...Perception of Ignorance When it comes to culture and identity ignorance can play an important role between success and failure. The stories below will provide examples of how our ignorance as a society can determine how we perceive others as well as how we are perceived by others. Sonny’s Blues Sonny’s Blues is a short story that illustrates the ignorance of the narrator to his Brother Sonny’s dream of becoming a jazz musician. The narrator thinks that life flows on the ability to just make a living that people do not have to find happiness in working to live. However, this way of thinking is different for Sonny, For example, the narrator says “Well, look, Sonny, I’m sorry, don’t get mad. I just don’t altogether get it, that’s all. Name somebody—you know, a jazz musician you admire.” (Baldwin, 1957, pg.575). Sonny responds with “Bird” (Baldwin, 1957, pg.575) and the narrator responds with “who?” After lighting a cigarette and taking a step back from the conversation, the narrator realizes how out of touch from society he has become. He is shocked and entertained by the fact that his body is trembling. The narrator tells Sonny that he will have to be patient with his ignorance on who Charlie Parker is (Baldwin, 1957, pg.575). This is Sonny’s world through his own eyes and this is what happiness is to him, the culture of jazz playing is his identity. As stated above, Sonny relates to jazz in ways that the narrator cannot understand. The narrator’s ignorance of Sonny’s...
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...represent, and how does the symbol evolve over the course of the play? Examine the end of the play. Why is Mama returning for her plant the last action we see on stage ?Mamas plant represents her faith in her dreams. That regardless of their living arrangements and life’s struggles, but never to give up on anything. She took care of it every day it was a representation of her dreams to always live in a bigger and better house with a yard. It showed how strong she was throughout everything life gave her. That’s why she took the new plant to the new house to show that never giving up and keeping your faith her strength in believing in dreams that they come true. Struggle but to maintain your dignity. Dreams do come true. 2. How does the description of the Younger’s’ apartment contribute to the mood of the play? The apartment sets the mood because it sets the surroundings and the environment . It is a small apt with one window it gives the feeling of being cramped and trapped. It lets you know there in the ghetto and are poverty stricken. 3. How does the idea of assimilation become important? The family shows in the hope to succeed regardless of any obstacles. The struggles with their identity as with being African Americans. Beneatha with her academics to be a doctor to heal, and as well as her conflicts with Everyone. 4. Think about the role of money in the play. How does it affect different characters? It causes conflict within...
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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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