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Summary Of The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara

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Thesis : In her story “ The Lesson” Toni Cade Bambara emphasizes social differences are caused by the economic differences of the world. These social differences and economic kids go through are connected together. Sylvia and Sugar differ especially when it comes to being able to deal with the reality of things not the way they envisioned it. Sylvia is not able to come to grips with the reality of what she saw. When Sylvia says, “And I look at her and she looks at me and this ridiculous. I mean, damn, I have never ever been shy about doing nothing or going nowhere”(Bambara 40). Sylvia saying,"I have never been shy about doing nothing or going nowhere" Sylvia displays doubt in herself because she can not come to grips with …show more content…

After Sugar says, "I think" Sylvia says, "Sugar pushing me off her feet like she never done before cussed I whip we ass …show more content…

The prices of certain things make a difference between our classes because if you can not afford it, then you probably are part of a lower a class. When Sylvia says, “Then Miss moore asks what it cost. So we all join into smudging it up and the price tag says 300$. So then asks how long it will take for Big Butt and Junebug to save up their allowances. Too long I say”(Bambara 14). When Sylvia says,” So then asks how long it will take for Big Butt and Junebug to save up their allowances”, she describes how it would take them forever to get something that should not take a year, which describes the scarce amount of money they have. Because it would take them forever to garner that money, it shows they must be in an lesser social class since they have a lack of money. The economy and society are connected to the point where they affect the results of each other . When Sugar says,” That this is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at dough. When Sugar says, “Equal chance to pursue happiness’’ she describes what we should get, but our society and economy hold us back from achieving this. The social differences the kids withstand in their community is really disturbing, and the economic differences are what the kids see in the stores, which explains how the kids are connected . The kids are out of place and use to seeing the cheaper items than

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“The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, is a story about the lesson Miss Moore gives to the neighborhood children. Miss Moore decides to take the children to F.A.O. Schwarz to show them the different toys that are available on Fifth Avenue. Once the children realize the cost of these fancy toys compared to the toys available to them, they become angry. When Sylvia thinks about what her mother would say if she asked for one of the toys she saw in the store, she also thinks about what her family could buy with the money the toy costs. When Miss Moore asks the children to state their thoughts about the store that had toys that cost the amount of what could feed a large family, Sugar states she thinks it is unfair and everyone should have an equal chance

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“The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara takes place in Harlem around the 1960’s. Sylvia a ten year old African-American girl play’s the part of the story’s narrator. Throughout the story there is a consistent theme of Sylvia’s anger towards those of higher status. She demonstrates this with her word choices toward those she views as better than she.

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The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara was a story about a group of children taken to a toy store by an older woman named Miss Moore. It is clear from the text that she is an educated woman and wants the children to really think about the environment that surrounds them. The store they entered is strictly for the privileged who have money to spend on expensive gadgets. As the group of children walk around they are constantly heckling the price tags and making assumptions on the people who would purchase these kinds of items. The children that Miss Moore is with are clearly not financially well off and the presence of the store seems to irritate them due to its extravagant existence.

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The "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara appears to be a lesson on social class and having a choice which society we choose to live in. In the story use of language, symbolism, equality, shame, and education to give a reader sense of hope for the narrative Sylvia and her friends. The author use outside world, symbolism, and tools to teach a life lesson to the children. She used toy’s store to teach children a lesson and inspire them to aim for success and seek for better themselves and their situation. The microscope has symbolic value, it has the capability to reveal what we cannot be seen with the naked eye.

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