"The Lesson"

Book Review # 94227

Economics
English > Analysis
Literature > American

"The Lesson"

A discussion on Toni Cade Bambara's book, "The Lesson".

1,500 words () | 0 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes Bambara's work and offers insight into the author's motiviation for writing it. It examines the symbolism present in the story and explains that it also serves to educate about race relations between Blacks. "The Lesson" describes the state of the American economy in the early 70s.

From the Paper:

"America is a place filled with many different people, belonging to many different races, and representing many different cultures. Although everyone is supposedly created equal regardless of these factors, this does not always hold true. Bambara sets out to prove this to her readers. On the surface, Toni Cade Bambara's "The Lesson" appears to be quite simple due to the simplicity of its plot. A group of children are out of school for summer vacation and the neighborhood "do-gooder", also known as Miss Moore, has struck again. She has decided to take them out on a fieldtrip in order to broaden their horizons. Bambara's story can be interpreted as a veiled attempt at social reform. Through subtly showing the ills that plagued society, she served as the catalyst for small-scale social reform. The story also serves to educate about race relations between Blacks. "The Lesson" speaks volumes about the state of the American economy immediately following the Civil Rights Movement."