The True Lesson

Some people take for granted what others could never have. The poor and the wealthy are in two completely different worlds. Those in poverty cherish every single penny, hoping loose change will add up to the cost of their next meal. On the other hand, affluent people indulge themselves often, usually buying things that are unnecessary. The middle class is the only group of people that could possibly begin to understand the lives of these opposing people. The middle class understands what it's like not being able to afford something, or always having to save money. They also know what it's like to have a couple splurges in life. Now, if only those at the very top of the mountain could take a look at those at the bottom and help them, and those at the bottom could find the motivation to climb to the top.

In "The Lesson", by Toni Cade Bambara, Miss Moore hopes to instill some determination into the kids. She brings them to Fifth Avenue- home of the high-end stores- and the children are eager to look around. They see many items they would love to have, but one look at the price tag both shocks and confuses them. Why would anyone ever buy a toy sailboat for over $1000? This, in my opinion, is exactly Miss Moore's point. There are so many items that the children want but can't afford, so the only option is to work harder and earn a position that allows such indulgences. Silvia, the narrator of the story, is visibly angered by the trip, but she misunderstands the purpose of it. She thinks that Miss Moore brought them there to remind them of their impoverished states. However, the purpose was more likely to give them a drive to climb up the social ladder.