How did Sylvia change after the lesson by Miss Moore?

In the beginning of Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “The Lesson,” Sylvia is an irreverent, pre-adolescent who is the product of her environment. Her use of colloquialisms and uncouth actions define her personality traits. In her opinion, at the time Miss Moore moved to the neighborhood, she and Sugar were the only ones who were “perfect.” In her eyes, everyone else is flawed, which makes them laughable. She lives in a section of Harlem where many of the people are related. There is little aspiration for a different life, and Sylvia sees no point in changing things.

The parents are happy to release their children to Miss Moore for summer lessons. Miss Moore is educated and worldly in comparison to the others in the neighborhood. Sylvia does not want to be bothered with Miss Moore’s summer lessons and unwillingly participates in the short field trip to Manhattan. Although it is a quick taxi ride to Manhattan, it is a world away from Sylvia’s neighborhood. Miss Moore is wise enough to let the children learn life’s lessons independently when she takes them to the upscale toy store F.A.O. Schwartz.

After Sylvia’s visit to Manhattan and F.A.O. Schwartz, she is introspective. Her cousin is happy to be back in their neighborhood. She challenges Sylvia to race to the store for treats, but Sylvia says Sugar can run ahead because she needs to be alone to ponder the events of the day. Realizing that there is more to life, she says that she will not be beaten down by anything.