In the short story "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara, it follows Sylvia and her group of friends as they explore a new world. Sylvia and her friends are guided by the cultured and successful Miss Moore from the slums of their predominantly African-American neighborhood to the upscale Fifth Avenue. From the beginning of the story, Sylvia's internal narrative expresses the fact that she has no desire to heed Miss Moore's efforts to educate her or her friends. At the end of the story, Miss Moore wonders if Sylvia has gained any knowledge since their outing. Although Miss Moore tells Sylvia that the topic of the day is money, there are some critics who think the real underlying lesson is deeper. For example, Nancy Hargrove believes the lesson is to expose children to the world of economic injustice. However, there are critics like Jerome Cartwright who argue that most readers don't see the bigger picture. Melanie Marotta provides analysis and perspective on how Toni Cade Bambara's story unfolds and the true message it contains. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Each critic brings new assessments and alternative viewpoints to the interpretation of the dynamic relationship between Sylvia's refusal to learn and Miss Moore's desire to teach. Throughout Nancy Hargrove's critique, "Youth in Toni Cade Bambara's Gorilla, My Love," the author believes that the central conflict in the story is between the rich people of Fifth Avenue and the poor community in which Sylvia lives. The author proposes that Sylvia's experience causes the illusion of her reality to shatter once she notices the difference between the society she comes from and the rich one she visits. Hargrove insists that the lesson Miss Moore wants to teach Sylvia is the economic inequality she faces. Sylvia, who was fearless at the beginning of the story, shows resistance by hesitating to lead the group into the toy store that intimidates her. The critic believes that this is the moment when “Sylvia's shame arises from her sense of inferiority of not belonging in such an expensive store, communicated indirectly and subtly by her comparison of the children's chaotic entrance to “a glued-together jigsaw puzzle and done it all wrong." '. At the end of the story, when the group returns home, Miss Moore asks the group what they learned. The critic believes that Sylvia's reluctance to share what she has learned is her way of "protecting herself against further pain and humiliation." Sharing what she has learned means that Sylvia should recognize “the injustice, inferiority and imperfection of her world”. Because of this assessment made by the critic it was obvious that Sylvia had gained knowledge from her enemy, Miss Moore. "Bambara's 'The Lesson'" by Jerome Cartwright is a critic who believes that other critics completely misinterpret the story. Cartwright disputes Hargrove's suggestion that the story is about social injustice, rather he believes the lesson to be learned is "the value of lessons and thought". The critic believes that the driving force of the story is the power struggle between Sylvia and Miss Moore. Throughout Bambara's story, Sylvia internalizes her dislike of Miss Moore despite Moore's repeated kindness. Throughout the story, Miss Moore takes advantage of every concept falsely stated by the children, taking advantage of that moment to provide correct information. Interacting with children, asking them questions and letting them explore their ability to think critically opens the door to learning for them. The only thing the critic does not completely object toregarding Hargrove's assessment is that Sylvia is disappointed by the end of the story. It is Cartwright's belief, in addition to Hargrove's assessment, that Sylvia is also given a new understanding of the depth of her reality. The author thinks, due to the destruction of her veil of disappointment and her new knowledge, that Sylvia is inspired by a “promised hope” of being able to escape the clutches of poverty. Hargrove's belief that history can resume due to the conflict between rich and poor, Cartwright thinks differently. In Melanie Marotta's analysis, "The lessons female protagonists learn and transform their identities in "My Man Bovanne," "Gorilla, My Love," "Raymond's Run," and "The Lesson" from Toni's Gorilla, My Love Cade Bambara. ' insists that Sylvia undergoes three periods of personal evolution. The critic explains that Sylvia's first life begins while they wait for transportation to their destination. During this period the author points out that in the first life Sylvia feels for the first time talking about the meaning of money and the more money you get determines your rank in society. Once she arrives at her destination, Sylvia sees that the objects in the shop windows they are looking at exceed more than she can comprehend it has a display with the price and Miss Moore tells Sylvia to enter the story to investigate. At this point in the story the critic explains the approach of Sylvia's second life, while she internally recounts her hesitation to enter the shop. Marotta believes that at this moment Sylvia's "trust dissolves due to the knowledge of money and position." Sylvia's third life begins in the shop after she enters. The critic believes that the anger Sylvia describes towards Sugar and Miss Moore is due to her own “realization that the social hierarchy is directed by monetary means” (Marotta). The critic states that “the knowledge that Miss Moore offers children takes them away from the isolation of their neighborhood and their classroom, making them aware of the possibility of a different future”. This belief parallels Cartwright's belief of "promised hope." Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara is compelling and timeless. Marotta and Cartwright both recognize that Miss Moore's purpose is to educate Sylvia and the other children by showing them a part of society that they naively ignored existed. While Hargrove had valid criticisms, he focused primarily on the conflict between rich and poor. In Hargrove's critique, there is a lot of emphasis on the social and economic inequality that exists, which Sylvia ultimately acknowledges. Cartwright and Marotta both address the importance of the knowledge bestowed on Sylvia by Miss Moore. With this awareness Sylvia can strive to reposition her place in society. Marotta summarizes Miss Moore's significant lesson that Sylvia can reposition her status in the social hierarchy through the power of knowledge. With the knowledge gained from the experience provided by Miss Moore, Sylvia can protect herself from the social and economic constructs that have been imposed on her throughout her life. Works Cited Bambara, T. C. (1992). Gorilla, my love. Vintage books.Cartwright, J. (1982). "The lesson" by Bambara. Explainer, 40(1), 56-58.Duvall, J. (2015). Critical companion to Toni Cade Bambara: a literary reference to his life and work. Infobase Publishing.Gwin, M. (1995). “What do you mean we?” Gender, race and resistance in "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara. African American Journal, 29(2), 165-174. https://doi.org/10.2307/3042249Hargrove, N. (1990). Youth in Gorilla, my love by Toni Cade/215911491.