Symbolism in Toni Cade Bambara's The Lesson
Symbols are often use in stories to portray more of a literal meaning. Conventional, literary, and allegory are examples of the different types of symbolism. Symbols can be displayed in many different ways. People, objects, and events are just a few of the ways. Throughout the short story, "The Lesson," Toni Cade Bambara uses symbolism in many areas.
The title, "The Lesson," is one symbol that Bambara uses. Miss. Moore, the teacher with a college degree, takes the kids on a trip to F.A.O. Schwarz. Throughout their trip, Miss. Moore is constantly talking to them about money. Bambara writes, "And Miss Moore asking us do we know what money is, like we bunch of retards" (Bambara 136).
Throughout the story, Miss Moore is trying to teach the kids a lesson. The kids become shocked when they see the cost of many of the toys. They do not understand how anyone can spend that much money on a toy.
Miss Moore attempts to teach the children about the difference of how some people spend money. Sylvia feels insulted and thinks Miss Moore is calling them "retards" when she asks the group do they know what money is. The first lesson is to figure out how much of a tip they are suppose to leave the cab driver. Sylvia wants to keep the money and jump out of the cab and spend the money on some barbecue . Theft seems to be a common feature within the group. Later, when they are at the store, Sugar asks "can we steal" (308).
Both of these things lead back to the title of the story where Miss Moore is trying to teach the kids a lesson that will one day be important in their life.
The language of the story lets the reader know what kind of neighborhood in which "The Lesson" is taking place. Bambara...
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...heet" and "envelopes [that] smell like roses," Rosie, like Sylvia, joins in mocking traitors: "Who wants to know about your smelly-ass stationery?" (309). Mercedes's identification with Miss Moore's ideals is punished. Condemning those who side with Miss Moore is a means of discrediting her lesson.
Bambara uses symbolism in her short story, "The Lesson," to help the reader get a feel of what is going on. This is seen through the title, language, and names of the characters and the way each symbol is used helps the reader to interpret the story.
Bibliography
Paul H. Connolly, editor, On Essays: A Reader for Writers
(Author of foreword) The Sanctified Church: Collected Essays by Zora Neale Hurston
Mari Evans, editor, Black Women Writers, 1950-1980: A Critical Evaluation
http://parallel.park.uga.edu/~wprather/teaching/1102OL/students/esstwodfts/courtney.html
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from the teachers point of view; she tries to judge the Cunninghams and the Ewells from
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...n character. The story begins by informing the reader that the boy Ragged Dick is a honest boy who has solid morals, yet this directly goes against his actions as he steals the wallet and turns violent as he beats up another boy. I feel that there are very few failures within Bambara's “The Lesson” as the main story is solid and consistent throughout. In the end, both stories are driven my money which is attributed to success. My final thoughts are that money is not what drives success. I feel that money can make becoming successful an easier task; however, it is true perseverance which holds the most power. Ultimately, both stories express that an education is the most valuable asset for individuals to have as it can help them achieve bigger better things while ultimately allowing them to become financially well off, successful and blessed with opportunities.
leader of the group of neighborhood kids gives Miss. Moore that challenge and not give
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Sylvia and Abner have both experienced a life full of hardships. Abner has a history of commiting crimes for a living, such as the time he spent stealing horses during the civil war. Though from a completely different time frame and setting, Sylvia has also spent her life barely scraping by. When Miss Moore takes the children to the toy store, Sylvia's complete befuddlement at the idea of owning something that isn't useful vividly exemplifies how unfamiliar she is with wealth. Bad experiences in both Sylvia and Abner's lives with upper class people also plays into their uncivility twards anyone not as poor as they are. Due to Abners history as a sharecropper and criminal, it is quite likely that he has had many unpleasant experiences with wealthy people. In his story, Faulkner implies that Abner is no stranger to commiting crimes against his employers. In at least one instance, when he is shot while stealing a horse, Abner is physically punished for his lawlessness. Sylvia's distaste for anyone who might be considered better that her is evidenced by her dislike of Miss Moore. Miss Moore's education alienates her from Sylvia, who is disconcerted by her "nappy hair and proper speech and no makeup." Miss Moore's condescending aditude twards Sylvia lends itself...
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To begin with, the reader gets a sense of Sylvia's personality in the beginning of the story as she talks about Miss Moore. Miss Moore is not the typical black woman in the neighborhood. She is well educated and speaks well. She has climbed up against the odds in a time where it was almost unheard of for a black woman to go to college. She is a role model for the children who encourages them to get more out of life. Sylvia's opinion of her is not one of fondness. She says that she hates Miss Moore as much as the "winos who pissed on our handball walls and stand up on our hallways and stairs so you couldn't halfway play hide and seek without a god damn mask”(357). By comparing the hatred with something she enjoys, we get to see what a child does in the slums for amusement. Sylvia feels t...