Lena Younger, a.k.a. Mama is a down-to-earth, hard-working black woman who doesn’t suffer fools. Mama has dedicated her life to her children and struggles to instill her values in them – with mixed results. One of Lena’s most poignant moments might be when she admits to Ruth that sometimes her children frighten her. Except for the face-slap moment, Mama is mostly kind and patient with her family. Her nurturing personality is symbolized by the way she treats her houseplant. Just like her family, Lena’s plant lacks the necessary resources to flourish.
Hat starts off a desire or a whim, evolves into a defining moment for each Younger family member. The play generally describes several themes which revolve around the life of African-Americans in 1950s. Through gender issues, American Dream and poverty, Hansberry discusses family life in a contextual manner that permits imagination of the social set up of Youngers. She constantly rejects and criticizes the ideas of her brother who makes misinformed decisions based on mediocre interpretation of the American dream. She challenges Walter’s male chauvinism and rejects men like George Murchison who have no recognition and single respect for women in the society . The writer clearly exemplifies how the perception of women towards their identity in the society has tremendously changed.
Analysis Of Dreams Of Each Character In A Raisin In The Sun
Walter himself serves as both protagoinist and antagonist of the play. In most of times, Walter represents as a symbol of the androcentrism who does mistakes which hurt the whole family greatly. However, in the bottom of his heart, he always wants to solve family’s problems.
This is like the clan that is when they are getting together and celebrating a holiday. It is the point that the family in the play is not only together and united, but they are also following their old beliefs as well. The most important decision about your goals is not what you are willing to do to achieve them, but what you are willing to give up¨, Dave Ramsey tells readers. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novel about Jin Wang who moves from San Francisco and is being stereotyped by all the kids in his class just because he’s Asian.
A Raisin In The Sun Essay
The Youngs appear to be a representation, and an inspirational symbol for African American families in 1950s America as Walter chooses to stand up against social normalities and oppression. It is, as put by Judith E. Smith, “a plotless story, in the way that life itself never seems to offer much in the standard notions of plot” . To achieve dreams, and make a stable life, the presence of money helps greatly. But because of the society and human status African American people lived in, in the 1950s, it was extremely hard to pursue dreams and create a bountiful life. Lorraine Hansberry represents this idea in the award-winning play, “A Raisin in the Sun.” The play portrays the story of a poor family, the Youngers, residing in a small apartment in the southside of Chicago. During Act I and II, the Youngers eagerly await a $10,000 Insurance check, following the death of the hard-working Walter Senior.
- Nearly one hundred years later, in 1959, Lorraine Hansberry wrote her great play, A Raisin in the Sun.
- As a result, all adult members of the family have budgeted for the money with each individual having varying opinions on how to spend the cash.
- If you agree that the male characters represent mostly negative qualities while the female characters represent mostly positive characteristics, explain what Hansberry’s reason for employing such gender stereotypes might be.
- Walter in a way theme of the tyger helps the audience release the emotions they have too and through Walters questions the audience and ask themselves and find out if this is the life they want.
- We isn’t no business people…We even picked out the house” (p.24) shows the reader that Mama strongly disagrees with Walter’s idea of using the money to invest in a liquor store.
Beneatha had to give up her independence and take a shot to her pride by marrying Asagai, so that she can pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor and curing others. Her passion of curing and helping others is also at risk because her marriage with Asagai is based on the foundation of her becoming a doctor and not love. This marriage breaks some important principals and pride that she has because she’s now having to depend on someone to pursue her passion of becoming a doctor and she has also fallen victim to a tradition which she despises. The society in her time often has a predetermined goal for a woman, which consist of roles such as becoming a housewife, secretary, nurse, or teacher. Being an intellectual, independent, prideful and strong person Beneatha feels that these roles are limiting and that she is destined for much more. This feeling of power gets to his head, which he convinces himself that he’s right and nobody around him can comprehend the ideas that he has in his head.
Having been brought up in the South during dangerous times of lynching, she relocates to the Northern part with the hope of finding peace and a better life. Despite the fact that Lena is ahead of time, her dreams remain anchored on the well being of her family rather than selfish interests. Lorraine Hansberry is an African American Playwright and writer who was born in Chicago, Illinois 1930.
The white neighborhood thought they could send the Youngers back to the dingy apartment, and buy their dreams of a new life away, which infuriated the family. Money is these scenes have a powerful significance, in the sense that it can take away, or define the characters’ self-respect, and social status. One of the most notable plays on the topic of racial minorities and family issues, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, has continued to be popular since it was written in 1959.