by a narrator who is a determined, brave, and strong young girl. As the story progresses, Sylvia learns that despite economic inequalities, she can indeed achieve the goals she sets for herself. Basically, it is a story of Miss Moore…show more content…
She is much more privileged than the other children and this makes them jealous of her (Bambara 348). She has possessions the other children doesn’t have. For example, a father, economically stable, a home, a desk and stationaries given to her by her godmother. Unlike Mercedes, Flyboy is homeless and has none of the privileges she has. He deals with generational poverty, just like Sylvia and the other children. In addition, people who deal with generational poverty, deal with “the most damaging outcome of generational poverty” and “the constant presence of Hopelessness” (“Facts about Poverty”). Flyboy wants to be left alone because he knows he is of no value. He uses his situation to his advantage “…to keep white folks off his back and fill sorry for him” (348). Through Flyboy, Bambara shows what happens when society ignores people leaving in poverty. In conclusion, “The Lesson” is a trip of obligation and discovery. The children face generational poverty; Mercedes however, will find a way out because she has parents who care about her while Sylvia learns of the unfairness in the distribution of wealth. Because of Miss Moore though, she will move beyond the social restraints set before her. By end of the story, she says herself in a moment of epiphany “ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin” (Bambara 350). Sylvia, instead of running away from her newly formed dreams, resolves to confront them head

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