The Lesson Essay

“The Lesson” is told by a character named Sylvia. She lives in Harlem, New York and it seems to be around the 1960’s to the 1970’s. Sylvia is a spunky outspoken kid, and as time passes by throughout the story she becomes a more reserved child. Sylvia learns a lesson and by her leaning this lesson it changes her attitude and outlook on life. We learn from Sylvia’s speech the type of environment that she lives in and what her outlook on life is.
The story seems to take place around summer time. Therefore, we know that Sylvia is on summer vacation. The park as described by Sylvia is full of alcoholic bums. During the summer she spends time at the pool, park, and other miscellaneous activities. The area in which Sylvia stays seems to be invested with drugs, alcohol, and unpleasant individuals. Sylvia seems to be located in the projects of Harlem.
Sylvia has a cousin by the name of sugar and they very close much like best friends. They also have a neighbor by the name of Miss Moore, and Sylvia does not take well to Miss Moore at first. However, with time Miss Moore teaches Sylvia some valuable lessons, and the way in which she bring these lesson about is through everyday situations or questions that
She truly understands the lesson, and this knowledge creates an epiphany in her. She learns the lesson of class inequality and unfairness in spite of herself. In the beginning, Sylvia considers Ms. Moore an enemy. She exists to interfere with her summer days by providing free "lessons" to the neighborhood children. Sylvia says that when Ms. Moore came around... And our parents would yank our heads into some kinda shape and crisp up our clothes so we'd be presentable for travel with Miss Moore, who always looked like she was going to church though she never did. Sylvia resents having to dress up to go with a woman that she did not like. However, her resentment does not extend beyond having to miss a childhood day in the