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What is the theme of the story "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara? "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara.
TOPIC: THE STORIES OF BAMBARA
Asked on September 12, 2010 at 8:11 AM by christiangirl225
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cetaylorplfd | High School Teacher | (Level 3) Senior Educator
Posted on September 18, 2010 at 9:42 PM (Answer #1)
The theme of Bambara's "The Lesson" has to do with the unfairness of socioeconomic status under which the children suffer. In the story, Miss Moore takes the children to F. A. O. Schwartz to show the children how expensive the toys are there. The children cannot believe that people have enough money to pay for such luxuries. They are also surprised by the social etiquette that they must use while at the store. The children feel very out of place because they are not in their element. They start to connect their feelings to the realities of others who live lives in varying states of poverty. Miss Moore subtley tells the children that it is possible for them to rise above the conditions of their community so that one day they can work to correct the inequalities in the world. Although this message is not fully realized by the children, they do start to consider Miss Moore's lesson, and the story ends with the hope that this message will continue to resonate with the children.