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Some people believe that in life, you are supposed to take an opportunity when it knocks on your door...but what happens when that opportunity is something that may affect your life in the long run? The Youngers had a certain drive, one that not many people had. The drive to keep going, even when everyone around you told you not to do it. Not to push on, through the struggle and the hardship. Segregation was a big part in Lorraine Hansberry’s life, and with this play, she wanted to make a point, that not one black should have to stay in the dark, no one had to deny themselves of an opportunity that could possibly change your life. Was it the right decision? Will this affect my family? Am I ready to make this big leap without my family backing me completely? Or just trying to find that one thing that might or might not make your life completely better.. The Youngers were unlike all others. They were the most determined family. Beneatha was trying to find her true calling, even if that means she switching points of focus every few months, costing her family a lot of money, and spending a lot of time with George Murchinson. George, was …show more content…
trying to follow his lifelong dream, of which wasn't supported by his family. He always complained about how he never had enough money, he wanted to make more out of his life, a little more than a small apartment for 5+ people, and one on the way. He wanted to get his son a room of his own, not just the couch, he wanted to make sure that was an actual thing. There was always big talk about it but it was nothing but an argument between Ruth and George. She didn’t support him wanting to open a liquor store, but with him and his partners, all he had to pay was a few thousand dollars, just a few thousand away from a dream come true, a few away from making his family a little more comfortable. “What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore, and then run? Langston Hughes” This is a perfect example of the Youngers. At one point in the book, they talk about this huge check for 10,000 dollars coming in, exactly enough for Walter's share of the store, and exactly enough for the new house. Although it really is for Mama, she thinks that the whole family should be getting a share of it, not just one of them. But Walter thinks that if he uses this money for himself, he will be raking in more than that in just about a month, the time they spend waiting for the check, weeks on end they talk about the check. The check that will possibly change their life, one check means so much. This is make or break for the family. Which one will they pick? “Let it be the dream it used to
be.” “I have been possessed of the desire to put down the stuff of my life. That is a commonplace of impulse, apparently, among persons of massive self interest; sooner or later we all do it. Lorraine Hansberry” After a lot of talk, arguing, and temper tantrums from the older Youngers, Mama finally decided what she wanted to do. After Ruth coming to Mama about the new baby. They tried figuring out new sleeping arrangements, “It is my business-where is he going to live, on the roof?” Lena decided what she wanted to do with the 10,000. She was going to buy Travis a house. One where no one had to sleep on the couch, in a nice white neighborhood. Then Mr.Linders came around. He wanted to pay more money then they have ever seen, enough to live in a black neighborhood, and have enough rooms to have all of them in the house. It was perfect. They can either turn the money down, and live comfortably in a neighborhood, where they won’t be welcome. Or they can stay in the black neighborhood, live comfortably, and be safe. Which one is more important? Segregation was the biggest struggle in the 1950’s. The way that the youngers were they wanted to make more of a point. They wanted to fight, for equality, and comfort, rights in general. They didn’t take the offer, they are fighting it. Fighting for rights, happiness, and being comfortable. They are in a better place, they are moving up in the world, they may be broke again, but they are happy, they move out of the house with Mama saying “I’m going to bring the pots down myself, I making a big dinner tonight” This play, and the book were inspiring, they showed me what it was like, being a “minority” (at the time) and being so poor you have to deny your son of 5 cents… it shows how much 5 cents actually went, how much it could affect one's life, or maybe even 6 peoples. In the end, the point was to live comfortable, and make a point, that blacks were no longer going to let whites affect their life. They were moving past it, making one of the biggest steps forward for blacks. They were brave, strong, and happy, they lived their life, happy and in peace. this showed me that you don't need the money, you don't need the small amounts of money to be happy, as long as you stick with your family, and don't stray from the powerful bond, you will always have the support and love of your family.
Walter lives with his mother, sister, wife and child Travis. After the receival of a life insurance check from the deceased Walter Lee Senior, Mama makes a decision to give it to Walter to make him feel like the man of the house. She places endless trust into her son; she gives him the money that is needed for his sisters school, and the house payments. She has high hopes Walter would not let her down by the use of it for something that goes against her values. Unfortunately, as he receives the money one can see how hastily he works to use it for a meer liquor store as he confesses his wrongdoings: “Mama… I never went to the bank at all… It’s all gone.” (Hansberry 129). Prior to this moment, Mama had asked Walter to
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...
Of Mice and Men and A Raisin in the Sun Dreams Make What Life Is
Lena Younger, Walter and Beneatha's mother, was a widow in her early sixties who devoted her life to her children after her husband's death. Retired from working for the Holiday's family, she was waiting for her husband's insurance money to arrive. With the ten tho...
No matter how hard they try, there are some people who cannot get ahead in life. Walter Lee Younger is a man who is frustrated with his current position in life, and every disappointment he has encountered thus far. Although he tries to be a loving man, sometimes he does not know how to show the idea of love, 'Sometimes...sometimes...I don't even know how to try' (Hansberry 89). His position in life can be regarded as symbolic of every black male struggling to provide for his family by any means necessary. Although Walter has a job, it seems inadequate for his survival. As a result, he has become frustrated and lacks good judgement. Throughout this play Walter searches for the key ingredient that will make his life blissful. His frustrations stem from him not being able to act as a man and provide for his family and grasp hold of his ideals to watch them manifest into a positive situation. Walter Lee Younger, a man who is vehement for his family, has many ambitions in life, and dreams of the biggest dreams out of anyone else in the play.
Lorraine Hansberry’s carefully selected words in the play A Raisin in the Sun, prove to be a metaphor of the Younger’s past, present, and future life. During this time in American history it was hard for black people to make a name for themselves, and they were almost never seen as equals to white lives. As Hansberry describes the house in which the Younger’s live, she is always describing the struggle that they face. She starts this by saying “The Younger living room would be comfortable and well-ordered room if it were not for a number of indestructible contradictions to this state of being” (Hansberry 23). One could assume that has Hansberry speaks of the living room she is actually speaking of the lives of the Younger’s. Therefore as we
Walter has long dreamed of making his family’s condition better, of giving them wealth that his low-paying job is unable to do. Nature appears to be against Walter and his family, for they are living in a poorly maintained tenement apartment while surrounded with racism. Walter understands this situation, so he decides to use the $10,000 check for an investment in order to exceed his primitive state. In mid-morning, he excitedly asks his family about the check’s arrival, “Check coming today?” (Hansberry I.i.868). The check is one of the few reasons that forces Walter to get up each morning, so he will eventually be able to obtain success and self pride. Walter views the check as the only solution to all of his problems, so once Mama receives it, Walter confronts her and begs for her “financial” support. Walter exemplifies his sudden, new-found confidence to Travis when Mama unexpectedly entrusts him with the remaining $6,500, “…your daddy’s gonna make a transaction . . . a business transaction that’s going to change our lives” (II.ii.885). Walter is finally ready to realize his dream, and he has all the possible confidence he can acquire. He foresees the significant change that awaits his family when the money is invested. Unfortunately, nature has different plans for the Youngers. Whe...
Beneatha Younger’s dreams to be a doctor often contradict what other people think is best for her, showing that she is willing to take risks. Her relationship with George becomes tense when he discovers that she aspires to become a doctor. This is shown when he says “As for myself I, want a nice... simple... sophisticated girl... not a poet, OK?” George does not like the change that Beneatha advocates for. Another instance, when he says “It’s simple. You read books, to learn facts, to get grades, to pass the course, to get a degree. That’s all,
Living in a society where the fulfillment of dreams is based upon material wealth, the Younger family strives to overcome their hardships as they search for happiness. As money has never been a way of life for the family, the insurance check's arrival brings each person to see the chance that their own dreams can become reality. Whether in taking a risk through buying a "little liquor store" as Walter wishes to do or in -"[wanting] to cure" as Beneatha dreams, the desires of the family depend upon the fate of Mama's check. In the mind of Walter Lee Younger, the check is the pinnacle of all, dominating his thoughts, as he does not wait a second before "asking about money "without" a Christian greeting." He cannot see beyond the fact that he "[wants] so many things" and that only their recently acquired money can bring them about. The idea of money and being able to hold it "in [his] hands" blinds him from the evils of society, as he cannot see that the Willy Harris's of the world will steal a person's "life" without a word to anyone. When money becomes nothing but an illusion, Walter is forced to rethink his values and his family's future, realizing that there is more to living that possessing material riches.
In the book A Raisin in the Sun, the time period is set in 1955. A time in America where African Americans still dealt with a constant struggle between them and the rest of the country. It touches on subjects that were very sensitive especially at the time the work was released. Even though the setting of the book was in the north, Lorraine Hansberry seemed to want to show that things weren’t that much better in the north than they were in the south at that time. Segregation was still being implemented in the law system, and there was a missing sense of equality among everyone. It shows that Lorraine Hansberry took what was going on around her environment and portrayed those situations into her work. The three events listed include Rosa Parks
Walter wants to open a liquor store until the money is lost “Man, please, not with that money he … Oh, God Don’t let it be true …” Hansberry, Lorraine (2011-11-02). A Raisin in the Sun (p. 128). Ruth and the mother desire to move into a house and Beneatha’s money for the school to pursue her dreams as a doctor. Finally, the family realizes in the end if the work together as a team can accomplish goals. During the ear in which the Younger and the Garcia girls both family face racism this sometimes hinder their goals. For instance, the Younger faced this issue with Mr. Linder, a representative from the community where the Younger desired to live and had placed a down payment on the
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, portrays the life of a black family living in a bad section of Chicago. There are many problems in this family, but mostly it revolves around the character of Mama and how she longs to give her family a better life through the money she receives when her husband dies. Also, the family deals with the racism in Chicago in the 1950's complicating the realization of Mama's dreams for the family as well as other family conflicts that come up when money is entered into the equation.
Beneatha is Mama’s daughter. She wants to become a doctor when she gets out of college. She also wants to save her race from ignorance.
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.
Beneatha is Mama's youngest child. She aspires to become a doctor. Mama wants Beneatha to become what she wants so she decided to put aside some of the insurance money for Beneatha's schooling. Beneatha struggles as a young independent woman who has yet to find her identity. She finds herself trying new hobbies and dating two very different men. During a conversation with one of those men, Asagai, Beneatha is forced by Asagai to realize that she is not very independent at all. In fact she has been depending on the insurance money to get her through school. After this realization, Beneatha gains thoughts on how to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor (Kohorn). She presents her mother with her decision of getting married and how she "plans to find her roots in Africa" with Asagai (Silver).