Struggles within the Younger family in the play A Raisin in the Sun

1183 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: essay for a raisin in the sun by lorraine hansberry

Struggles within the Younger family in the play A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin In The Sun

Rolling in the Dust

“Oh- so now it’s life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to

be life- now it’s money. I guess the world really do change…” (74).

This quote reveals the economic struggles within the Younger family in

the play A Raisin in the Sun. Throughout the play, Mama’s views are at

odds with Walter’s views. For Walter, who feels enslaved in his job

and life, money is the truest freedom. To him, money seems to be the

answer to everything. Money, he believes, allows people to live

comfortable and carefree lives. It also seems to him that money

defines a man by measuring his success and ability to provide for his

family. As for Mama, anything is more valuable than material wealth.

The lack of money in the Younger family inhibited the growth of

success. It is not easy for people to rise whose qualities are

thwarted by poverty, exactly what happened with the Younger’s.

To the characters in the play, lack of money is the root of all evil.

Success is absent from the Younger family due to the lack of money. It

comes from dreams that have been fulfilled, but for the Younger’s, it

was impossible to fulfill any dreams without money. Walter had a dream

of investing money in a liquor store to raise the standard of living

for his family. Even if he wasn’t successful, he would always know

that he tried his best, which would give him the pride and joy of not

giving up again. Unfortunately, the family had no money that he could

use for investing. “Yeah. You see, this little liquor store we got in

mind cost seventy-five thousand and we figured the initial investment

on the place be ‘bout thirty thousand, see. T...

... middle of paper ...

... friends to some

financial issues. Another time when I was affected by lack of money

was on my golden birthday. I was turning 5 and I had never been to

India before. All I wanted to do for my birthday was go to India and

see what it was like. It would’ve been like a dream come true to go.

Unfortunately, my family did not have enough money at that time for

all 10 of my family members to go, so I spent the birthday at home.

In summary, success is not reached without the aid of money. In A

Raisin in the Sun, no one was able to accomplish his or her dreams

because their family lacked one thing, money. For that reason, the

Younger family’s growth of success was inhibited. It is hard for

people to succeed whose qualities are let down by poverty. Now days,

thousands and thousands of people cannot complete their dreams for one

simple reason- they have no money.

Show More
Related

  • A Raisin In The Sun Character Development

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    Development of characters are shown in multiple events and situations within A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry that will either leave the character changed or not. Walter Younger Jr. undertakes multiple changes throughout the text which develops characteristics of his way of thoughts. His experiences change his morals and his appreciation for his family and his surrounding for what they are. Walter’s understanding and feelings are also shown growth throughout the text, to where he becomes a more advanced individual within himself and to for his family.

    Read More

  • Play vs. Movie: 'A Raisin in the Sun'

    580 Words  | 2 Pages

    When people think of their dreams being deferred, do you think of a raisin in the sun? A Raisin in the Sun is a movie based off a play written by Lorraine Hansberry. Usually people think of movies as a better option because it is either, better, higher quality, better than the play/book, a preferable way, do not have to read a book, and it is pretty much the same thing. The movie and play have a lot of similarities and differences. Both have to do with the same plot, but there are many differences between the movie and play as well as similarities between the movie and play.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Great Gatsby And A Raisin In The Sun

    805 Words  | 2 Pages

    In act one of the play, Walter proclaims that “money is life”(Hansberry 74) , meaning that one’s success was defined by how much money he or she had. Throughout the play, Walters and Beneatha’s views on wealth clash because according to Walter, money is the answer to all of their issues while Beneatha constantly reminds him that the money was mama’s and she could do whatever she wants with it whenever he pressed on about buying the liquor store. In scene two of act two, after mama gives Walter the money, Walter explains to his son Travis in a long speech how he will invest the money and what kind of life they will live once the business is successful, this also included sacrificing Beneatha’s school money. This speech also shows Walters “American Dream”. Unfortunately, Walter trusted the wrong man with his money and ended up losing it all. He fails to start the business he had his heart set on and the family ends up moving into Clybourne

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    “A Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry, is a play about an African American family, who struggles finically, but finally comes across some money. The insurance company sent a ten thousand dollar check for the death of Mr. Younger. Everyone has a different idea on what to they would like to do with the money. Mama, the head of the house, wants to buy a new home for the family. The new house would benefit the entire family, because the family is running out of room in their old house. Walter wants the money for a business investment. Beneatha wants the money for the money for medical school. Everyone wants something, but Mama is the only one thinking about everyone. Many things can tear a family apart, but Hansberry teaches us what is really important in life. Hansberry wrote this play with three very important themes.

    Read More

  • How is Racism used in A Raisin in the Sun

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    How is Racism in A Raisin in the Sun. In the book there is a lot of racism that made them people separate from each other. Their was nothing that made the people be together but work. This was a big problem and still is because people treat others by their race. Racism will always exist wile people think in different ways it may change in one of the days if people change their minds. Racism isn’t only about black people but even people from different continents or with different religions. In the book A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry’s the Youngers suffered from many thing. The thing that will be mentioned are how are black people treated what things did they suffer from and how was their society like.

    Read More

  • Essay Outline for Conflict in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun

    521 Words  | 2 Pages

    I. Conflicts in the Play - There are many types of conflict evident in this play. Some are as follows:

    Read More

  • Something Wicked This Way Comes

    477 Words  | 1 Pages

    Throughout Something Wicked This Way Comes there is an ongoing battle between good and evil, and many problems dealing with greed. In most stories good prevails, but things happen differently this time. The characters have problems with greed and evil thoughts, which will bring them misfortune throughout the story.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    Money— sweeter than honey but oh so destructive. It facilitates a man’s life, while a lack of it imprisons him in the streets of penury. It raises his social status, while an absence of it leaves him unnoticed. It gives him an aura of superiority and importance among others, while a deficiency of it makes him worthless in society’s eyes. Considering these two roads, most do not take more than a second to decide to chase riches.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    1936 Words  | 4 Pages

    Everyone dreams of having the perfect life. For hundreds of years, America has remained the land of opportunities. The American Dream is simply what lured millions to start the lives in America. It’s theoretically the basis of American life. However, in post World War 2, the American Dream seemed to be only targeted to white males. The American Dream seemed unattainable for racial minorities. Not only was life hard for non-white Americans, women also had a difficult time fulfilling their dreams. White males reigned supreme while everyone else was left in the dark. A Raisin in the Sun does a stupendous job of painting a picture of what hardships and injustices non-whites and women faced in the segregated 1950’s. A raisin in the sun focuses on

    Read More

  • An Overview of 'A Raisin in the Sun'

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    A Raisin in the Sun The creativity of Hansberry played a crucial role in the development of African-American drama since the Second World War. A Raisin in the Sun was the first play by an African-American author to be set on Broadway and was honored by the circle of New York theater critics. Drama of A Raisin in the Sun (1959) brought Hansberry to the Society of New York Critics Award as the best play of the year. A Raisin in the Sun shows the life of an ordinary African-American family who dreams of happiness and their desire to achieve their dream.

    Read More

  • What Is The Conflict In A Raisin In The Sun

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    Everyone encounters struggle and “ain’t nobody bothering you” but yourself (1872). Many African Americans encounter hardships and conflict in their own lives because of their race. Before integration, not only were African Americans facing internal struggles but also the external struggles caused by prejudices. A Raisin in the Sun elaborates on the conflicts of African Americans when dealing with segregation, discrimination, and few opportunities to improve their lifestyle. Hansberry expresses her hardships as an African American woman without civil rights in the 1950’s through the Younger family and the decisions they make when confronting their own struggles.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Greed Analysis

    742 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout History, greed has exhibited a capacity of good and evil. The story begins as a respected and loyal hero of Scotland during the middle ages takes a turn for the worse. Greed causes him to make sinister decisions, violence made him hated by the community, and hallucinations made him become sickened. “Macbeth and another of the king’s general’s, Banquo, encounters three witches, who greet Macbeth as thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor, and future king”( Dominic, Catherine C., Ed “Shakespeare’s Characters for Students New York: Gale, 1997 Print). This is when the evil thoughts of greed nature begin within Macbeth. “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt to be king hereafter” (Shakespeare, William 1.2 62-64). The three witches predict Macbeth

    Read More

  • Reading Act 1 Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

    563 Words  | 2 Pages

    On April 4, 2014, I presented a lesson that focused on the assigned reading of Act I in Raisin in the Sun. The main goal of the class was to get students to use higher level thinking to analyze the text and find the themes and deeper meaning in the play. This reflection will focus on some of the strength and weaknesses of the lesson and my instruction.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Conformity And Rebellion In 'A Raisin In The Sun'

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    Conformity and rebellion are two characteristics that cannot exist without each other. If no one were to conform then there would be no set standard for anyone to rebel against. Without rebellion conformity would not be challenged. Madness comes into play when describing those that rebel against the norm. Dickinson describes anyone with a rebellious attitude as “demur you’re straightway dangerous and handled with a chain” society treats people like this because the idea of change can scare a lot of people. Many of these themes are seen throughout literature.

    Read More

  • Generational Differences In A Raisin In The Sun

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    Differences in generations can cause people to have different viewpoints in life. A Raisin In The Sun is a play set in the 1950s written by Lorraine Hansberry. The Youngers are a black family who lives in a cramped apartment in the South Side of Chicago. When Mama receives a check of insurance money, members of the family are divided in their own hopes of what it will be used for. Mama, Ruth, and Beneatha are the three women of the Younger household and their generational differences clearly show through their actions. The difference between generations is why Mama is the most devout, Ruth is an agreeable person, and Beneatha is outspoken and has modern views.

    Read More

More about Struggles within the Younger family in the play A Raisin in the Sun

Open Document