The Lesson By Toni Bambara Summary

Miss. Moore A proper speaking, nappy headed women is the very first impression the narrator gives its readers about Miss. Moore in the short story “The Lesson”. Written by Toni Cade Bambara, “The Lesson” is about a time in the author’s childhood where she was given the unwanted opportunity to leave her inner-city neighborhood, and explore an overly expensive, high-in, toy store. With her cousin and neighborhood peers by her side- or opposite of her, they set foot in the store with the assistance of Miss. Moore. Miss. Moore being the mastermind behind bringing them to a store beyond their financial means and class, intended for the children to learn something from the experience. Miss. Moore is an antagonistic character that is not necessarily bad; she possesses this holier-than-thou aroma that rubs off on the other characters negatively, yet affects them positively. Moore considered herself to be above the people who lived in her neighborhood, which made the main character- Sylvia, not too fond of her. Moore thought of herself in that light …show more content…
Moore after being asked “What kind of work do they do and how they live and how come we ain’t on it.” That is when Moore proceeded to give her ultimate lesson, that to achieve the finances and wealthy life that the F.A.O Schwarz toy story symbolized, one must be educated. Miss. Moore wanted the children to understand that there is a whole world outside of their inner-city neighborhood filled with so much more than what they were currently being offered. She advised them that to obtain an education for themselves, they would have to leave the comfort of the slums, and be open to things that they were not use to. This caused change in how Sylvia viewed the world and how there is beauty outside of the slums waiting for her or anyone who got the gest if Miss. Moore’s lesson to