First Essay for English Comp 2 - Thematic Analysis

Okay, I know I still owe you a copy of my hate language essay, and as soon as I locate it I WILL post...but this one I wrote in about an hour and 20 minutes and I'm particularly proud of it. If you'd like to read the short story that it is based upon, you can check it out at the link below:

http://cai.ucdavis.edu/gender/thelesson.html (you'll have to copy and paste to your browser - apparently blogspot add links isn't working properly at this time!)

Enjoy:


Thematic Analysis of Toni Cade Bambara’s The Lesson

In her short story, The Lesson, Toni Cade Bambara explores the theme of innocence versus experience through the eyes of a group of adolescents from the ghetto. These kids are introduced to the world outside of their neighborhood by a woman, Miss Moore, whom we learn is a college educated, proper speaking, black woman who has taken “responsibility for the young ones’ education” (Bambara 1.) Bambara takes the theme even deeper in relating how ignorance of one’s circumstances is a sort of innocence, to be broken by the experience of becoming aware of them. This theme is further articulated by Bambara’s concealment of the name of the main character until later in the story, as this awareness begins to creep in to Sylvia’s consciousness even as she vehemently attempts to deny it.

Early in the story we are introduced to the contempt the youth have for Miss Moore by the way in which Sylvia describes her. It becomes apparent that the youths view her as an impediment to their enjoyment of their surroundings, as plays out in Sylvia’s description of their hatred for her, “And we kinda hated her too, hated the way we did the winos who cluttered up our parks and pissed on our handball walls and stank up our hallways and stairs so you couldn’t’ halfway play hide-and-seek without a goddamn gas mask.” (Bambara 1) We can see that this group of kids is interested only in their own self-gratification. They are resentful that this woman has come into their lives and is attempting to “educate” them, especially since school is out and they have better things in mind to occupy their time.

Miss Moore’s “lesson” on this particular day takes this group out of the comfort of their home territory. They are taken by taxi to the city to visit the FAO Schwarz in Manhattan. They are made aware of just how out of place they are by the instantaneous exposure to ladies in stockings and “One lady in a fur coat, hot as it is. White folks crazy.” (Bambara 4) In addition, they are confronted by the reality of their socio-economic positions in life when they begin to look at the wares offered in the windows and in the displays of the store. At one point the characters describe the difference between the prices of a “handcrafted sailboat of fiberglass at one thousand one hundred ninety-five dollars” (Bambara 25), with a sailboat set they can buy at the local bodega for about fifty cents. Although Sylvia wants desperately to know what a real boat would costs, she won’t give Miss Moore the satisfaction of asking her directly, demonstrating her resistance to being removed from her provincial bubble.

As the story continues Miss Moore describes what a paperweight is used for and we realize that there are differing levels of socio-economic position even amongst these poor kids from the ghetto. She questions where her “pupils” do their homework to which she gets varying responses. Junebug explains that he doesn’t have a desk. Big Butt says he doesn’t have homework and Flyboy professes to not have a home at all. Mercedes, we learn, not only has a desk but has scented stationary that she received as a gift from her godmother. (Bambara 15) In attempting to reach these “students” to help broaden their horizons Miss Moore is continually confronted with a cultural mindset of accepting mediocrity. When Sylvia realizes that all of the items in the store are so far out of the realm of anything they will ever have as long as they remain in their mediocre, ghetto dwelling lives she becomes angered. We see that she is becoming aware of her circumstances. It is at this time that Bambara finally gives her a name.

Even as Sugar attempts to engage Miss Moore regarding the lesson of the day we see Sylvia beating a hasty retreat back to her provincial bubble. Then she realizes that she can’t close that box again once it has been opened and she becomes even angrier with both Sugar, for wanting to engage this new awareness, and Miss Moore, for perpetrating this heinous act upon their innocent minds. Bambara’s theme is once again reiterated in the notion that some of the best lessons in life are learned not from the classroom, but from experiences, experiences that both enrich us, and rob us of our innocence.

How Come?

in TV and in the movies, law enforcement people always reach in their pocket and retrieve just one single business card at a time...and always with just two fingers? How cool do you have to be to only carry one business card at a time and never in a card holder?

I'm supposed to be writing my first essay for Engl Comp 2 on Toni Cade Bambara's short story, "The Lesson". It's supposed to be a thematic analysis based around the general theme of innocence vs experience. The idea is that we somehow relate this to the idea of economic disparity between the population that lived in teh projects of the Bronx vs the Manhattenites in the late 60's. Also the theme needs to relate to the notion that education can be a bridge to cross that casm dividing the haves from the have-nots.


But what I really want to write about is the sub-theme of delusional satisfaction vs reality dissatisfaction. I want to analyze the very substance of how humans are wont to shoot the messenger, especially when said messenger is the one that throws a monkey wrench in what is otherwise our blissful denial of what is seriously dysfunctional in our lives. The lynching of the wool puller, so to speak. I think that would be a far more relevant analysis.

But I know this professor well enough to know that if I vary too far from what he is looking for he won't even give me a fair evaluation, so I guess, for this one time, I will play by the rules, however distasteful that may be...sigh...

Tired, Tired, Tired

I'm so tired! I have to take these student success seminars for an extra 10 points toward my econ class...so the first one was time management. We had to do this exercise where we calculate the amount of time we spend on each of our daily tasks to determine how much time we have to study. According to what I proposed, I wanted to study approx 14 to 15 hours per week. All things accounted for, I have approx 17 hours avail. That means that sleep and everything else accounted for, if I put in my proposed hours of study each week, I end up with 2 hours of free time - total...ugh!

The up side of being this busy and tired all the time is that I hardly notice that my bff has abandoned me for some as of yet unknown infraction on my part, nor do I have time to think about my situation with the house, nor do I have the time to experience empty nest syndrome. Which is all a good thing, cuz mostly I'm just sad about my work situation...apparently I am a little too "me" for some of the clientele. Once again, it is up to me to adjust to make everyone comfortable...Someday, when I win the lottery, or marry an uber rich man on his way to his funeral, or some such other extremely feasible means of becoming independently wealthy, I am soooo not going to miss all this petty BS!

New Year, New Decade, New Outlook

So 2010 is looking an awful lot like 2009. And let's all agree that 2009 was just awful!

So what can be done about it?

I wake up every day and think to myself...self, this is the day we are going to be wowed by humanity and our faith will be restored! And sadly, every night I put my head on the pillow and pray, "Please God, let me say good bye to today and may tomorrow be better."

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I don't experience blessings every day. Some small, some subtle, some may go unnoticed and for that I am truly sorry.

But really, folks...How much yuck is one person supposed to take?

Well, at least now I am back in school. That should keep me busy enough to keep my mind off of the rest of the yuck.

Soon I will be moving out of my home...and I still haven't decided what to do about that. I have options, which is a blessing many folks don't have. And I am very appreciative of that, even if I don't always express that.

I suppose I need to get around to finishing up the packing. I've been cracking at it a little at a time. I suppose the procrastination is my way of avoiding the inevitable. I know it won't work, but hey, I'm human.

Well, it's late and I have an early morning meeting.

I leave with this prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, please look after my children. Guide their actions and decisions along a path that will find them safe and protect them with Your Holy Spirit. Give them the strength to face the challenges of each new day. Help them to see Your ways. Protect my friends and family and co-workers. Give peace to those who are troubled. Heal those that are sick. And may we all delight in your will and walk in your ways. Amen

Y2K 10 year anniversary

I must admit, it didn't occur to me until this afternoon that this Friday marks 10 years since the big Y2K panic. Reflecting back, it has been an exhausting 10 years. My life is in such a different place from where I thought I'd be 10 years later on.

I recall the absolutely unfounded panic. The mission of my old unit. The grueling night shifts at DuPont. The exasperatingly long hours of home schooling! I was really busy back then. I thought I'd never be able to continue on at that pace, then proceeded to throw my hat in the ring for even more arduous tasks as the years cranked on.

Now, here I sit looking at the last five days of this year, this decade and I can't believe it's all gone! All of the goals I had hoped to achieve. The relationships that have come and gone. The friends new and old that have been made and kept, and some that have been left to go. The loved ones I have lost.

Well, even without the impending doom of the end of the world (at least not for another few years according to the Mayans anyway) I am a little fore lorn looking at
the passing of another year. This has been a bittersweet year. I reconciled with my sister, only to lose her. Learned to open my heart again, only to have it crushed, Watched my baby pass from HS to college, only to have him lose his mind (as is wont to happen to young people of his age!)

And so, off to Vegas I go to ring in the new year. I hope if nothing else, I am able to just let go of all the sadness and pain and move on into the new year with a fresh perspective. And who knows, maybe I'll come back a big winner. Lord knows I deserve a little something good to come my way. I mean, really, Mr. Man Upstairs, I've certainly surpassed all expectations! I've taken more than my share. I'm ready to move up and move on...come on next stage!

some much needed R & R

So I'm off of school for a few weeks and as of Wed will be off of work for a week and a half and next week my super awesome uncle is flying me to Vegas for New Years Eve. I am so looking forward to this. I feel like I have lost so much this year, I think I really really deserve some fun time.

Let's review:



I lost the job that told me who I was. I am in the process of losing my house. I lost my sister to Cancer, (but at least was able to reconcile with here first) but in the process, lost my family to petty BS. My 18 year old has decided he doesn't want to play by the rules anymore so I am losing him.

It's been a sucky ass year for me!

But here are the things I am thankful for (with caveats):

I got my sister back, if only for a brief moment in time (see above)
I got my bestest cousin back after 30 years (and I'm so glad to find out she's just as crazy/wonderful as me!)
I have my health (although this kick class is making me feel my age some days!)
I learned how to fall in love again (even if it was fleeting)
I have a wonderfully loving BFF who supports the hell out of me, even when I'm an asshole (even though she's a really bad influence on me and plies me with wine right before kick class!)
My BFFs children love the hell out of me, even when I tell them I have nothing for them for Xmas (and then I took them to see a movie instead, with pop and popcorn!)
I have wonderful friends who are more precious to me than any family member ever tried to be. (and I'm so glad they are all crazy/wonderful like me!)
I have two wonderfully fantastic friends who were friends of my mom's who have done more for me than they will ever know. (I feel like they have helped me get to know the woman that she was since I lost her before we got that far)
My crappy job has some fantastic perks (Pistons Suits, after hours events with drinking, hob-knobbing with impotant peeps)
The crazy Canadian Governor with the really big facial mole is paying for me to get an education so I can finally get the recognition for the skill levels I have. (even though I will never be able to find a good paying job once I get said degree!)
I was paid by DuPont long enough to have the money to buy a new car when my van finally crapped out on me. (I miss the van, but I love my little clown car!)
And last but definitely not least, I am loved by God. (though why I sometimes can't understand!)

So for now I'll cry in my wine and maybe spend a few days in bed, and then when I'm over that, I'll pack my bags and go to Vegas, where maybe I'll find a husband! Stranger things have happened!

Peace be to you during this crazy, frantic, mixed up time of the year that is supposed to be about the Savior and NOT about the savings!