Discussion Topic
Sylvia and Miss Moore's Relationship and Conflict in "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara
Summary:
In Toni Cade Bambara's "The Lesson," the conflict between Sylvia and Miss Moore centers on socioeconomic awareness and resistance to change. Miss Moore, an educated African American woman, aims to expose neighborhood children to wealth inequality and inspire them to strive for better opportunities. Sylvia, however, views Miss Moore as an outsider threatening her comfort zone and resists her teachings. Despite her defiance, Sylvia ultimately reflects on the lesson, indicating a potential shift in her understanding of societal disparities.
What is the conflict between Sylvia and Miss Moore in The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara?
The nature of the conflict between the two characters is defined by the different perceptions each has of her own reality in contrast with that of the other. Miss Moore clearly means well and wishes to create an awareness within her students of their place in society within a socioeconomic framework and how they can improve their lot. It is clear that she wishes to motivate them and wants to encourage critical thinking so that they may realize the importance of striving for better. Her approach is not condescending since, firstly, she is also African American and it seems as if she may have come from a similar background. She wishes to be an inspiration to her students.
Conversely, though, it is obvious that Sylvia resents Miss Moore and sees her as an imposition. Throughout the story she mocks Miss Moore and persistently denigrates her attempts at teaching them. Sylvia...
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probably sees her teacher as someone who believes that she is better than they and, therefore, dislikes her. Miss Moore has invaded her 'comfort zone.' Sylvia is happy doing the things she has become accustomed to, such as generally just messing around and doing as she wishes. Miss Moore's presence, especially her visits and constant requests to take them on trips, impedes her freedom.
Sylvia is street-smart and has learnt to survive in her environment. She sees Miss Moore as an outsider who is trying to change the status quo which, for Sylvia, is not a good thing, as explained above. She will, therefore, deliberately oppose whatever Miss Moore attempts to do, even if the teacher's actions should be to her and her peers' advantage. It is this perception and attitude that Sylvia adopts throughout the story.
There is also irony in the fact that Miss Moore is clearly focused mostly on Sylvia, a fact not lost on the girl. Miss Moore, for example, asks her to calculate the taxi driver's five percent tip. Sylvia resents the teacher's interest and comments derisively about it. She believes, probably, that Miss Moore wants to put her on the spot and embarrass her. Miss Moore, however, has evidently recognized qualities in Sylvia that she, herself, acknowledges. One of these is, for example, her desire to be the best at whatever she does, epitomized by her declaration at the end, 'But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin.'
It is clear, though, that Sylvia has learnt something and has been affected by Miss Moore's lesson although she, through sheer recalcitrance, refuses to openly and directly admit as much. She does, however, intimate the fact when she states that '... I’m going to the West End and then over to the Drive to think this day through.'
In Toni Cade Bambara's short story "The Lesson," the nature of the conflict between the narrator Sylvia and Miss Moore lies in their understanding of the role that socioeconomic class plays in their lives. Many children in the neighborhood and their families do not accept Miss Moore as "one of them." Miss Moore is obviously educated and the neighbors view her as a threat. Sylvia feels this way also, and as a result she becomes defensive whenever Miss Moore is around. Miss Moore on the other hand wants to teach the children about their situation so that they can strive for something better. During the trip to F. A. O. Schwartz, Miss Moore attempts to teach the children about the realities of socioeconomic class and how it affects their lives. Sylvia is angry when her friend Sugar answers Miss Moore's questions and appears to have learned the lesson for the day. Sylvia, however, cannot quite comprehend the lesson and wants to think about it more later. So, the conflict between Sylvia and Miss Moore lies in the ignorance that surrounds the reality of the divisive nature of socioeconomic class.
Set in 1972, "The Lesson" revolves around a trip to F.A.O. Schwarz, a high-end toy store in the center of downtown Manhattan. The trip there is organized by a college-educated woman, Miss Moore, who has her hair styled naturally in an Afro. Sylvia, the narrator, a smart, aggressive girl from a poor neighborhood, is one of the children Miss Moore takes on the toy store trip, which is meant to sensitize the children to wealth inequality. Sylvia resents Miss Moore because she is different in ways Sylvia has difficulty grappling with (such as the Afro, her education, and her broader experience of society), and because she challenges the complacency of Sylvia's set ideas. Sylvia remembers those times as:
Back in the days when everyone was old and stupid or young and foolish and me and Sugar were the only ones just right.
Sylvia doesn't necessarily want to learn the disturbing lessons that Miss Moore wants to teach her about how unfairly the deck is stacked against her and her classmates, and so she resists Miss Moore. Sylvia has spent her life isolated in her neighborhood and doesn't know what the rest of the world is like. Having one's worldview challenged is always difficult, but Sylvia, despite her resistance, does learn from her outing with Miss Moore.
What lesson does Ms. Moore try to teach Sylvia and is it successful? What is the conflict?
Ms. Moore is trying to show the children from the poor neighborhood that a better life is within their grasp, literally. At first it seems that the lesson is about the cruel reality of the injustice involved with the distribution of wealth. The children cannot fathom the amount of money spent on some of the toys at FAO Schwartz.
However, Sylvia, a ery bright child, understands that Ms. Moore is showing them what could be theirs. She doesn't want to admit that the lesson is valuable because she has her tough girl demeanor to keep up, but she does begin thinking about it. The end of the story leaves the reader with hope that Sylvia may rise above her current situation.
How do Sylvia and Miss Moore compare and contrast in "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara?
In the story "The Lesson" written by American writer Toni Cade Bambara, Sylvia and Miss Moore compare in that both dress nicely when Miss Moore takes the neighborhood children out on an excursion. Miss Moore always dresses nice; Sylvia dresses nice because her parent’s make sure she looks respectable for her meetings with Miss Moore.
Sylvia and Miss Moore also compare in that both do have strong personalities in their own way. Miss Moore is more forthright in what she does. She plans, announces, and dictates to the children what an excursion will entail and when it will be. Sylvia’s personality is strong when it comes to her opinions of others, especially Miss Moore in this story.
However, she mutes her strong opinion sometimes so as to not rock the boat with Miss Moore. Nonetheless, Sylvia has a dynamic personality as evidenced by her stepping on the toes of Sugar to keep her quiet so she doesn’t get into too deep of a conversation with Miss Moore. As well, Miss Moore’s dynamic personality is in her ardour to educate and present new experiences to the children.
In “The Lesson”, Sylvia and Miss Moore contrast in that only one of these two uses a first name. Miss Moore’s first name is never known in this story in contrast to Sylvia’s name. In addition, Miss Moore is presented as prim and proper, with ‘nappy hair and proper speech.’ This is in direct contrast to Sylvia who speaks a slangy dialect. Furthermore, it is apparent that Miss Moore wears no makeup, while Sylvia and her cousin Sugar slap on lipstick for forays into town.
Sylvia hates Miss Moore’s college degree. The contrast here is that Miss Moore cherishes her college degree. She feels it is her duty to teach and educate Sylvia and her cousin to give them a better chance at success in the future. Moreover, there is contrast in that Sylvia has trouble with math and can’t ascertain what the tip should be to the cab driver, while Miss Moore is adept at math and seeks to educate Sylvia and others in this discipline. Also, Sylvia never really talks directly to Miss Moore, who in contrast always speaks directly to Sylvia and the others, for example concerning their experience at the F.A.O. Schwarz store.