The Lesson Analysis

Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” is written in the first person with informal language. This perspective allows the audience to view the world through Sylvia’s lens of understanding, and to use personal knowledge to better comprehend what Sylvia is truly witnessing. It is jarring to be confronted by social inequality while in the mindset of a child who does not yet understand their lot in life. While Sylvia recognizes that she is irritated by the price tag on the little sailboat, and that she has the inexplicable urge to shrink away from the door to the toy store, she does not yet understand why. The theme could easily be “disconnect”. Sylvia may be close with Sugar, but there is definitely a power struggle within that relationship that Sugar appears to …show more content…
This quick exchange of culture and tradition comes off at a rambling, fast-paced nag. The mother prepares her daughter to take on the stereotypical female role expected of her - caring for her father, maintaining the household, and hiding her “slut” nature with a misleading smile. This appears to be a condensed version of what girls experience growing up in that region, and in such a small amount of time captures the scope of the life they are expected to lead. What a small life indeed.

If “The Lesson” had been written in a different point of view, it would have easily lost its edge. A great deal of the impact comes from the rough language and Sylvia’s internal struggle laid bare for readers to analyze. If “Girl” was altered, the message would also be lost. The rhythm, the ramble of the narrator drowning out the words of the girl, the references that hint at the locale are all essential to Kincaid’s purpose and communication. A change in diction of point of view would alter the authentic feel of the piece, and take away what makes it so unusual and appealing in the first