...“HEY” (Loud shout). Wasn’t that effective in seizing your attention? The opening scene in the play A Raisin in the Sun was somewhat analogous to that. This paperback allows us to gaze into a the typical black family in Chicago sometime after World War II allowing us to behold the toils that they went through just to consummate their dreams. This maelstrom of a play inscribed by Lorraine Hansberry who captivatingly used the literary techniques such as characterization which as a result allowed us to clearly gain insight on the characters mentality and to form a bond with them. Another key point is her use of symbolism which enchantingly divulges to the readers each Youngers perspective dreams. It is also imperative to grasp her use of imagery that cogently portrayed to us their caste of living. By the same token we must not be negligent of her use of contrast which subsequently shows the variance in the emotions of Walter and Ruth, we must also diagnose Walter lack of empathy for Ruth’s feelings in the story. To begin, the first scene also has a great amount of characterization. In this opening scene of the play we see that Hansberry has carefully outlined the description for each of the main characters (the Youngers) as a way to properly introduce each character into the play. She opens the play with the description of Ruth (the pessimist of the family) who Hansberry states that though in her early thirties due to numerous disappointments in life appears quite older...
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...“A Raisin in the Sun” What happens to a dream deferred? In the poem written by Langston Hughes detects what could happen to dreams that are not pursued or maybe even dreams that don’t come true. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry which also discuss dreams and how they can change throughout time. Both Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry write about the effect of dreams and pursuing happiness. Neither of the two directly spells out racism but by reading the two together they are talking about the dreams of African Americans and how their dreams are harder to achieve and sometimes they just shrivel up like a raisin in the sun or maybe it just sags like a heavy load Hughes writes. The realities of dreams during this era in time for African Americans were slim. In Hansberry’s play we know that blacks are not equal to the whites. The main theme in both pieces of work is about the dreams and ambitions that everyone possesses and to be able to overcome society’s views and live a life that you want for yourself, regardless of what anyone else says or does. Broken dreams can be extremely hard for anyone but more so if you are already expected to fail. A Raisin in the Sun becomes about dreams as the main characters try to overcome obstacles in their own lives to achieve their dreams. The title of the play is perfect because of all the dreams and failures that are mixed throughout the play will the Youngers dreams shrivel up “like a raisin...
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...difficult for individuals, as well as families, as unremitting rejection from society left many in poverty. Subordination of minorities in American generated a strenuous struggle by both African-Americans and numerous white Americans advocates who endorse the termination of racism and encourage egalitarianism. The awe-inspiring production A Raisin in the Sun became renowned as a historical reenactment of a handful of people most personal, influential, monumental, life altering moments in life that occur within their home. The play epitomizes real life’s situations about overcoming obstacles, defining one’s distinctive way of life, and handling idiosyncratic conditions at home in a reconstruction of the fictitious Younger family who animate life in 1950s America, moreover Chicago. The play was created by an African-American writer Lorraine Hansberry in 1959 who advocated for human rights which consists of racial minorities and women. In the day to day reality of the Younger’s situation, Mama, Beneatha, Ruth and Walter are able to come together in harmony realizing that together they are stronger than they are separately. The moral in A Raisin in the Sun, publicized through the Younger family, epitomizes the magnanimous gesture of gratitude and devotion to always love your family, the people you are already given in life to be a companion. The characters in the story have very different personalities which lead to a family dynamic that evolves into a common acceptance by the end....
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...A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, which debuted on broad way in 1959. They play takes place sometime in the 1950’s, a time period wrought with social issues which were ignored by the general public. The play concentrates on the Younger family; Ruth, Travis, Walter Lee, Beneatha, and Lena, the family head. The events of the play take place over the course of only a few weeks, where-in the Younger family is to receive a large sum of money for the death of Lena’s husband. The family is then torn between what they all want from the money, causing conflict. Ultimately they move into a house in an all-white neighborhood. (Hansberry 1959) Lena’s husband, Mr. Younger, died and as a result, the family is scheduled to receive a 10 thousand dollar check on Saturday. This causes a lot of tension between the family members, including Ruth and Walter Lee. They get into multiple arguments regarding the money. In one particular argument, Walter indulges Ruth with his dream of opening a liquor store, and that he only needs a few thousand dollars. Ruth disregards him and tells him to eat his eggs or they’ll get cold. (Hansberry 1959) After not getting a favorable response from Ruth, Walter says ( ). Walter uses the phrase “Eat your eggs.” as fuel to express how women keep men from their dreams, and that women need to support their husbands, especially in their culture. During the 1950’s, being a supporting housewife was...
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...dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore and then run?” The Younger family have the dream of transcending the “American Dream.” They continually need to water and nurture their dream lest it dries up and shrivels up like “A Raisin in the Sun.” Through the manipulation of dialogue, argument and cynicism, Lorraine Hansberry fluently describes the drams of the Younger family and how their dreams became “deferred.” Initially by way of example, Mama’s dreams were the first deferred when she moved into the cramped apartment complex, becoming too busy having to deal with the constant bickering of Walter and his sister and trying to think of a proper environment of Ruth’s unborn child. that she couldn’t accomplish her dream and not being able to have sufficient funds to do so it seems as if her dreams where shattered the most by the death of her husband. However, once receiving the insurance money from her husband’s death her dreams became reality again. Finally Travis will be able to run around in a garden and have his own room but can’t fulfill that since they lived in the ghetto. Likewise, Beneatha, Walter’s sister had aspired to become a doctor but in those times women of color weren’t considered of obtaining such high positions to where the usual standpoint is becoming a nurse. Hansberry’s use of argument is potent because it shows how stressful it is for the whole family to be able to provide for Beneatha’s education and how this is causing...
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...dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore and then run?” The Younger family have the dream of transcending the “American Dream.” They continually need to water and nurture their dream lest it dries up and shrivels up like “A Raisin in the Sun.” Through the manipulation of dialogue, argument and cynicism, Lorraine Hansberry fluently describes the drams of the Younger family and how their dreams became “deferred.” Initially by way of example, Mama’s dreams were the first deferred when she moved into the cramped apartment complex, becoming too busy having to deal with the constant bickering of Walter and his sister and trying to think of a proper environment of Ruth’s unborn child. that she couldn’t accomplish her dream and not being able to have sufficient funds to do so it seems as if her dreams where shattered the most by the death of her husband. However, once receiving the insurance money from her husband’s death her dreams became reality again. Finally Travis will be able to run around in a garden and have his own room but can’t fulfill that since they lived in the ghetto. Likewise, Beneatha, Walter’s sister had aspired to become a doctor but in those times women of color weren’t considered of obtaining such high positions to where the usual standpoint is becoming a nurse. Hansberry’s use of argument is potent because it shows how stressful it is for the whole family to be able to provide for Beneatha’s education and how this is causing...
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...Symbolism is when the author uses a character or an object to add a deeper understanding of the story. Even a tedious work of literature can be roused when symbols are applied. The 1959s play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry comes from the poem “Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes. The Younger’s are an impoverished family who lives on the Southside of Chicago during the time of World War II and escapes poverty through the $10,000 insurance check followed by Big Walter’s death. Considering the poem what Langston Hughes wrote about, the dream discussed is most likely to differ due to the American Dream of success and wealth. Mama’s plant, the eggs, and the apartment represent symbols in the book that represents the struggle of achieving...
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... The Use of Dreams and Objects in A Raisin in the Sun and the Symbolism Behind Them Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun details the difficult lives of a family as they strive to survive in a time of uncertainty, and inequality, for a people that are considered second class citizens. This family has lived through much adversity, but they continually strive to better their lives while they try to maintain faith in their fellow man, and each other. Even though everything around them is structured for their failure, they still strive to better themselves through each other’s love, support, and individual dreams or desires. Even though they have been instilled with strong spiritual and moral values, they still struggle at times to remain true to these values and not let their dreams and desires lead them astray, or let the unfair times bring them down further. In A Raisin in the Sun Mama, Walter, and Beneatha cling to various objects that embody their dreams or desires, even if some of them are misguided, but whether good or bad, these objects and dreams affect their individual personalities in profound ways that eventually heal them individually, and collectively, as a family. When one reads A Raisin in the Sun, one will see that the objects and dreams in the play are used to symbolize Mama, Walter, and Beneatha’s strength of character, how it has developed, and how it is constantly evolving. To...
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...A Raisin in the Sun is a play surrounding the life of a black working class family in Chicago. The name of the play is taken from a Langston Hughes called “A Dream Deferred”. The poem describes the possible outcomes of dreams that are cast aside and forgotten. This poem relates the Lorraine Hansberry’s play, as A Raisin in the Sun focuses on the dreams of the family and how society impacts and defers their dreams. The protagonist, Walter Younger, strives to achieve the American dream; however, his economic standing, his race, and his family defer his dreams. Walter Younger dreams of becoming a wealthy entrepreneur so that he can drive his family out of poverty. However, economic circumstance interferes with his dream. In the beginning of...
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...“ Every conquering temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before,” (Yeats). In this drama we see characters devolve from difficult challenges in their life. All of the challenges faced through out the play brought the family closer. In A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, The theme of conquering challenges in order to reach a dream is shown through character development of Walter, Beneatha and Mama. In Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun, Walter Younger transforms from a selfish impractical dream of running a liquor store, to becoming the respected patriarch of his family. In the beginning of Act 1, Walter explains his desire to open a liquor store. He says, “This morning, I was...
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...Final Draft In the poem, Kitchenette Building, written by Gwendolyn Brooks, and the stage directions in A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, both authors effectively demonstrate how the use of personification in the setting can create the the idea of dreams. The authors use figurative language to personify the setting into describing how dreams can not come true because of life getting in the way. In the poem, Kitchenette Building, Gwendolyn Brooks describes a run down building that is shared by many people. The reader can infer that the setting of this building is worn out, tired, and unappealing. The building is described as being “grayed in, and gray['d out]” (Brooks, 2). The building itself has not physically worn itself down, but Brooks uses personification to demonstrate how tired and gray the building appears. She uses the color gray to create an image in the reader's mind of a dull and boring building. All signs of life and hope have been sucked out of the building that even “yesterday’s garbage [was] ripening in the hall” (Brooks, 23). The author adds this to show how the building has no sign of life, and there is only ripening trash in an empty hallway. This represents the harsh reality of life, and that dreams do not easily come true while in this lifeless setting. She wants to demonstrate that life has it's ugly obstacles in the way. Not only does she use personification for the building, but Brooks also used it when describing the symbol of a dream. The idea...
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...In Lorraine Hansberry, “A Raisin in the Sun” we begin with a typical day with the Younger family getting ready. The play begins with a description of the living room, with the main theme being weariness. Throughout the play we can see that the Younger family is struggling, and await an insurance check from the death of the father. Though the money is not yet there; each member of the family has a plan for the money in question. Mama wants to buy a house to fulfill the dream she shared with her husband, Beneatha wished to use the money for medical school. Walter Lee would rather ‘invest’ the money and Ruth, Walter Lee’s wife, agrees with Mama and wishes to buy a house as she sees the strain a small home places on the family. As the play progresses the tensions rise and ultimately Ruth comes to state that she is pregnant but considering abortion. At this point Mama rushes out the door and is not seen until later. Upon her return, Mama informs the family she has put a down payment on a house, she speaks to her son about it; describes how they would live in it but Walter Lee remains sullen. He feels his mother has ‘butchered his dreams’. Walter Lee keeps sulking and begins to miss work, but after a heart to heart with mama he feels he is finally validated as the head of the household when he is entrusted with the remaining of the money. The days go by and the family begins to prepare for the move....
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...The Complexity of Privilege and Domination Privilege always occurs at the expense of others. Allan Johnson states, “The trouble we’re in privileges some groups at the expense of others. It creates a yawning divide in levels of income, wealth, dignity, safety, health, and quality of life” (Johnson 7). Allan Johnson states this in Chapter 1 of his book Privilege, Power and Difference and it is one of the most powerful statements in the whole book. Privilege creates a great divide between people. This can have a negative lasting effect, if not under control. Society has divided people into two groups: superior and inferior. The superior groups are the ones that are privileged in society and the inferior ones are ones that are underprivileged; however, there is a certain complexity that comes with privilege. There are so many different combinations of race, gender, class, sexual orientation or disability status that can occur so finding a person who fits all of the above is difficult. Ideally, it would be a white, wealthy, heterosexual male who is not disabled. Majority of people in the world do not fit that description. It is much more likely that an individual would be privileged in one or two of those categories. The complexity of privilege lies in the fact that individuals who are seen as superior and therefore privileged are entitled to have more opportunities than those who are underprivileged and inferior; however, this is not guaranteed. Allan Johnson’s...
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...blazing midsummer sun beat down upon that square mile of abominations . . . tons of garbage festering in the sun, and the greasy laundry of the workers hung out to dry and dining rooms littered with food black with flies, and toilet rooms that are open sewers" (328). These are the work conditions that the main character, Jurgis, deals with throughout the novel. The same theme, life is not fair, occurs in the novel Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck. The family goes through hard times during the great depression. In Langston Hughes’s poem, “Mother to Son”, the mother teaches her son to keep going in life, even if it is not fair. The final work that this...
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...A Mother's Dream and a Child's Choice Jennell Osborn Lit/210 - World Literature October 20, 2013 Shannon Green A Mother's Dream and a Child's Choice: A comparison of A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry and Two Kinds, by Amy Tan While it is true that every mother should have a dream for her child, she should never burden him with it because the child will grow up believing he has disappointed or failed her in some way. There is an old Jewish proverb that says, "A slave shows his true character not while enslaved, but when he becomes a master." (Author unknown). In the same way, a child who has not yet become his own person is often enslaved by his mother's dream for him. This comparative essay will attempt to explain how each of the mothers in Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, and Two Kinds, written by Amy Tan, places the burden of their own dreams onto their children, and the impact it had on both Walter and Jing-Mei as adults. Additionally, my research results will explain the trauma a child may suffer when a parent wants their children to reach for dreams, and ambitions not their own. There can be a fine line between supporting a child’s ambitions and emotionally abusing them with pressure to succeed. It is important the child enjoys what he is doing, and except failure, knowing he has done his best. Equally important...
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