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How literature affects the lives of people in society
How literature affects the lives of people in society
Literature and its impact on society
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The plays A Raisin in the Sun written by Lorraine Hansberry, and Antigone written by Sophocles, both have a focus on the motif of money and its ability to cause conflict. In A Raisin in the Sun the Younger family receives an insurance check of ten thousand dollars and must determine how it is to be spent. Similarly in Antigone, Creon, who is already rich, is given an immense amount of power and must decide how he should use it. In both plays the characters struggle with money’s corruptive nature, and what it represents to them. Although both authors use the motif of money to reveal that money creates conflict, in Antigone money represents something that corrupts individuals whereas in A Raisin in the Sun money embodies the key to power and …show more content…
The connection between money and power is prominent in this play because the Youngers are struggling to get by and believe that money is the only solution. They believe that money is purely a necessity for their personal gains. Hansberry also employs the motif of money in order to portray the hope and optimism that the characters associate with money. Walter thinks of money as a representation of success and joy. When Walter plans on investing the money into the liquor store, he envisions the success that will come from it. He goes into great detail about the life they would have after the Youngers became rich from his investment, “You wouldn’t understand yet, son, but your daddy’s gonna make a transaction . . . a business transaction that’s going to change our lives. . . . And Ruth will come downstairs… And we’ll kiss each other… And we’ll go up to your room to see you… You just name it, son . . . and I hand you the world!”(Hansberry 69-70). Walter is certain that the money will bring them happiness. He never says “if” or “might” instead he sounds certain of the outcome saying “going to” or “will”. He describes a better life for them illustrating a perfect picture of their life with money. He envisions a better relationship with his family once he is wealthy, and believes he will be able to give his son whatever he wants. Through this description, it is known that …show more content…
Throughout the play the Youngers argue over what to do with the money proving Creon’s point that “Money is a currency that is rank. Money topples cities to the ground” (Sophocles 353), or in this case families. Money pushes the Youngers further away from one another; thus, “[toppling]” them. When Walter and Ruth are arguing over Walter wanting to invest the money in the liquor store, he acts aggressively, and gets irritated over a small incident in which Ruth tells him to eat his eggs, “(slams the table and jumps up) DAMN MY EGGS--DAMN ALL THE EGGS THAT EVER WAS” (Hansberry 11). Walter lashes out and screams at Ruth because of his unhappiness with not being able to spend the money where he likes. The money acts as a catalyst for conflict in this play by separating the Youngers from each other due to their differing views on how the money should be spent. This reveals the negative effects that money has on humans, and the corrupt nature of it that Creon had foreshadowed in Antigone. In Antigone despite money not being a central theme of the play, it did create hostile relations between characters. Creon comes from a high socioeconomic class giving him power and control over the lowly sentry who does whatever he asks. Right before the sentry leaves from telling Creon that someone has buried Polyneices, Creon says, “If you fail to stand that man before my face you’ll find that dirty money pays in hurt” (Sophocles 354). To this, the Sentry
The opening events of the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, quickly establish the central conflict between Antigone and Creon. Creon has decreed that the traitor Polynices, who tried to burn down the temple of gods in Thebes, must not be given proper burial. Antigone is the only one who will speak against this decree and insists on the sacredness of family and a symbolic burial for her brother. Whereas Antigone sees no validity in a law that disregards the duty family members owe one another, Creon's point of view is exactly opposite. He has no use for anyone who places private ties above the common good, as he proclaims firmly to the Chorus and the audience as he revels in his victory over Polynices. He sees Polynices as an enemy to the state because he attacked his brother. Creon's first speech, which is dominated by words such as "authority” and "law”, shows the extent to which Creon fixates on government and law as the supreme authority. Between Antigone and Creon there can be no compromise—they both find absolute validity in the respective loyalties they uphold.
Raisin in the Sun is a film adaptation directed by Daniel Petrie off of a award-winning play written by Lorraine Hansberry. Overall I would rate the film as an 8 out of 10.
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
In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the differences in Creon’s and Antigone’s passions and responsibilities helped illustrate both characters central flaws. By doing so, the play was also able to imply that in order to achieve a sense of inner peace and political stability; one has to be able to balance the two powers equally. Antigone and Creon are both very determined, zealous characters who were unable to achieve the stability because they were both unwilling to compromise. Often times, personal events or emotions can cause people to overlook moral or civil laws.
Money is one of these prides that Walter holds dear to himself, noting that this very important to his personal aspriations within outragous business deals. His development is shown through the text as continuing events and peirpresure force change within Walter. These characteristic development shape the entire theme of Walter’s understanding of money and his purposeness towards the
Where money is but an illusion and all it brings are nothing but dreams, one family struggles to discover that wealth can be found in other forms. In the play "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry uses the indirect characterization of the Younger family through their acquaintances to reveal that money and materialism alone are worthless.
Hansberry starts the play with a family with frustrated dreams. These dreams mostly involve money. Although the Younger family seems turnoff from the middle-class white culture they want to obtain the same materialistic dreams as the rest of American society. The America Dream is for everyone, as Hughes state in his poem “Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain seeking a home where he himself is free”. Is like Hughes is saying let the Younger be able to fulfill their dreams, even though they are not middle-class people. Let them have the freedom to get want they desire. Which indeed is possible for the Younger to obtain if they stay thinking positive and in
This play is ultimately concerned with one person defying another person and paying the price. Antigone went against the law of the land, set by the newly crowned King Creon. Antigone was passionate about doing right by her brother and burying him according to her religious beliefs even though Creon deemed him a traitor and ordered him to be left for the animals to devour. Creon was passionate about being king and making his mark from his new throne. Although they differed in their views, the passion Creon and Antigone shared for those opinions was the same, they were equally passionate about their opposing views. Creon would have found it very difficult to see that he had anything in common with Antigone however as he appears to be in conflict with everyone, in his mind he has to stand alone in his views in order to set himself apart as king. Before he took to the throne Creon took advice from the prophet Tiresias who had so often had been his spiritual and moral compass, and yet in this matter concerning Antigone he will take advice from no one, not from the elders of Thebes, or even his own son Haemon.
First off, Walter Younger changes by becoming more of an honest man like how his father was. In the beginning, Walter was just an average family man who wanted to support his family by himself. He tries to find new ways to keep a stable economic success within his family. To him he believes that money is a solution to all his problems and family needs it in order to survive. His obsession with money clouded his mind which made him mostly think about himself. Walter says, “Yeah. You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventh-five thousand and we figured the initial investment on the place be ‘bout thirty-thousand, see.” (Hansberry 33). This shows that he plans on using the money to achieve his dream by owning a liquor store. He wanted to support his own family independently without aid from anyone else. He felt sadden that he’s the head of the family and he can’t even offer them a positive and joyful life. Near the end of play, Walter had to make a final decision for the outcome for his family’s life. Walter says, “And we decided to move into our house because my father-my father-he earne...
In the awe-inspiring play of Antigone, Sophocles introduces two remarkable characters, Antigone and Creon. A conflict between these two obstinate characters leads to fatal consequences for themselves and their kindred. The firm stances of Creon and Antigone stem from two great imperatives: his loyalty to the state and her dedication to her family, her religion but most of all her conscience. The identity of the tragic hero of this play is still heavily debated. This tragedy could have been prevented if it had not been for Creon's pitiful mistakes.
Sophocles play titled Antigone, embellishes the opposing conflicts between Antigone who stands for the values of family, and Creon who stands for the values of state. Sophocles explores the depths of Antigone’s morality and the duty based on consequence throughout the play, as well as the practical consequences of Creon who is passionate and close-minded. Although Antigone’s moral decisions appear to be more logical and favorable than Creon’s, a personal argument would be that both characters’ decisions in society can be equally justified.
The two The main characters in the play, Mama and Walter, want this money to be used. for the benefit of the whole family. Even though both of them want to benefit the family, each one has a different idea of what to do with the money and how to manage it to benefit everyone. & nbsp; Walter Lee, like his father, wants his family to have a better life. and want to invest the money in a liquor store. Walter wants the money.
Walter wants the best for his family and he thinks the liquor store will provide him the financial security needed to boost them out of poverty. "I'm thirty five years old; I've been married eleven years and I got a boy who sleeps in living room (Hansberry 34). best describes the sympathy and compassion Walter feels for his son. Although his family's financial position has a strain on it, Walter doesn't want his son to see him struggle. Even in today?s world, children are very susceptible. Walter displays a selfless characteristic which becomes overshadowed by unwise decisions later in the play. In one particular scene, his son Travis asked both parents for money. Walter acts out of pride by giving Travis his last pocket change. This symbolizes Walter's willingness to be a moral father. In a different situation, Walter would not display his selfish intentions. This behavior can be attributed to working in a degrading, underpaid position and not seeing results. Metaphorically speaking, Walter can be related to the furniture in the small apartment, ?tired and broken in spirit?.
In the beginning of the play, Walter is foolish and quarrelsome, with his heart set on becoming affluent. As he grasps how hard work his father worked and how hard his family works, he reasons that living by his standards is more important than gaining wealth, and he stops feeling resentful towards them. This play highlights how many members of society focus more on making money than living by their ethical
We know that both of our protagonist’s dreams involve wealth, which is the basis for almost all elements of the standard American dream, but what is it in particular that Walter and Willy are striving for? For Walter, the American dream involves becoming a successful business entrepreneur. This dream relies heavily on the idea of wealth, because Walter is both in need of the money to fund his liquor store venture, but also because with the profits of his venture he will be able to support his family on his own. The exchange between Mamma and Walter “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 . . . No—it was always money, Mama. We j...