...Outline Thesis Statement: One of the major themes of "A Raisin in the Sun" is the devaluation of capitalism as a measure for success and its replacement by family pride. I. Walter Lee is obsessed with obtaining money from the very beginning of the play. His very happiness depends on success, and he measures this in wealth. 1. He longs to be successful. His speech at the end of Act II, Scene 2 beginning "You wouldn’t understand yet, son, but your daddy’s gonna make [...] a business transaction that’s going to change our lives [...] You just name it, son, and I'll hand you the world!" (Hansberry, 96) 2. Money is the only means of being successful or obtaining success. When asked why he cares so much about money, Walter screams, "Because it is life, Mama!" (Hansberry, 64) II. Mama encourages him to take her place as head of the family, despite disagreeing with his lust for wealth. 1. Mama tries to convince him that money is not the solution to Walter's crisis of purpose in a speech: "Something has changed. You something new, boy. [...] You ain't satisfied or proud of nothing we done. You my children - but how different we done become." (Hansberry 62) 2. Still she trusts him with the money in order to further his pride and encourage his familial responsibility. "I'm telling you to be head of this family from now on like you supposed to be." (Hansberry, 94) III. After the money is all but depleted, Walter stands up for himself and his family and spurns money in favor...
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...November 13th, 2009 A Raisin in the Sun “What happens to a dream deferred?” asks Langston Hughes. Lorraine Hansberry in A Raisin in the Sun explores the answer to his question through the Younger Family. Initially, the Younger Family members received a 10,000 dollar insurance check after their father’s passing. Each of the Younger’s had his own idea as how to spend the check. Each member believing that his or her idea will solve the family’s problems and will make their dreams come true. However, it takes more than money to fulfill their dreams. Each one must first identify his true desire before he can attain his goals. In order for Mama’s, Beneatha’s, and Walter’s dreams to become reality, each of the Younger members must transcend his or her selfish ways to become the independent respected adult each wishes to be. Mama’s dream was for her children, Walter and Beneatha to become independent. Mama wants nothing more; she just wants to see her children relying on themselves. She demands that members of her family respect themselves and take pride in their dreams.Mama wants Beneatha and Walter to understand that she will not be around forever to hold their hands. When Mama received the insurance check she went and purchased a house in an upscale, white neighborhood. Although she was doing what she thought was best, the purchasing of this house caused many problems among her family. Money is only a means to an end for Mama; dreams are more important to her than material...
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...In the play A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry it compares Walter with the poem Harlem, in this case Hansberry took the title from the poem, in order to convey the dream deferred. The Younger family shows their dream deferred throughout the play. Walter exemplifies the poem Harlem, his dream is to own a business, luxuries, and money. He is a sensitive person, when it comes to Ruth he tries to be nice but fails because of the way Ruth treats him. Walter makes many interesting comments and makes the worst mistakes in the play, but later in the play he transforms himself into a better person because preferably of getting the money that Mr.Linder is willing to pay their family to not to live there, he stands up like a man and didn’t take their money. Walter claims to his wife, Ruth, ... “That’s it, There you are. Man say to his women: I got me a dream. His women say: Eat your eggs. Man say: I got...
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...A Raisin in the Sun By: Daniel Alejandro Mendivil Ahuatzin 4th hour Racism is a major issue that has affected the United States since its discovery. Racism is the hatred by a person of one race pointed at a person of another race. The United States has grown up to improve as a whole but this process is a long way away from completion. Some citizens still believe that African-Americans are inferior to Caucasians and that they should be slaves. In the 1950s, whites and blacks were segregated to a point that they could not go to the same schools or even use the same bathrooms. Chief Justice Earl Warren abolished the segregation of schools in May of 1954. The desegregation of schools has helped people of all races grow up together in a non-hostile environment where they can develop relationships with people of other races. Throughout the play A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry criticizes the racial and discriminatory climate of America in the 1950s and early 60s. 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...
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...Andrea Thomas A Raisin in the Sun was an awesome book about many things, it was about a black family struggling with economic hardship and racial prejudice, this play showed the importance of family, the value of dreams, and about racial discrimination. The I have a dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr. is known as one of the best speeches ever given, the key message in the speech is that all people were created equal. His speech demanding racial justice and an integrated society became an expression for the black community. I have a dream speech and A Raisin in the Sun both talk about pride. “In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred” I think Dr. martin Luther king means that even though freedom is what and people might do whatever to be free, don’t lost pride in yourself and don’t stop pushing even with all the hate. A Raisin in the Sun “I’m going to look that son-of-a-bitch in the eyes and say all right Mr. Linder that’s your neighborhood out there! You got the right to keep it like you want! You just write the check and the house is yours, you people just put the money in my hand and won’t have to live next to a bunch of stinking niggers”. I think for a minute Walter lost his pride, the fact that he was about to give Mr. Linder exactly what he wanted, which was for the youngers not to move in the white neighborhood but when Mr...
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...A Raisin in the Sun Latika Vick, Sharlyn Harvey, Suzette Alarcon, & Candace White BSHS/422 November 26, 2011 Tim Nolan A Raisin in the Sun A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry based on a colored family between WWII and the 1960’s. The family matriarch is Lena Younger, mother to Walter Lee Younger and Beneatha Younger. They reside in a Chicago Southside apartment along with Walter’s wife Ruth and son Travis. Living in a two-bedroom apartment which they share a bathroom with their neighbor is one of many obstacles the Younger family encounters. Their home is reaching capacity and they learn Ruth is pregnant. This one of many reasons the Younger family desires to move into a home in Clybourne Park. This writing will address some of the challenges the Younger family endured as a poor colored family living in Chicago and ways to address their problems. Walter Lee is the main character who battles with alcoholism, depression, discrimination, and the loss of his father. This writing will also concentrate on the Younger’s culture, beliefs, values, and religion. Cultural Issues and Problems Culture is a set of shared values, goals, practices, behaviors, and beliefs shared by a particular social, ethnic, or age groups. Lena Younger has raised her family to believe and have faith in GOD, love, and provide for family, value education, and work hard. Although she valued these things she still tried to instill values in her children. In...
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...Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In the Sun depicts the struggles of three generations of the Younger family in the 1950’s of South Side Chicago. The nucleus of the family Lena Younger “Mama” is portrayed as a generous and wise woman throughout the text. Hansberry introduces us to Mama and describes her through the stage directions as “being a woman with “a dark brown face” which is “surrounded by the total whiteness of her hair” also a woman “who has adjusted to many things in life and overcome many more.” The total whiteness of her hair is nuanced; it represents an image of aging as well as sage. Mama quickly assumes her role as head of the home as she enters. Through dialogue she quickly displays her everlasting knowledge and good judgment in raising children. “When it starts getting chilly in the fall a child ought to have some hot grits or something when he goes out in the cold.” Mama’s prudence is further conveyed in her skepticism and towards Walter opening the liquor store. “Well whether they drinks it or not ain’t none of my business. But whether I go into business selling it to em is, and I don’t want that on my ledger this late in life.” Mama always asserts her Christian principles and offers to lend a helping hand in her family’s lives. She always senses superficiality about one of her family member’s and offers advice on how to overcome the situation. This is portrayed in her advice to Ruth to stay home from work. “I’ll just call her up and say you got the flu…cause...
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...Bob Jim English Composition II 4/22/2014 A Society Divided Life in America was tense for African Americans in the 1950’s or 1960’s. They were not treated the same way as white people were and this created many conflicts in society. Lorraine Hansberry wrote the play, “A Raisin in the Sun” to depict the story of a black family living under these circumstances who are trying to find a way to be happy. The Younger family, including Beneatha, Lena, and Walter Younger, all had positive dreams that were taken away by the negative encironment that were surrounding them. The image of these characters created by Hansberry reflects with the history and culture focusing on African American events. From the beginning, Lena Younger or Mama is seen flowering her plant. She treats the plant as a way she would to her kids. It symbolizes a way to nurture dreams and keep them thriving such as a plant. Everybody has dreams, and Mama’s dream is to live in a nice house. She has “been thinking that we maybe could meet the notes on a little old two- story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime” (989). In addition to her dream, she describes her house with a nice backyard for the kids to play in and “a little garden in the back” (990). She would also help pitch in some money by “take on a little work again, few days a week” (990). She just hopes this one dream would bring the family together under one roof. Her dream cannot be reached because she still...
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...LORRAINE ANSBERRY H A Raisinin the Sun Characters RUTH YOUNGER TRAVIS YOUNGER WALTER LEE YOUNGER (BROTHER) BENEATHA YOUNGER LENA YOUNGER (MAMA) JOSEPH ASAGAI GEORGE MURCHISON MRS. JOHNSON KARL LINDNER BOBO MOVING MEN The action of the playis set in Chicago's side, sometime South between World War II and thepresent. Act I Scene I Friday morning. Scene II Thefollowing morning. Act II Scene I Later, thesame day. Scene II Friday night, a few later. weeks Scene III Moving day, one later. week Act III An hour later. ACT I SCENEI The YOUNGER living room would comfortable wellbe a and ordered roomifitwere for a not number of indestructible contradictions to this stateofbeing. furnishings andunIts typical are 486 Lorraine Hansberry distinguished and their primary feature now is that they have clearly had to accommodate the livingof too many people too for many years—and they aretired.Still,we can seethatatsome time, a time probably no longer rememberedby the (except perfamily haps for MAMA),the furnishings this room were actually selected of with care and love and even hope—and brought tothis apartment and arranged with taste and pride. That was a long time ago. Now the once loved patternof the couch upholstery has to fight to show from under of itself acres crocheted doilies and couch covers which have themselvesfinally come to be more important than the upholstery. And hereatable or a chair has been moved to disguisetheworn places thecarpet; in but the carpet...
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...Cultural diversity is the assortment of cultures and societies we have, either within a city, region, or the world itself. In this adaptation of “A Raisin in the Sun” there were many cultures. The black women and the black men, the African American race as a whole, the rich white society, the have culture and have not so much culture. The diversity between the African American family and the Nigerian gentlemen Joseph who is interested in Beneatha and George shows that there are different black cultures and societies. Those being rich, foreign and those that have been here for generations and not been able to or have the opportunity to rise out of the situations they were brought into the world in. Benefits that Lena sees are the memories she has and the money coming and how it can change things even if just a little. But as the day goes on she sees that there is a strain on the household because of the money, and it is mainly her son. Walter sees everything as a drawback, how black people are treated, how they do not get the opportunities like white people and how they end up with service jobs, and he isn’t wrong for this time period. He sees his whole life as a draw back and the only benefit is the money his mama is getting in the mail. Because he is so blinded by his want to be wealthy and live better he trusts the wrong person with money his mother gave him; and money that was not just for him. Lena trusts her son, which ends up being a drawback because he loses it all to...
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...A Raisin in the Sun Persuasive Essay Prompt I believe the most important lesson about life that I learned by reading and studying Lorraine Hansberry’s play was that life has its peaks and valleys. The opening of the story starts with a family name the Younger’s in their apartment in the South Side of Chicago during the 1950s. It goes on to show us that it isn’t the best apartment in Chicago. It tells us that there is only one bathroom on their floor and that it isn’t very big and they refer to it as a “rat trap”. Next it tells us that Lena Younger is expecting a $10,000 life insurance check from the estate of her late husband, Walter Lee. With the check she is planning to retire from her job as a maid for a white family. Lena’s son, Walter Lee Junior, wants to use the money to buy a liquor store. His wife, Ruth, also a domestic in a white household, hopes to move to a larger apartment. Beneatha, Lena's daughter, dreams of going to medical school to be a doctor. When the check finally arrives anxiety breaks out in the family. Walter Lee feels he should get the money because he is the head of the family. While Ruth and Beneatha agree with each other that it is Lena's money, and she should decide how she wants to spend it. Lena realizes that the family's survival depends on their escape from the apartment. Because of this she makes a down payment on house in Clybourne Park. The only problem is that Clybourne Park is an all-white residential neighborhood. The plans for...
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...Entry 1: Dear Diary, I am just now leaving The United States of America and on the plane right now as I’m writing this. Mama, Walter, Ruth, and Travis all dropped me off at the airport to say goodbye. It was really hard because I know I will not see them for a while, but they know what’s best for me. I know Mama wanted me to be with George, but he truly just wasn’t for me. He wanted me to be someone who I was not. He tried to push me away from who I am. I am Beneatha and proud of myself and family and since he couldn’t respect that I had to let him go. I hope Mama will understand why I did such a thing. She will never know how much I love her. As I am looking out of this window at the little specks of houses diapering I am thinking about what my future holds. I wonder if I have made the right decision, but I can only hope so. Joseph has changed my view of life. He has changed me for the better. I have always wanted to help others after I had watched the little boy in my neighborhood cut his head open. I know I am not the greatest follower of god, but I think this might be his plan for me. To look after the sick and diseased. I am delighted I have met Asagai. It’s almost like he is my other half because when I am with him I feel so alive and free. He makes me feel wanted and loved. He may not be the rich like George, but I love him just as much, if not more. Looking out into the clouds I see a happy future. Saving lives, curing patients, and caring for all who have been hurt...
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...An Analysis of A Raisin In The Sun “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’s South-Side after the Second World War. The family consisted of Mama (Lena Younger), Walter Lee (her son), Ruth (his wife), Travis (their son), and Beneatha (Walters younger sister). The Younger family lived in poor conditions and can’t afford to have better living standards. However, Lena is waiting to receive a $10,000 check from her ex husband’s insurance money. The two main characters in the play, Mama and Walter, want this money to be used for the benefits of the whole family. Even though both of them want to benefit the family, each one has different idea on what to do with money and how to manage it to benefit everyone. Walter Lee, like his father want’s his family to have a better life and wants to invest the money in a liquor store. Walter want’s the money so that he can prove that he is capable of making a future for his family. By doing well in business, Walter thinks that he can buy his family happiness. Walter has dreams, which he most likely got from his father. He dreams of a better life for his family and himself to be financially stable and have a comfortable living. Ruth, on the other hand is stable and down to earth. She doesn’t make rash to choices to accommodate a dream. She will just make do with what she has. Mama is a loving...
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...In A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry uses allusions to make audiences with varying levels of education interpret the play differently. For example, someone who is educated would interpret the play, along with the allusions, as a social commentary on racial inequality and the contrast between assimilation and nonconformity in society. However, an uneducated person who would not understand the context behind the allusions or the underlying meaning of the text would see a heartwarming story about a family who overcame multiple struggles, bought a house, and lived happily ever after. With this in mind, the play is seemingly directed towards an educated audience who would understand the references and their significance, and it just so happens that...
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...Contrast Between Siblings, Walter Versus Beneatha In reading the play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, one can almost get the feeling they were there in Chicago in the 1950’s. The Younger’s are an African-American family whom live in a small, dilapidated two-bedroom apartment in Chicago’s south side. The play opens up with the struggling Younger family barely making it through life, but then surprisingly find out they are receiving a life insurance policy from their father; whom previously passed. The inheritance left behind by their father equals ten thousand dollars, but with this money comes sibling rivalry between Walter and his sister Beneatha. Walter, the only son of Lena Younger “Mama”, is the typical African American man from the 1950’s who is trying to support the family with his job as a chauffeur. He believes everything revolves around him and his opinions are more important than the women in his family. Walter is constantly arguing and fighting with his wife Ruth, Mama, and his sister Beneatha. He blatantly disregards his family’s concerns, more specifically, Beneatha’s concerns, and always feels like he must have the final word in any argument that unfolds. In Walter’s opinion, much like most men from his decade, he believes that the man of the house is the ultimate decision maker. Walter thinks he is realistic with his dreams, while “living in a white man’s world”; however, he is an idealist who believes that a future full of money will bring him and...
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