A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun is a story about a working-class African-American family who all have dreams. They struggle to keep their dream of going from tenants to owners alive. Unfortunately they are in a bad position to accomplish these dreams because society sees them based on their race and class, but they are willing to rebel against that position in order to fulfill their dreams. Throughout the play they come to terms with the dreams that are out of reach, and strive to fulfill those that are in reach. A major theme in the play is the story of every persons struggle to reach goals that aren't always in sink with what societies thoughts and/or ideas are. Walter Younger is a chauffeur who wants to become wealthy and live as Mr. Arnold, his employer does. At times he feels as if he is going crazy. He tells Mama, "sometimes it's like I can see the future stretched out in front of me-just plain as day.... Hanging over there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me- a big looming blank space-full of nothing.... But it don't have to be" (73-4). Although he gives up, his position in time allows for one other alternative to take his place on any one of a number of challenges, like he
The bigger Walter dreams the further he seems to get from his family. lping to break down restricted neighborhoods which are limited because they do not threaten the basic social order. This movement away from the family contributes to the demise of the values and morals of the family. In the end the story bestow a view of how standing by long term family goals, values and beliefs provides a greater sense of unity that can overcome most any obstacle and keep family pride a president. She has a passion for discovering new information about Africa, and befriends Joseph Asaigi, a Nigerian student. At first she is against giving any of the money to Walter, because she thinks that the money will not benefit the family. However when she asserts herself she runs the risk of detaching from the only definite support group in life, her family. 'By the way, what are your views on civil rights down there?'" (113) At the start of the play Walter, and his wife, Ruth, are having a fight over Walter's dream to be a 'mover and shaker' in the business world by using an incoming insurance check for his mother as a down payment on a capitalistic adventure. She fights many of her own social battles. However, Walter's deal falls through though, and he's in an even more 'pride deflating' situation, where he is suppose to talk with the head of the white 'Welcoming Committee' of their new neighborhood and pretending to be the stereotypical black so that the 'Welcoming Committee' will buy the family's new house. She's interested in civil rights, and Walter jokes: "I can just see that chick someday looking down at some poor cat on an operating table and before she starts to slice into him, she says. This is an illustration of a major conflict throughout the story. She begins to straightens her previously permed hair, listens to African music, and then accuses her brother of being an "assimilationist Negro" (81). While trying to better herself, Beneatha, is unknowingly leaving an important part of her heritage behind. Later in the story Walter learns that for the overall good of the family he needs to set his dreams aside and get his head straight so that all may succeed.
Common topics in this essay:
Asaigi Nigerian,
Raisin Sun,
Mama Leana,
Beneatha Walter's,
'welcoming committee',
civil rights,
raisin sun,
values morals,
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