The Lesson

How is the use of symbols represented in the short story "The Lesson?"

Symbols are often use in stories to portray more of a literal meaning. Conventional, literary, and allegory are examples of the different types of symbolism. Symbols can be displayed in many different ways. People, objects, and events are just a few of the ways. Throughout the short story, "The Lesson," Toni Cade Bambara uses symbolism in many areas.

The title, "The Lesson," is one symbol that Bambara uses. Miss. Moore, the teacher with a college degree, takes the kids on a trip to F.A.O. Schwarz. Throughout their trip, Miss. Moore is constantly talking to them about money. Bambara writes, "And Miss Moore asking us do we know what money is, like we bunch of retards" (Bambara 136).

Throughout the story, Miss Moore is trying to teach the kids a lesson. The kids become shocked when they see the cost of many of the toys. They do not understand how anyone can spend that much money on a toy.

Miss Moore attempts to teach the children about the difference of how some people spend money. Sylvia feels insulted and thinks Miss Moore is calling them "retards" when she asks the group do they know what money is. The first lesson is to figure out how much of a tip they are suppose to leave the cab driver. Sylvia wants to keep the money and jump out of the cab and spend the money on some barbecue . Theft seems to be a common feature within the group. Later, when they are at the store, Sugar asks "can we steal" (308).

Both of these things lead back to the title of the story where Miss Moore is trying to teach the kids a lesson that will one day be important in their life.

The language of the story lets the reader know what kind of neighborhood in which "The Lesson" is taking place. Bambara does not explain what kind of neighborhood this is but the reader is able to get an image of it through the language. "And the starch in my pinafore scratching the shit outta me and I'm really hating this nappy-headed bitch and her goddamn college degree" (Bambara 136). This sentence gives the image that this is a poor, low class neighborhood. The reader is able to identify that this is not a high-class place, but one possibly in the slums. The language is symbolic because it represents the area of the city that the story is taking place. It also lets the reader know what kinds of characters are being presented.

Bambara also uses the character names in "The Lesson" to symbolize what kind of character they will be. One character that she names is Fat Butt. From the name, the reader knows right away that this will be a fat kid who probably eats a lot. Bambara supports this by writing, "Fat Butt was already wasting his peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich like the pig he is" (Bambara 136).

Another name that is symbolic is Mercedes. When someone thinks of a Mercedes, they think of someone being wealthy. Mercedes says, "I do. I have a box of stationary on my desk and a picture of my cat, My godmother bought the stationary and desk. There's a big rose on each sheet and the envelopes smell like roses." All of the kids had replied that had no desk, but Mercedes did. She had a godmother who had bought it for her. By Mercedes saying this, the reader knows that she is from a family who has more money. Also Mercedes takes charge when heading into the toy story. This is a symbol because people who tend to have the most money appear to take charge