The last lesson teaches important lesson …

The theme of 'The Last Lesson' revolves around the question of linguistic and cultural dominion of the colonial powers and their hunger for controlling the world. The story highlights the efforts of the victors to crush the vanquished in every possible manner.  Through it we come face to face with the question of immorality of imposing imperial languages and cultures on the colonies. The child, Franz questions the fact that when birds and animals cannot be forced to abandon their language for some other, then how prudent is it for man to force other human beings to speak some other tongue abandoning their own. Language is not just a medium of communication for its people but is also an identity for them, and taking it away from them becomes the harshest punishment for them. 'The Last Lesson' also has a sub-theme of the kind of attitudes that students and teachers have towards learning and teaching. It throws light on how proper equation between students and their teacher, the teacher’s focused attention, helpful and encouraging attitude and kind treatment can encourage students to learn better.