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Lorraine Hansberry is a famous african american playwright. She was inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem “Dream Deferred”. She wrote an entire play based off of his poem. Her play is called Raisin in the Sun. This play is about the Younger family, a black family living on the Southside of Chicago. The whole family tries to make their dreams come true. In her play, Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry uses Mama, Walter and Beneatha to show the negative consequences that occur when you defer your dreams.
First, Hensberry uses mama to show the negative consequences that occur when you defer your dreams. Mama is hardworking. She is always doing everything she can to help their family and to have a better life. She lives with her daughter, her son
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and his wife, and also her grandson. They all live in a small house. Her grandson doesn’t even have a room. Mama wants to buy a house. That is her dream since she was younger and Big Walter was alive. She also wants her daughter, Beneatha, to go to college. As the story continues, Mama gets ten thousand dollars from her husband’s life insurance. With the money, she was planning to give some to Beneatha to go to university and buy a house. After she bought a house, she gave the money left to Walter, her son, so he can put Beneatha’s money in the bank, and do whatever he wants with the rest of it. But Walter’s friend stole the money. His money and also Beneatha’s money. Mama says, “Son, is it gone? Son, I gave you sixty-five hundred dollars. Is it gone? All of it? Beneatha’s money too?” (Hensberry 129). This proves that now, her dream of seeing Beneatha going to college, is not going to happen because Walter lost the money. This shows how someone’s life can change, in a negative way, when your dreams cannot happen. She was sad and mad when she found out that Walter lost the money. She beats Walter. This proves that Hansberry uses mama to show all of the bad things that happen when you put off your dream. Then, Hensberry uses Walter to show the negative consequences that occur when you defer your dreams.
Walter is racist and sexist. He works driving rich white people around and he is sick of this. He wants to be a boss, he wants to be the king of his jungle. He has a wife and a son. They all live with his mom. When things doesn’t go right for him, or not the way he wants, everything he does is drink and walk. Walter is tired of working for white people, he wants to open a liquor store illegally. When mama got the money from his father’s life insurance, he asked for some money to open the liquor store, and she said no. She got really mad at her, and started getting drunk everyday. He didn’t show up to work for three days and lost his job. However, When mama finally gave him the money to open the liquor store, his friend ran away with all the money, including the part that he was supposed to put in the bank so his sister can go to college. Walter says, “Gone, what you mean Willy is gone? Gone where? You mean he when by himself. You mean he went off to Springfield by himself - to take care of getting the license.” (Hensberry 128). This proves that his dream of having a liquor store is not gonna happen because his friend ran away all of his money. Also, he wanted his son to go to college and be whoever he wants to, and now, it’s not going to happen too. He was surprised and really mad that his friend did that do him. This proves that Hensberry uses Walter to show all of the bad
things that happen when you put off your dream. Last, Hensberry uses Beneatha to show the negative consequences that occur when you defer your dreams. Beneatha is really different from her family. She doesn’t believe in God, doesn’t if she wants to get married and wants to go to college. Her dream is to become a doctor. Mama gave a part of the money she got for her, but Walter was the one that was supposed to put in the bank. But he never went to the bank at all. However, when his friend stole his money, he stole Beneatha’s money too. Without that money, she could never go to college. Beneatha says, “He gave away the money, Assagai” (Hensberry 132). This proves that her dream of going to college and becoming a doctor isn’t coming true because Walter lost the money. She was really mad and disappointed with her brother. Now she will never be able to be a doctor. This proves that Hensberry uses Beneatha to show all of the bad things that happen when you put off your dream. Hansberry uses mama, Walter and Beneatha to show the negative consequences that occur when you defer your dreams. Not always what you want to your life will happen.
Mama talks to Walter about her fears of the family falling apart. This is the reason she bought the house and she wants him to understand. Walter doesn't understand and gets angry. "What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for? So you butchered up a dream of mine - you - who always talking 'bout your children's dreams..." Walter is so obsessive over money that he yells at his mom for not giving him all of it. He doesn't know that what his mom is doing is for the family. He thinks that having money will make the family happy, when in reality the family doesn't need anymore than what they have to be happy.
Ruth was being prevented from having a baby because of money problems, Walter was bringing him self down by trying to make the liquor store idea work. Once Mama decided to buy the house with the money she had received, Walter figured that he should further go on with the liquor store idea. Then, when Walter lost the money, he lost his dignity and tried to get some money from the “welcome party” of Cylborne Park. Mama forced him to realize how far he went by making him show himself to his son how low he would go. But he showed that he wasn’t susceptible to the ways the racism created.
The civil rights movement brought enlightenment towards the abolishment of segregation laws. Although the laws are gone does segregation still exist in fact? “What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?'; said, in a poem by Langston Huges. The story, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry showed segregation and its affects upon all races. This essay will show how Assimilationists and New Negroes fought for their own identity in the mid twentieth century. Whether they were being true to themselves or creating carbon copies of oppression was determined by one’s view upon society.
A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry. The primary focus of the play is the American Dream. The American Dream is one’s conception of a better life. Each of the main characters in the play has their own idea of what they consider to be a better life. A Raisin in the Sun emphasizes the importance of dreams regardless of the various oppressive struggles of life.
When she was younger, she dreamed of being able to live in a decent sized house where she could even have her own small garden. However, the more privileged black neighborhoods were too expensive for her and her family at the time so she could never get the best of what Chicago had to offer. That factor didn’t hinder her from providing for her family and getting what she needed in life though. Mama’s environment formed her into a woman who hopes for the best, but even if that doesn’t happen, she will still make do with what she has. She also is very religious, this enables her to have strength and guidance during troubling times, and find a way when there is none.
Beneatha 's American dream was to become a doctor. She was going to achieve this dream by going to a medical school. Her dream was deferred because of the money Walter lost. Mama said, “You mean your sister’s school money… You used that too… Walter?...” (129). This show that there 's no more money for Beneatha 's education. Beneatha 's American Dream of women 's rights was also deferred because Beneatha lives in a time when society expects women to build homes rather than careers. Walter said, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy about messing around with sick people, then go be a nurse like other women or just get married and be quiet…” (38). This shows how people think during those times that women just get married and stay home cleaning. Beneatha 's American dream is that she wants a good man was also deferred, because she wants someone to love her for who she is. Beneatha 's said, “Mama George is a fool honest” (97). This demonstrate, that she wants no fool. She wants someone that is serious with her. Overall, through her character, Beneatha Younger, Hansberry created a real example of a black American dream. All her dreams are deferred of becoming a doctor, her women’s rights, and a good
The chasing of a mirage is a futile quest where an individual chases an imaginary image that he or she wants to capture. The goal of this impossible quest is in sight, but it is unattainable. Even with the knowledge that failure is inevitable, people still dream of catching a mirage. There is a fine line that separates those who are oblivious to this fact, and to those who are aware and accept this knowledge. The people who are oblivious represent those who are ignorant of the fact that their dream will be deferred. This denial is the core of the concept used in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The perception of the American Dream is one that is highly subjective, but every individual dream ends in its own deferment.
Walter’s main dream in this book was to open up a liquor store and make money. His thirst for a better live drove him to work toward these goals. When Mama tells Walter that she took all of the life insurance
Ruth, whose dreams are the same as Mama’s, get deferred when the family are forced into there small apartment and there lack of money. Since she has no money she can not help her family as much as she would like to.
It becomes obvious to the reader that the racial tension Hansberry experienced growing up reflected on the way her literature is written. Moss and Wilson state that, “Lorraine Hansberry’s South Side childhood, particularly her father’s battle to move into a white neighborhood, provided the background for the events in the play” (314). Hansberry experienced many of the situations she placed the Younger family at first hand. Hansberry’s father, Carl Hansberry, was put in a similar circumstance when he moved his family into a predominately white community at the opposition of the white neighbors. He eventually won a civil rights case on discrimination. Speaking of the United States, Adler states, “A Raisin in the Sun is a moving drama about securing one’s dignity within a system that discriminates against, even enslaves, its racial minorities” (824).
Throughout the play the subject of money plays a very important role in their lives. From Walter's point of view, money symbolizes a ticket. The only way to have a name in society or have some importance is to have this "ticket". Without it you are rejected and an outcast. This need to have this "ticket" is driving Walter to the point of insanity. He, in the beginning of the play, is very calm about his proposition of investing money in a liquor store. He goes to Ruth, explains how this will make him rich and happier. However Ruth just blows him off and says "eat your eggs". Walter then tries with Mama, explaining that to have money will make Travis appreciates him more as a father. Mama then says that he has a job; Walter interrupts and says that his job is opening and closing doors for white people, and that, that is not considered a job. Then Walter completely explodes when Ruth tells him she is pregnant. He pressures the family more saying that it is even more important now that they are going to be paying for another person. He then cracks and goes to the bar multiple times during the play. He finally is cornered by Mama who gives him the left over money from buying the
Mama's economic hardships may have killed her dream, but she has not allowed it to kill her. The social inequality which the Younger encounters also does not hinder Mama's compassion. Mr. Lindner temporarily shatters Mama's dream of owning a home when he comes to the Youngers prepared to give them money to move from Clybourne Park. The derogatory use of "you people" by Mr. Lindner has little to no effect on Mama's steadfast decision to move to Clybourne Park.... ...
Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is a play about segregation, triumph, and coping with personal tragedy. Set in Southside Chicago, A Raisin in the Sun focuses on the individual dreams of the Younger family and their personal achievement. The Younger's are an African American family besieged by poverty, personal desires, and the ultimate struggle against the hateful ugliness of racism. Lena Younger, Mama, is the protagonist of the story and the eldest Younger. She dreams of many freedoms, freedom to garden, freedom to raise a societal-viewed equal family, and freedom to live liberated of segregation. Next in succession is Beneatha Younger, Mama's daughter, assimilationist, and one who dreams of aiding people by breaking down barriers to become an African American female doctor. Lastly, is Walter Lee Younger, son of Mama and husband of Ruth. Walter dreams of economic prosperity and desires to become a flourishing businessman. Over the course of Walter's life many things contributed to his desire to become a businessman. First and foremost, Walter's father had a philosophy that no man should have to do labor for another man. Being that Walter Lee was a chauffeur, Big Walter?s philosophy is completely contradicted. Also, in Walter?s past, he had the opportunity to go into the Laundromat business which he chose against. In the long run, he saw this choice was fiscally irresponsible this choice was. In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, Walter Lee's dreams, which are his sole focus, lead to impaired judgement and a means to mend his shattered life.
In the American society of the 1950s, prevalence of discrimination strongly existed against colored people and women. To speak of this injustice, Lorraine Hansberry wrote a drama which revolved around characters whose such views plagued the lives of others. In the drama, A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry exposes the presence of oppression and white supremacy through the characters of George Murchison, Mrs. Johnson, and Mr. Linder.
The author of the play A Raisin In The Sun, Lorraine Hansberry, wrote this play in 1959 when she was 29 years old, she had the first play on broadway written by an African American and she was the youngest American to win the New York Critics Circle award. Back in the 1950s, women were expected to stay home and cook and take care of their kids while the men went out and had jobs and made all the money but Lorraine wanted something different. In A Raisin In The Sun, Lorraine Hansberry develops the character of Mama through her treatment of Walter, the treatment of Beneatha and the treatment of her grandson Travis to show that it is not easy being the matriarch of the family but she tries her hardest to be help everyone.