In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “The Lesson”, marxism can be seen when the children enter the most expensive toy store called, F.A.O Schwarz, where children who have to experience the economical life the hard way. With Sylvia being the main character from the way she speaks in the story, the children face conspicuous consumption, imperialism, and the American dream.
The clearest indication of conspicuous consumption in the short story is when the children notice a woman wearing a fur coat in a very hot climate. “Then we check out that we on Fifth Avenue and everybody dressed up in stockings. One lady in a fur coat, hot as it is” (Para. 3). With this being said, Fifth Avenue is an environment where wealthy people live; and considering that these children run into …show more content…
Money. Money makes up the American dream, because in America, if you want to be successful in life, that means you have to be wealthy. “This here costs four hundred eighty dollars...But for $480 it don’t make sense” (Para. 12). For most individuals, the American dream is to be financially well balanced money wise; however in a realistic point of view, the achievement of the American dream is often cut off by society’s restrictions and impacts from higher power. Rosie doesn’t understand why the paper weight costs so much money and probably never will because she’s from the lower class. In order to achieve the American dream, you have to be financially wealthy enough to have that much success in your life. “Where we are is who we are...But it don’t necessarily have to be that way, she always adds then waits for somebody to say that poor people have to wake up and demand their share of the pie…” (Para. 44). The American dream is clearly evident in this quote because Mrs. Moore tries to point out to the children that although they are poor, they can try and reach that American dream if they try hard
The clearest indication of conspicuous consumption in the short story is when the children notice a woman wearing a fur coat in a very hot climate. “Then we check out that we on Fifth Avenue and everybody dressed up in stockings. One lady in a fur coat, hot as it is” (Para. 3). With this being said, Fifth Avenue is an environment where wealthy people live; and considering that these children run into …show more content…
Money. Money makes up the American dream, because in America, if you want to be successful in life, that means you have to be wealthy. “This here costs four hundred eighty dollars...But for $480 it don’t make sense” (Para. 12). For most individuals, the American dream is to be financially well balanced money wise; however in a realistic point of view, the achievement of the American dream is often cut off by society’s restrictions and impacts from higher power. Rosie doesn’t understand why the paper weight costs so much money and probably never will because she’s from the lower class. In order to achieve the American dream, you have to be financially wealthy enough to have that much success in your life. “Where we are is who we are...But it don’t necessarily have to be that way, she always adds then waits for somebody to say that poor people have to wake up and demand their share of the pie…” (Para. 44). The American dream is clearly evident in this quote because Mrs. Moore tries to point out to the children that although they are poor, they can try and reach that American dream if they try hard