Previous

In "The Lesson," Sylvia's first-person narration helps to build her character as much as anything she says or does. While she doesn’t speak much to race other than to describe Miss Moore as being dark-skinned, Sylvia’s use of AAVE (African American Vernacular English) suggests she grew up and lives in a predominantly Black community. Her dialect contrasts with the way Miss Moore speaks, which Sylvia describes as “proper,” and supports Sylvia’s characterization of Miss Moore as an outsider within their community. That readers view Miss Moore through the lens of Sylvia’s perspective helps highlight the different ways Miss Moore doesn’t quite fit in—she dresses up when she doesn’t have to, she doesn’t wear makeup, she has a college degree, she doesn’t permit the children the familiarity of her first name, and she wears her hair in natural curls. Though Sylvia doesn’t expand upon these points, the fact that they are used to explain why the neighborhood largely mocks Miss Moore helps identify what the prevailing expectations are for a Black adult woman.

With the first-person narration comes the immediacy of Sylvia’s thoughts and feelings, and Bambara uses this to trace Sylvia’s growing awareness of the inequalities of the world. Because of the skepticism with which she views Miss Moore, and the way she comes across as patronizing to Sylvia, Sylvia is reluctant to allow this newcomer to teach her anything, and even more reluctant to admit Miss Moore has given her something to think about. In the end, Miss Moore’s “proper” speech, which Sylvia indicates is at odds with the way they would expect her to speak, suggests that Miss Moore’s very character serves as a means of bridging a gap between worlds, and that this, paradoxically, is what alienates her from her intended audience, making such a connection tricky.

Previous section Setting

Take a Study Break