Toni Bambara The Lesson Analysis

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In the short story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, the conflict between Sylvia and Miss Moore is that while Miss Moore wants Sylvia to strive for something better, Sylvia believes that she is wasting Sylvia’s time. In the text, it stated “And the starch in my pinafore scratching the shit outta me and I'm really hating this nappy-head bitch and her goddamn college degree. I'd much rather go to the pool or to the show where it's cool.” When Sylvia would much rather be doing something that keeps her cool during a hot summer afternoon, Miss Moore takes her and her friends to a toy store. Miss Moore was taking the children out to teach them about their socioeconomic class, but Sylvia felt as if Miss Moore was mocking her. Sylvia did not like that Miss Moore had a college degree because Sylvia’s parents would make her go with Miss Moore because of it. The children did not like Miss Moore because she was trying to teach them something that they did not

In the text, it states “Then Sugar surprises me by sayin, ‘You know, Miss Moore, I don't think all of us here put together eat in a year what that sailboat costs.’ And Miss Moore lights up like somebody goosed her. ‘And?’ she say, urging Sugar on. Only I'm standin on her foot so she don't continue.” This shows that when Sugar has an intelligent thought, Sylvia wants to stop her. Sylvia does not like when Sugar seems smarter than her in front of Miss Moore, so she does not let Sugar go any further. Sylvia and Suger are opposites of each other because while Suger wants to share what she learned, Sylvia wants to keep that knowledge to herself. When Sugar is juxtaposed with Sylvia, the reader perceives that Sugar is scared of Sylvia, but Sylvia is scared of Sugar beating her. By making Sugar scared of Sylvia, that gives Sylvia control over the situation and what Sugar