The “Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara. It’s a brief story about a few kids who live in a poor neighborhood around the ’70s because it published this story in 1972 and because of the money usage. An example of the money usage is “And the meter reads eighty-five cents” Bambara (Page 2). This story follows this woman by the name of “Miss Moore” to an adventure with the less fortunate children in her neighborhood in which rich folks live. Throughout the story, your preview of how this changes perspectives, especially how the money is being valued and contemplated by the views of the narrator because of the high prices at the rich folk store which could feed a family the author’s purpose is to advocate for children who are less fortunate to the luxuries that some people expressed. To show and educate them on how the world works so they get a better understanding. The author’s key idea is that we should be able to be educated to the world and not oppressed by things that mean so much. Basically, to be more aware of the world and its value. My understanding after reading this brief story is that everyone should see the world, not just be stuck to what is comfortable or topics that make you uncomfortable because you don’t understand it. Such as how unjust economic/social systems are hard for these African American children because of resources that it limits them such as money compared to others such as rich folks who have more opportunities.
In the beginning, you can see how reluctant the author was to go with Miss Moore. An example is “And quite naturally we laughed at her, laughed the way we did at the junk man who went about his business like he was some big-time president and his sorry-ass horse his secretary”(Bambara Page1). The relationship between the narrator and Miss Moore is hostile at first. She compares him to someone who thinks that they are better than others and she laughs about her. . In the beginning, you can see how tone evolved to the ending. “ But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin “( Bambara Page7). The development of the characters has developed as she forced them into going with her. You can notice how the setting is back in the day because of the language used . Such as the words “ good ole”. The character In this story seems like teenagers because they don’t talk like children but not adults. The children seem naïve about economic topics. They also seem of color because of their characteristics. Because of the narrator mentioning “ nappy hair” and “ block”. Also, when they mentioned stationary they were like she has seen our houses and knows that we don’t have that. Indicates that her and the children come from a less fortunate colored family.
The author in this brief story decided to use devices such as tone and other devices to imply how the characters were affected after leaving their neighbors to go into that toy story and see real-world problems front hand. “Not that I’m scared, what’s there to be afraid of, just a toy store ;But I feel funny, shame”; (Bambara Page 5). By the tone of voice, the author seems out of place. Like shame because that’s not a place she belongs to, and it’s just a toy store, but by the prices, it feels more than just a store. But not only the author was feeling out of place, so did Sugar. This helps identify the theme of the story because the differences between worlds are prominent. Who the tone and actions of the characters change once they set foot into that toy store. “ Thirty-five dollars could buy new bunk beds for Junior and Gretchen’s boy; Thirty five dollars and the whole household could go visit Grand-daddy Nelson in the country” Bambara Page 6). It was like an awakening for them. Seeing those prices on things that are materialistic and how they compare it to their own life. Saying how much money these toys are comparing them to their lives. This helps analyze how society is. That there’s a barrier between rich and poor. Especially these neighbor’s kids seeing how the outside world. It focused on where they lived. Before Miss Moore helped them explore a world of unfairness. Which was an awakening? The author shows this transition from the beginning to the end. Summarizing that the world has a lot of unfairness especially to children of less fortunate families and that’s how the world works.
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