The Lesson

 

The Lesson is a short story about a group of kids from the same neighborhood on a day trip with there nanny Miss. Moore to New York City for the day. This story has great humor in the dialogue I love how Sylvia has nicknames for everyone in the group. The way its written you can tell how they are southern children who have recently moved north as part of the great migration in history of "Blacks" moving north to get away from the racism of the south and better employment opportunity's. Sylvia expresses in many ways the racism they all faced back during the time the story takes place; civil rights still was not in movement yet and Jim Crowe was the law. Miss Moore is a proud woman of her time and understands knowledge is the best weapon or power to be able to have success in the unfair world they lived in. When Miss. Moore is around the children passing on knowledge to all the kids is her primary goal hence the name of the story is called "The Lesson." 

She brings them to the toy store on 5th Ave. F.A.O. Schwartz to teach the children the value of a dollar and show them how uneven the share of money is in the country at the time. That some families, mostly white, would spend hundreds even thousands of dollars on a toy for a child. Sylvia and the group realize how ridiculous as Sylvia says in the story because Fly Boy points out a sail boat for a $1000. Then her and Sugar have a conversation about the clown Sylvia wants for $35 and sugar expresses how much that $35 dollars could pay for the needs of Sylvia and Sugar from rent to food to clothes. The humor of this story makes it catchy and draws you in so you really pick up on the "lesson" of this piece. Its Important to understand and at the end how Sylvia says " But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin." shows you even though adversity was there biggest obstacle she wasn't going let being treated or considered less than as a option for her to settle for.

The Hills Look Like White Elephants

Ernest Hemingway's short story "The Hills Look Like White Elephants" is a interesting way of a couple talking about the "elephant in the room" meaning a heavy weighted problem that is hard to talk about. The woman is talking about an abortion and how she does not want to do it, the man is pushing her because he feels that is what is best for them. He brushes off most of her emotions or feelings she is expressing and doing everything he can to convince her getting the abortion will make them happy like we used to be as the man says in the story.

It was a little confusing at first to understand what is the couple arguing about. I realized after re-reading what the "elephant in the room" really was. Jig saying over and over the mountains look like white elephants was her saying we need to talk about this decision of getting an abortion. Also to not only talk about it but that it is weighing on her and causing mixed feelings and you can tell through the reading it does not make her happy. The man however bypasses those feelings and I guess it seems he convinces her that they only need each other to be happy not a child. I wish the story continued more after he walk back in from brining there bags to the other side of the tracks because its unclear what Jig makes for a decision.