Rags and Riches "The Lesson," by Bambara

"The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara is a lesson on social class and presents the choice of which society we choose to live in. It examines the realization of economic inequity within America. Bambara creates Ms. Moore, the antagonist, who strives to teach the children what their life could be like. With their consent and desire to achieve, their eyes could be opened to the oppression of the world. Bambara creates a host of characters. …

…not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough, don't it?" (368) in which Ms. Moore could not be more pleased. Sugar shows her that she has an understanding of the truth-seeking lesson that she has presented to them. The importance in life is to appreciate the things that you possess and to continue assigning greater values to items that most take for granted.