Hayley Rathburn’s Blog

After reading Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson”, it is clear to me that the main character Sylvia is a static character. At no point in the story does she change herself, her way of thinking, or the way she acts. For instance, the first sentence says, “Back in the days when everyone was old and stupid or young and foolish, and me and Sugar were the only ones just right…” So, this makes it clear to the reader that she’s a strong, opinionative person that believes she is always right. This is the way she acts for the entire story. In fact, it ends with her same stubborn, hard-headed attitude. “We start down the block and she gets ahead which is O.K. by me cause I’m going to the West End and then over to the Drive to think this day through. She can run if she want to and even run faster. But aint’ nobody gonna beat me at nuthin” (pg. 202). The author keeps her in this strong-willed mindset throughout the entire story. So, she is not a dynamic character, but a static one.