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A raisin in the sun essay themes
An analysis of raisin in the sun
A raisin in the sun essay themes
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“A Raisin in the Sun” written by Lorraine Hansberry is about an African American family struggling to survive in Southside Chicago during the 1930’s. The main characters, Walter, Ruth Mama, and Bennie all have different relationships towards one another. However the three women all shape Walter Lee’s actions, relationships and values throughout the story. One of the main characters Ruth, Walter’s wife shapes his actions, values, and relationships. Ruth tries to shape Walter to be a reasonable father. For instance, in the passage, it states: Travis “I have to she won’t gimme the fifty cents” Walter “why not” Ruth “cause we don’t have it” Walter “what you tell the boy things like that for here son.” This example describes how Ruth’s
A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, is set in the 1950s, chronicles the life of the younger family, struggling to survive Chicago’s Southside.(111) A series of events transpires challenging the “American Norms” depicting the nuclear family and its “unabashedly patriarchal” life of the 1950s (Domina). The Younger’s are a family with a power structure that is complicated, and they have no clear leader. Women by definition of societal principle are presumed under a shadow from birth, of what they are capable of and the roles they are expected to fulfill. Hansberry creates a character in Ruth who is portrayed as a “beaten down” woman whose disappointments in life have “begun to hang in her face” (111) Ruth is struggling to find herself and yet stay loyal to the expectations of a “settled woman” ()
A Raisin in the Sun is about the Younger family, they are facing its own war against racism in Chicago. America’s complicated history of racial tension between black Americans and white Americans is ingrained into the Youngers’ everyday lives. Mother (and grandmother) Lena Younger, her daughter Beneatha, and her son Walter, Walter’s wife Ruth and their son Travis, squeeze into a small two-bedroom apartment.
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a play about the Younger family, a black family trying to achieve their goals, and help their family financially. Walter’s dream is to open a liquor store, Mama’s dream is to buy a house, and Beneatha’s dream is to become a doctor. While some may argue that Walter’s dream may provide an immediate and steady income, statistics say that 60% of local businesses fail within the first 18 months (Engel n.p.). Some may also argue that Mama’s dream is more important; however, if they buy a house, and don’t have enough money to pay the bills, the Younger family would be back to where they were before. Beneatha's dream of becoming a doctor would benefit her family in the long run, promote the idea of women becoming doctors, and help to end racial differences.
A Raisin in the Sun follows the events of an African-American family living in Chicago during the 50’s. It becomes apparent from the first scene that the family has financial issues. Walter who is discontent with his living situation, believes that an insurance check that his mother will be receiving will solve all of the families problems and allow for a better life. Mama uses a fraction of the check to purchase a house in a all white neighborhood. A representative of the Clybourne Park Improvement Association comes to visit the Youngers and offers to buy back their house at a financial gain and insists that Clybourne is no place for an African-American family. Meanwhile, Walter had already lost the rest of the insurance money ($6500) to his friend Willy Harris who runs away with the money leaving Walter and his family at a loss. This is particularly devastating because the money represents Mama’s husbands entire life of hard work as a laborer. In the end of this story, the Youngers are genuinely more happy and optimistic that they can live more fulfilling lives. The Youngers problem is one that exists in modern day families of the United States. Money management is a physiological issue between spouses and families.
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.
Hansberry, Lorraine. "A Raisin In The Sun." Comp. Henry Louis. Gates and Nellie Y. McKay. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2004. 1771-830. Print.
A Raisin in the Sun is a set in 1950s after the Second World War which was an age of great racism and materialistic in America. It is about a black family living in south side of Chicago and struggling through family and economic hardships, facing the issues of racism, discrimination, and prejudice. The family consists of Lena Younger known as Mama; Walter Lee Younger who is an intense man, Ruth Younger who is wife of Walter Lee, Travis Younger who is son of Ruth and Walter, and Beneatha Younger who is Walter’s younger sister. The whole family lives in a two bed room apartment and don’t have money to live a better life. youngers are tired from their struggle to ...
A Raisin in the Sun is a play set in the south side of Chicago during the 1950s. During this time the civil rights movement was happening and racial tension was at a high. Many African
In the south side of chicago in the 1950s the younger family are a poor family that are living in an apartment that they have been living in for years. The family members are mama, walter, beneatha and ruth. Beneatha’s lovers are George Murchison and Asagai and they both share different aspects of their life to her. Throughout, A Raisin In The Sun, Lorraine Hansberry displays characters Mama, Beneatha, and Ruth as archetypal characters, in order to demonstrate the different gender roles african american women had affected by society during the 1950s.
An Analysis of A Raisin In the Sun & nbsp; "A Raisin In The Sun" is a play written by an African-American playwright - Lorraine Hansberry. It was first produced in 1959. Lorraine Hansberry's work is about a black family in the Chicago South Side. the Second World War. The family consisted of Mama(Lena Younger), Walter.
The play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorain Hansberry gave a perspective relatable to the human population of united states regardless of race. The character of Walter with the American dream lingering on his mind and consuming his ambition to be a successful man of the house. Benetha with the all American ambition of education and reforming her self through self actualization and self nurturing. Mama as the mediator of the values and morals of what it takes to raise children in America, and Ruth’s character yearning to be the mother and wife Mama and Walter would be proud of. All these characters came together to form an all American family in the 1960s with one very bias exception that they are African Americans. The importance of this play attacked the perspectives of everyone with relatable issues and with an amazing performance by black actors. The importance of this play brings the perspective that we are all a human race unified under creativity, understanding and evolution and together we produce cultural
Throughout history, African Americans were striving for access to their American Dreams. A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, is the story of an lower-class African American family, the Youngers, who struggle to decide whether to attain their goals or to achieve their family needs. Lorraine Hansberry uses Mama’s plant to demonstrate her belief that one should keep their dreams alive, but at the same time trying to consummate their family needs.
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.
The late 1950s was filled with racial discriminations. There was still sections living as well as public signs of Colored and Whites. Blacks and Whites were not for any change or at least not yet. A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Vivian Hansberry, tells a story of a black family that is struggling to gain a middle class acceptance in Chicago. The family of five, one child and four adults live in a tiny apartment that is located in a very poor area. Dreams of owning a business and having money to accomplish goals is two key parts played out throughout the whole play. Walter Younger is determined to have his own business and he will go to ends met to see that dream come true. Financial bridges are crossed and obstacles arise when Walter makes a bad decision regarding money that could have help the family and not only himself, if he would have thought smarter. His pride and dignity are tested throughout the story and he is forced to setup for his family. The Raisin in the Sun helps readers to understand history of racial discrimination and how racial discrimination has an effect on the people in the late 1950s and early 1960s as well as how that has an effect on the characters within the play.
A Raisin in the Sun takes place in the souths side of Chicago in the late 50s and Walter Lee Younger is characterized as a stubborn and selfish character but, he only pursues his ideas or dreams to better the lives of others, his family. The Youngers face many road blocks that inhibit their dreams being achieved such as prejudice, low finance, and poverty. Walter is developed as an ambiguous and consist character who carries the burden of not being able to afford the basic necessities for his family. Even though it’s difficult for the reader to see at first, Walter is the strongest member of the younger family because he doesn’t stop trying to make a greater future for him and most importantly his family. In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in