Toni Cade Bambara The Lesson Essay

Not all lessons we learn in our life are easy ones, however, they are all important. In the story, “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, several children on summer break meet with a lady named Miss Moore who takes them on field trips to give them life lessons. On one of these days, the children go to FAO Schwartz, an exclusive toy store, in one of the richest parts of New York City. The children have never seen toys like the toys in the window and they definitely have never seen price tags that high. Although the children didn’t enjoy going on this trip with Miss Moore, they discover for themselves the differences between the rich and the poor.

The children begin their day in front of a mailbox, awaiting Miss Moore’s lesson. Miss Moore thinks that, “she should take responsibility for the young ones’ education”, (160) because she is the only person in the …show more content…
To everyone’s surprise, Sugar responds to Miss Moore with an unexpected comment, “I don’t think all of us here put together eat in a year what that sailboat costs.”. (165) This is the sad truth and Miss Moore lights up because she realizes that she made an impression on these kids. Sugar goes on to say, “this is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough, don’t it?”. (165) Miss Moore’s lesson was intended to show these children what it’s like in other parts of the city and how unequally divided money is, and Sylvia and Sugar have realized that now. Although Sylvia doesn’t say that she has taken away anything from this lesson, readers can see that she has when she says she has to “think this day through.”. (165) Sugar moves on from the lesson and attempts to race Sylvia to the store, but Sylvia hangs back to think and says, “She can run if she want to and even run faster. But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin.”

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