The Lesson by Tony Cade Bambara is a coming of age story set in Harlem, New York in the late 1950’s. Barbara’s focus is to approach inequality and wealth through the perspective of the main character. Sylvia, the main character, is a young African American girl growing up in disproportionate circumstances. In the beginning Sylvia is arrogant and blind of her poverty; however, in the end Sylvia exhibits a change of mentality and realizes how unequal life in the slums is.
Sylvia is a know-it-all girl with a very bad attitude; she is self-centered to a point that except Sugar and her, everyone is considered old and stupid or young and fool. Sylvia’s arrogance is accompanied by a sarcastic behavior, which she implements in every occasion given. …show more content…
Moore teaches about inequality and wealth by taking the children to F.A.O. Schwartz Toy Story located on Fifth Avenue, an upper rich part of New York. This toy store is the turning point for Sylvia. At the moment of the arrival the children feel alienated; they see people dressed up in stockings and fur coats during hot weather. As a reaction to this alienation, Sylvia exclaims “white folks crazy” before approaching the toy store. Miss Moore tell the children to look in the windows before going in, and as expected the children are amazed by the beauty of the toys on display. The children’s amazed emotion start changing when they stare at the prices; at this point they start understanding inequality. Sylvia starts realizing the real value of money when she asks Miss Moore: “what I want to know is (…) how much a real boat costs? I figure a thousand would get you a yacht any day.” When is time to come inside the store Sylvia feels shame to enter the store, although she does not comprehend why she feels ashamed. Inside the store the children barely touch anything; they rather stare at the prices of the toys while a new perspective of wealth and inequality is growing. Sylvia is experimenting a type of frustration while realizing how poor she is. In reality, the frustration is deep to a point that she feels a inchoate anger that displaces to her cousin. Finally, by the time they are leaving the toy store it is certain that Sylvia has learned the reality of distribution of wealth and
Sylvia is a know-it-all girl with a very bad attitude; she is self-centered to a point that except Sugar and her, everyone is considered old and stupid or young and fool. Sylvia’s arrogance is accompanied by a sarcastic behavior, which she implements in every occasion given. …show more content…
Moore teaches about inequality and wealth by taking the children to F.A.O. Schwartz Toy Story located on Fifth Avenue, an upper rich part of New York. This toy store is the turning point for Sylvia. At the moment of the arrival the children feel alienated; they see people dressed up in stockings and fur coats during hot weather. As a reaction to this alienation, Sylvia exclaims “white folks crazy” before approaching the toy store. Miss Moore tell the children to look in the windows before going in, and as expected the children are amazed by the beauty of the toys on display. The children’s amazed emotion start changing when they stare at the prices; at this point they start understanding inequality. Sylvia starts realizing the real value of money when she asks Miss Moore: “what I want to know is (…) how much a real boat costs? I figure a thousand would get you a yacht any day.” When is time to come inside the store Sylvia feels shame to enter the store, although she does not comprehend why she feels ashamed. Inside the store the children barely touch anything; they rather stare at the prices of the toys while a new perspective of wealth and inequality is growing. Sylvia is experimenting a type of frustration while realizing how poor she is. In reality, the frustration is deep to a point that she feels a inchoate anger that displaces to her cousin. Finally, by the time they are leaving the toy store it is certain that Sylvia has learned the reality of distribution of wealth and