Teenagers usually exhibit a mixture of childishness and maturity as they evolve into adults. Often a striking event or experience will catalyze an adolescent's intellectual growth. Toni Cade Bambara's short story "The Lesson" fuses the dual themes of economic disparity with coming of age. A group of inner city minorities observe the exuberance of Fifth Avenue, triggering feelings of anger in the narrator. Sylvia, however, retains her self-centered childishness while she witnesses her best friends' maturation. Sugar is the character that truly comes of age in Bambara's "The Lesson."
The story opens with insight into the narrator's peer group dynamic. Here are teenagers who still cling to their mischievousness and childishness. Sylvia, the narrator, is especially put off by Miss Moore's attempt to instill in the teens morality and life lessons. Because Miss Moore is an educated woman, the community bestows respect on her, and she serves as a surrogate teacher. But Sylvia, Sugar, and the other kids who embark on the field trip to F.A.O. Schwartz do not yet appreciate Miss Moore's intentions. Instead, they giggle and belittle the woman.
When the teens ogle the store windows and take note of the extravagant price tags on mere toys, the first sign of transformation takes place. At first, the children only register shock, envy, and disbelief. They also feel an acute sense of shame when they enter F.A.O. Schwartz. These feelings catalyze their coming of age, especially Sugar. Sylvia, although she feels angry, does not fully comprehend the bigger picture like Sugar does. But the narrator does notice that when she and Sugar bump into each other accidentally, they "don't laugh and go into (their) fat-lady bump-stomach routine." Sylvia is aware of their dawning maturation.
It is Sugar who first becomes aware that the exorbitant prices are a reflection of deeper societal issues. She tells Miss Moore, "this is not much of a democracy if you ask me." This realization transforms her relationship with Sylvia, who is "disgusted with Sugar's treachery." Because Sugar is now unwilling, or unable, to participate in their childish antics, Sylvia is left out. She comes of age slower than Sugar does, even as she realizes that "somethin weird is goin on."
Toni Cade Bambara, The Lesson Toni Cade Bambara's The Lesson was a story told through the thoughts and wisdom of Sylvia, a young girl who lives in a lower class city. Throughout the story, Bambara used a combination of symbolism and reality techniques. While a young girl tells the story, he demonstrates how smart Sylvia is in the world she lives in - having to tell strong languages she has come
Bambara, 1981) the author Toni Cade Bambara presents, at the superficial level, from a child's perspective, a visit to the F.A. O Schwarz Toy Emporium in Manhattan, of the protagonist and her friends led by the resident gadfly, busboy and self-appointed educator Miss Moore. The protagonist Sylvia, and her comrades -- Sugar, Junior, Rosie Giraffe, Mercedes, Flyboy, Big Butt, Q.T. And Junebug are African-American children growing up in the
Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara tells the story of a college-educated woman who moves to the African-American neighborhood of the unnamed story-teller, her friend Sugar, and her friends and cousins. To the children it seems that Miss Moore puts on air, speaking "proper" English, always dressed as if she were going to church, and taking the children on educational field trips. The children resent it; school is out, and
Toni Cade Bambara's short story "The Lesson," a newcomer to the neighborhood named Miss Moore, a woman obviously better off than the rest of the families in the neighborhood, takes children on a field trip into midtown Manhattan, where they visit FAO Schwarz and gradually realize that some people have a great deal more money than they do. Miss Moore is trying to teach the children to make sure
Kate Chopin, author of "The Story of an Hour" Kate Chopin was born Kate O'Flaherty in 1850, in St. Louis, Missouri (Clarke 1). Chopin's mother was of French extraction and the young Kate grew up in a bilingual household. Chopin's household was also bicultural, encompassing both the cultures of north and south: both supporters of slavery and anti-slavery advocates lived in Missouri; Chopin's family kept slaves and her half-brother fought on
For example, Sylvia takes offense when Miss Moore says they live in the slums. Bambara writes, "And then she gets to the part about we all poor and live in the slums which I don't feature. And I'm ready to speak on that, but she steps out in the street and hails two cabs just like that" (Bambara). Sylvia and her friends are not afraid to talk back to
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