The American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun

1733 Words4 Pages

The idea of the American Dream still has truth in today's time, even if it is wealth, love, or

fame. The thing that never changes about the American Dream is that everyone deserves something

in life and everyone, somehow, should strive to get it. Everyone in America wants to have some

kind of financial success in his or her lives. The American dream is said to be that each man have

the right to pursue happiness and strive for the beat. In the play "A Raisin in the Sun", the author

shows an African-American family struggling to get out of the poverty line, which is stopping them

from making financial stability, or the American Dream. Its main focus is on Walter's effort to

make it, or be somebody. She also shows how race, prejudice, and economic problems effect a black

mans role in his family, how he provides, and his identity. It is also said that that the Youngers

family dreams were unreal and they couldn't attain there dreams due to their status in life.

The two most common American dreams that the Youngers family want to achieve is to be

accepted by the white society and to be financially stable. For example, when the Younger family

received the insurance check in the mail Mama went out and brought a house in the white

neighborhood. Shortly after she brought the house in the white neighborhood, which is known, as

Clybourne Park they quickly sent a representative by the name of Karl Linder. Linder was apart of

the New Neighbors Orientation Committee that welcomed newcomer in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, since the Youngers were black Linder stated " It is a matter of the people of

Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that

our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities". (Hansberry 407). This

basically states that Mr. Linder was trying to convince them not to live in their neighborhood

because they didn't fit into the description of that community. This is an example of them not being

accepted by the white society. Being financially stable allows you to have a better lifestyle, gain

respect from others and to obtain power. By being financially stable you can live better because you

can you don't never have to worry about how your going to eat, will all the bills be paid and maybe

you could own your own business one day. This relates to the story "A Raisin in the Sun" because

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