Symbolism in The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara - Essay Example

 Symbolism in The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara The ‘Lesson’ is a factious short story by Toni Cade Bambara written in 1972. The piece of work depicts the life of a young and poor black girl born in Harlem and their journey to FAO Schwartz in Manhattan with her colleagues from Harlem courtesy of one educated young woman, Miss Moore. The children are in for many lessons as the life of the white children they find depicts a different class. The children develop different perceptions towards their new environment therefore many lessons emerge from the narrative. Symbolism is used in literary work to add a deeper insight to the meaning. The author has been very keen to use symbolism in expressing the disparity and the social as well as economic stratification depicted throughout the story. Symbolism is evident from the begging to the end of the narration. The title of the narration acts as the first symbol used by the author to bring out his point. ‘The Lesson” is a symbol of lessons learnt by the characters in the narrative. Miss Moore, a graduate learnt about the situation in their home area and desired to make a change by taking young children for a learning spree to F.A.O. Schwarz. On their way, she utilizes every opportunity to talk to the children concerning money, she desired they know what money is, how to get it and how to spend it (Bambara 136). While at F.A.O. Schwarz, there is a great deal of amusement by the kids when they realize the high cost of toys. From their background it made no sense for a person to spend so much on toys. While trying to teach the children about how money is spent, Sylvia takes it personally as an insult. All these lessons are drawn from the experiences by the characters in ‘The Lesson’. Miss Moore, the woman who desires others to learn is symbolic. She seems to desire more, being the only graduate in her neighborhood depicts her thirst for knowledge, she wants more. She doesn’t stop there, her step to take the children from her neighborhood to a distant land clearly demonstrates that she wants them to learn and experience more. Her title itself carries a lot of meaning, the fact that we are not aware whether she is married or not does not limit her ambitious and independence. This demonstrates that she is a person who is not defined by her marital status. The children are exposed to the life in F.A.O. Schwarz where there is more that is learnt concerning the social life as well as the economic status of other people in the world (Cartwright 143). Realization of these facts agitates the narrator and is upset with Miss Moore for exposing them to such socio-economic stratification. The use of F.A.O. Schwarz, an expensive toy shop for the upper class is very symbolic. Miss Moore is specific on the toy shop because she was pretty aware that that I what would capture the attention of the children. They would attempt to desire the toys inside the Manhattan-based shop but the cost was meant to discourage them. The children would then go back with a desire to know how comes other people in the society can afford such expensive toys. The visit to the shop also demonstrates to the children that inequality is brought about by socio-economic difference (Heller 287). This would be the best lesson for the children to realize that they have the freedom to enter such shops but what will keep them from buying is the economic their status. Symbolically she talks to the children about money on their way to F.A.O. Schwarz. The exposure and the insight gained by the children were overwhelming. This is symbolic of the ignorance exhibited in many places across the world where individuals never move out of their locality to see the world and its diversity. Such experiences are vital to personal growth and development. Sylvia had the wrong picture of what a paperweight was when she saw it outside the store, while the rest of the children had no slightest hint of its use and the $480 price (Bambara 110). When Miss Moore explains the use of the paperweight used by children to weigh papers down to ensure tidiness in a desk, Junebug, expresses her lack of desk. This depicts the major differences that there exists between the life of the rich and the poor, uneducated and socially alienated society in Harlem. Sugar is another symbolic character. She is Sylvia’s best friend and the fastest learner of the lessons brought forth by Miss Moore (Cartwright 145).. She seems close to the defiant member of the team, Sylvia. Sugar represents some kind of sweetness just the common sugar we use in our homesteads for sweetening our drinks and food. Sylvia contradicts Sugar’s character by being upset with the realization of the disparity between them and the rich kinds who come shopping at F.A.O. Schwarz. On the other hand, Sugar is very swift to pick on the lessons learnt and is very responsive and positive minded. She is able to ‘dissolve’ and embrace a new situation. Some incidences have been used symbolically to bring out the varied attitudes between the rich and the uneducated poor. Sylvia and her colleagues don’t see any sense in giving some tip to a taxi driver. They plot to steal the amount (Heller 290).. This depicts the attitude among the poor that an individual cannot be paid by their employer and still get a tip from the customers, to them this is illogical. Such mindset is demonstrated by the kids desire to go and terrorize the West Indian kids taking away their hair ribbons as well as their money (Bambara 122). This explains the notion among the kids that the strongest person should be the one in possession. The presentation of thoughts in symbols to almost every deed, place, person and event adds massive meaning to this well narrated masterpiece. The author pays a keen attention to every detail of the narrative being very careful to use a symbolic meaning. Symbolism has enhanced the story to create a deeper meaning and a more realistic approach. Works Cited Bambara, Toni. “The Lesson”. Literature: Reading and Writing the Human Experience. Shorter 7th ed. Ed. Richard Abacian and Marvin Koltz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2000. Cartwright, Jerome. "Bambara's The Lesson. (Toni Cade Bambara)." The Explicator 3 (1989): 61. Academic OneFile. Web. 31 Oct. 2013. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?vid=3&sid=6cc8349d-a26a-4704-8816-a16ef8179a14%40sessionmgr113&hid=101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.7705179 Heller, Janet Ruth. Toni Cade Bambura’s Use of African AmericanVernacular English in The Lesson. Style. 2003. 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