Character Analysis: The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara

Every story has a main character that introduces change called the protagonist. In the short story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, it is made clear that Sylvia is the protagonist. Not every story has an antagonist, a character with views that stand in opposition of the main character of the story, but in “The Lesson” Miss Moore can be clearly seen filling that position. Throughout the story both Sylvia’s and Miss Moore’s conflicting ideals passively clash on several occasions revealing their individual complexities. Miss Moore is the most complex of the two.
Miss Moore is the most complex character because she has an unknown background. No one knows where Miss Moore is from. She just suddenly appears, “this lady moved on our block with nappy hair and proper speech and no makeup”.
The ways she carries herself demands respect. The guardians of the children were too embarrassed to ask any questions so they just took Miss Moore word for it, “She’d been to college and said it was only right that she should take responsibility for the young ones’ education”. Miss Moore seems to feel obligated to help prepare the children for their future by making them aware of the world around them. Miss Moore doesn’t pressure the kids she allows the realization to come naturally. She seems to put their education above her own personal career.
Finally, Ms. Moore doesn’t seem to have a job in “The Lesson”. She doesn’t seem to have a regular job producing income, but still seems to have enough money to take the children on trips and pay for cab fare. It is rare to see a person put others over themselves and that is the type of person Miss Moore seems to be. Miss Moore sacrifices a lot of time on the children preparing them for their future. She never looks for anything in return from the parents and just wants the children to learn. That caring personality adds to her