“The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara is a short story set in the inner part of New York City that gives the reader an opportunity to briefly see into the lives of children living devoid of wealth and education. It takes place in the early seventies, following the civil rights movement and during a time when the imbalance of wealth in terms of race was immense. This reflects that, “Toni Cade Bambara is one of the best representatives of the group of Afro-American writers who, during the 1960s, became directly involved in the cultural and sociopolitical activities in urban communities across the country” (Deck). The essential elements that develop the themes of materialism, social inequality, education, and the value of money in “The Lesson” are narrative point of view, tons, symbols, setting, and characterization.

The narrator in “The Lesson” is a young girl named Sylvia who tells the story in first person. Through her we get a picture of the difficulties experienced from growing up in a poor urban area where the gaps in social classes and quality of living are so evident. Sylvia is an intelligent girl, but more street smart than book sma

The setting in “The Lesson” is what really creates the atmosphere for the story, and it allows us to understand what issues the children are dealing with. Basically, Bambara is showing that it isn’t easy to grow up a poor kid in the inner city. The story takes place right after the civil rights movement, in a time when African-Americans where still struggling to find their place in society. They were trying to get their own piece of the American pie, while having to deal with racism and inequality. The setting of the poor inner city helps us realize how unevenly the pie is split up between members of society. It is as if Sylvia’s is the small part of the pie with less filling, while Manhattan is the big slice with the powdered sugar topping. As close as the inner city is to Manhattan, they are worlds apart in terms of social class and wealth. The lesson that the children take out of the field trip with Ms. Moore directly related to the fact that these children have been raised less fortunately that some, and to get out of oppression and poverty, they will have to work. The children realize the value of money and how unfair it is that there is so much wealth in Manhattan and a stone’s throw away in the inner city, there is extreme poverty. The children learn social gaps are very wide, and by leaving their ghetto area they some to she that in comparison to Manhattan, they are all receiving the small slice of the American pie. Miss Moore and the Manhattan trip help the children realize that poverty is not found everywhere, and that education can give them the power to elevate their status.

The sailboat was a clever way for Bambara to incorporate a childhood norm of having a special toy that gives us the power to use our imagination. Some children fantasize that the toy can take them so faraway places, away from reality and give us our much-coveted freedom. For every child this fantasy is different, but for the kids in the story, their dreams seems to be based on money and a life more rewarding than the one they are living. Miss Moore is trying to help teach kids through using these symbols that all the wonders at F.A.O. Schwartz are all within their reach, but to be able to ever have such luxuries, one must work hard and overcome social obstacles that stand in the way.

Sylvia is the feisty young girl who narrates the story and provides the reader with the view of how difficult it is to grow up in the urban slums. Sylvia is clever and strong when she is comfortable in her environment. This is a very common trait for characters in Bambara’s stories, and “characters are rarely at odds with their geographical environment…They move through their immediate neighborhood comfortably familiar with the people and each building, street lamps, and fire hydrant they pass” (Deck). However, we realize as soon as she is in an uncomfortable setting, for example in Manhattan, when she backs off from being a leader. Sylvia demonstrates her discomfort and shame walking into the toy store. Sylvia also does not tolerate other people telling her what to do, especially people with more authority such as Miss Moore with her college degree. This is exemplified in Sylvia’s spiteful atti

Some topics in this essay:
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