The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara Analysis

The symbols present in “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, depict the economic and social injustices faced by specific members of society, specifically the children in the story. The characters in the story are being mentored by Miss Moore, a woman from their block who has taken up the role of taking them out on weekly outings. The story touches on the situation of the children that are stuck in living in almost poverty. “The Lesson” focuses on the socioeconomic disparities between the different racial groups and how. Bambara uses several techniques such as irony, othering, and second person point of view to make the story meaningful and demonstrate the characteristics of the characters. The use of irony portrays how the trip ended up teaching Sylvia, the protagonist of the story, more than she

The group is getting ready to go out for their weekly lesson and Sylvia’s thinking, “...and I’m really hating this nappy-head bitch and her goddamn college degree” (60). By othering, the author is able to put other people into stereotypes like the one Sylvia is confined in because of her race. One is able to categorize people by sexual orientation, education, or authority, just like how Sylvia others Miss Moore because of her authority and education. Sylvia and her friends are in a cab, following Miss Moore’s instructions, “Me and Sugar and Junebug and Flyboy hangin out the window and hollering to everybody, putting lipstick on each other cause Flybody a faggot anyway” (61). Sylvia others Flybody because of his sexual orientation and because of that, Sylvia begins to think less of him and seems to judge his identity. Sylvia disregards the fact that she has been confined into stereotypes; however, she is doing the same thing to her friend, Flyboy. Through othering, allows to see how characters think and see deeper into their