The Story of Dreams
Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is an American play about an African American family struggling to achieve their American Dream. Although everyone in the family wants to achieve the American Dream, they differ in their dreams spurring conflict between each other. The differences in their American Dreams represents the American diversity and individuality. The conflict is intensified when the family receives a life insurance check worth $10,000 as as result of the deceased grandfather. With the money each family member could more actively pursue and possibly achieve their American Dream. In the following paragraphs I will analyze three major characters and their American Dream.
Walter is one of the most important main characters of the play. All he wants to have is money in order to buy things for his family. He is frustrated with his current economic situation and attempts to end it by formulating different business plans. Unfortunately the one plan he unwisely invests in, ends in failure because the con-artist stole his money. Throughout the story he gets extremely depressed and expresses his frustration and jealousy. "Sometimes when I'm downtown and I pass them cool-quit-looking restaurants where them white boys are sitting back and talking 'bout things... sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars...sometimes I see guys don't look much older than me-" (1.2 226). In addition to this quote, the setting (Chicago) and time period (1950s) depicts a racist culture that was a part of American society for many years. Walter is tormented by the fact that men of the same age have a better chance of achieving the American Dream than he does. Walter's actions and attitude challenges the second element of my position statement as American being the inventor of human liberty. The United States was unfair and unjust in the past, but The United States is a country that can be improved and is improved. The increased integration and improvement in racial equality is shown in two instances within the story. One instance appears in a discussion when Mama and Walter make inferences to their family's slave past and the harsh working conditions Walter's father had to endure while at the same time reflecting on how far the African American community has come. This example shows that African Americans have improved their social status and living conditions, but were still worse off than their white counterparts. A second instance hints at future improvements in racial equality. This instance is at the very end of the story when the family decides to buy and move into the house that is located in a neighborhood dominated by whites, and reject Mr. Lindner's monetary offer to not move. The play reveals flaws and inequalities in American society that would be challenged through the 50s, 60s and even to the present day.
Mama is the head of the Younger household and a strong figure in the play. She is another character that has a very specific American Dream. Her American Dream is more family and religiously oriented. As the mother figure, she focuses on the overall well-being of the family. The predicament she is in, is quite unique. As the character who rightfully owns the money provided by the life insurance check, she is faced with the decision of how the money will be used. Everyone in the family is bidding for the money in order to use it to selfishly fund their own American Dream. Mama decides that the money will and should be used to benefit the entire family. Mama did not have to use if for the family and could of used it for herself. She even outwardly rejects using it for herself. In the play Ruth (Walter's wife) tried to convince Mamma to use the money by stating "You know what you should do, Miss Lena? You should take yourself a trip somewhere.To Europe or South America or someplace-." Mama responded "Oh, child!" and at the same time threw her hands up in the air as a way of rejecting the idea as being ridiculous.
Another character with a significant American Dream is Benethrea. Benethrea wants to become a doctor but also has other interests such as learning how to play the guitar and going to Africa. Her other interest are perfectly normal. Many Americans have multiple interests, but we all have a main goal that presides over all others. Her dream is boldly stated when she says,"Listen, I'm going to be a doctor. I'm not worried about who I'm going to marry yet - if I ever get married"(1.1. 268). Early on in the play it is made clear that Mama will fund Benethrea's education and through much of the rest of the story Benthrea is forced to defend her dream. Benethrea is extensively challenged and is fully aware of the mindset she must have in order to overcome the racial obstacles and gender stereotypes in order to achieve her dream. A strong mindset is essential to accomplish a formidable goal. Only when a person discovers what they truly want to do, can the massive about of energy can be put into the task. Throughout the story she constantly searches for her identity much like Americans will search for their true purpose in life. Her constant struggle to find a life path could resemble an average American who is in the "drawing stages" of their American invention which will become their own personal American Dream. She is young, and represents the America youth who struggle to discover themselves and find out what they really want to do with their life.
Each character in the story is an inventor of their own American Dream. They all represent human liberty because of their ability to think for themselves and develop their own dreams. For the most part the American society provides all the necessary tools for advancement, however, certain limitations such as social and economic class may limit the ability of some to utilize all the benefits The United States of America has to offer. The Raisin in the Sun will continue to be a play about dreams and the reality in trying to achieve them.
Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is an American play about an African American family struggling to achieve their American Dream. Although everyone in the family wants to achieve the American Dream, they differ in their dreams spurring conflict between each other. The differences in their American Dreams represents the American diversity and individuality. The conflict is intensified when the family receives a life insurance check worth $10,000 as as result of the deceased grandfather. With the money each family member could more actively pursue and possibly achieve their American Dream. In the following paragraphs I will analyze three major characters and their American Dream.
Walter is one of the most important main characters of the play. All he wants to have is money in order to buy things for his family. He is frustrated with his current economic situation and attempts to end it by formulating different business plans. Unfortunately the one plan he unwisely invests in, ends in failure because the con-artist stole his money. Throughout the story he gets extremely depressed and expresses his frustration and jealousy. "Sometimes when I'm downtown and I pass them cool-quit-looking restaurants where them white boys are sitting back and talking 'bout things... sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars...sometimes I see guys don't look much older than me-" (1.2 226). In addition to this quote, the setting (Chicago) and time period (1950s) depicts a racist culture that was a part of American society for many years. Walter is tormented by the fact that men of the same age have a better chance of achieving the American Dream than he does. Walter's actions and attitude challenges the second element of my position statement as American being the inventor of human liberty. The United States was unfair and unjust in the past, but The United States is a country that can be improved and is improved. The increased integration and improvement in racial equality is shown in two instances within the story. One instance appears in a discussion when Mama and Walter make inferences to their family's slave past and the harsh working conditions Walter's father had to endure while at the same time reflecting on how far the African American community has come. This example shows that African Americans have improved their social status and living conditions, but were still worse off than their white counterparts. A second instance hints at future improvements in racial equality. This instance is at the very end of the story when the family decides to buy and move into the house that is located in a neighborhood dominated by whites, and reject Mr. Lindner's monetary offer to not move. The play reveals flaws and inequalities in American society that would be challenged through the 50s, 60s and even to the present day.
Mama is the head of the Younger household and a strong figure in the play. She is another character that has a very specific American Dream. Her American Dream is more family and religiously oriented. As the mother figure, she focuses on the overall well-being of the family. The predicament she is in, is quite unique. As the character who rightfully owns the money provided by the life insurance check, she is faced with the decision of how the money will be used. Everyone in the family is bidding for the money in order to use it to selfishly fund their own American Dream. Mama decides that the money will and should be used to benefit the entire family. Mama did not have to use if for the family and could of used it for herself. She even outwardly rejects using it for herself. In the play Ruth (Walter's wife) tried to convince Mamma to use the money by stating "You know what you should do, Miss Lena? You should take yourself a trip somewhere.To Europe or South America or someplace-." Mama responded "Oh, child!" and at the same time threw her hands up in the air as a way of rejecting the idea as being ridiculous.
Another character with a significant American Dream is Benethrea. Benethrea wants to become a doctor but also has other interests such as learning how to play the guitar and going to Africa. Her other interest are perfectly normal. Many Americans have multiple interests, but we all have a main goal that presides over all others. Her dream is boldly stated when she says,"Listen, I'm going to be a doctor. I'm not worried about who I'm going to marry yet - if I ever get married"(1.1. 268). Early on in the play it is made clear that Mama will fund Benethrea's education and through much of the rest of the story Benthrea is forced to defend her dream. Benethrea is extensively challenged and is fully aware of the mindset she must have in order to overcome the racial obstacles and gender stereotypes in order to achieve her dream. A strong mindset is essential to accomplish a formidable goal. Only when a person discovers what they truly want to do, can the massive about of energy can be put into the task. Throughout the story she constantly searches for her identity much like Americans will search for their true purpose in life. Her constant struggle to find a life path could resemble an average American who is in the "drawing stages" of their American invention which will become their own personal American Dream. She is young, and represents the America youth who struggle to discover themselves and find out what they really want to do with their life.
Each character in the story is an inventor of their own American Dream. They all represent human liberty because of their ability to think for themselves and develop their own dreams. For the most part the American society provides all the necessary tools for advancement, however, certain limitations such as social and economic class may limit the ability of some to utilize all the benefits The United States of America has to offer. The Raisin in the Sun will continue to be a play about dreams and the reality in trying to achieve them.