Whether or not Ruth will actually decide on an abortion is debatable, for Ruth says to Mama in Act I, “Ain’t no thin’ can tear at you like losin’ your baby.” Ruth says this as Mama is recounting the pain of having lost her own baby, Claude. At this point in the play, Ruth’s pregnancy has not yet been verified, but the dialogue spawned by the abortion controversy in this drama is as relevant today as it was in 1959, when the play opened. She is different from Lena in that she vocalizes her frustrations with her spouse, Walter.
With these negative aspects of the stories, both authors incorporate the theme of nature in order to tie in metaphors, quotes, descriptions, and statements. Nature as a theme in these stories can include human nature to the green outdoor nature. Throughout the play their are times that i wondered why would or rather how could people be so set on ruining other peoples lives. I grew up with many different raced people around me throughout my life so i will never fully understand the thought process of racist people. The Youngers seem to be portrayed as hard working people and they want whats best for their family it doesn’t make a difference what color they are i would of still watched it the same with no judgement. Mama also disapproves with the fact that Beneatha no longer believes in God.
Essays On A Raisin In The Sun
The visual appearance of the characters in the play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ and how it symbolizes the play’s themes. Comparison of how characters manage with economic hardship in the novel ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ by John Steinbeck and the play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ by Lorraine Hansberry. For the purpose of helping students write great essays about this play, our service summarized and included all good essay topics for ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ in one list. Lorraine Hansberry was the first African-American dramatist to perform a play in Broadway. ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ raises a lot of social topics such as gender roles, racial segregation, the dependence of personal development on material problems, and many other controversial issues. He tries to find a new better way to solve his family’s economic situation, but none of his family members have same belief as him.
- He feels that investing money plays a huge role in gaining money, which is why he wants to invest in a Liquor company, which ultimately fails, and he loses all…
- The living room becomes symbolic of the Younger’s plight, they are tired and worn out from trying to advance their position in life.
- At first, Walter is willing to degrade himself in order to obtain these goals, but he faces a critical turning point when he reconsiders Mr. Lindner’s offer.
- The “American Dream” includes many ideas, but it is primarily the belief that anyone who comes to or is born in America can achieve success through hard work.
- You can curse your life but you must not abandon it or dreams will be deferred for good.
Petrie revises Hansberry’s play by making slight changes to the setting, character development and interactions. He alters the setting by the presentation of the Youngers furniture to give the appearance that they are less impoverished. Petrie presents Beneatha’s character as foolish and immature rather than Hansberry’s version being an African American women embracing her heritage and rebelling against societal constraints. In the play Joseph Asagai plays a pivotal role in encouraging Beneatha to break through society’s oppression by pushing her to embrace her roots.
A Raisin In The Sun: Summary, Characters, Themes & Analysis
Langston Hughes, for example, was a friend of her father’s and often came to the Hansberry home for dinner. Lorraine’s uncle, Leo Hansberry, a noted historian and professor, was the teacher of Kwame Nkrumah while he was a student at Howard University. Along with feminism, the theme of fecundity (fertility; being fruitfully prolific) is threaded throughout this play. Three generations of Youngers live in the same household; in addition, both Ruth’s possible pregnancy and her contemplation of abortion become focal points of the drama, and Mama’s reference to the child that she lost is emphasized. She does not merely mention Baby Claude in conversation; rather she dwells upon her loss dramatically.
The mom may have three or four kids; the boys in the family may be involved in gangs because they don’t have a dad in the house; and mom may have two jobs because she only makes the minimum wage and can’t buy enough food on just one job. There are a lot of people who just barely make it from paycheck to paycheck. So don’t be fooled, I would say to that man, because even though life is a lot better than it was in 1959, there are still a lot of problems and many black families still struggle. Okay, what would he say, how would he react, to seeing a Raisin in the Sun, if he were to see it today on Broadway? I can imagine he would enjoy it a lot, but he would probably think to himself, there aren’t that many black folks who have to live in squalor like that anymore. Thank God, he would say to himself, life has gotten better for most black families.
It is interesting to note that it is the sister who wants to have the family return to their African roots and Walter who seems to want to join the white capitalist society. In the era that the play is set it was usually the men who wanted to hold fast to their heritage while the women were content to stay home, raise children clean house and have the men make the political and societal decisions for the family. Walter Lee, Mama’s son is contemplating on investing his share in a liquor store in order to get finances that would salvage the family’s financial status. On the other hand, Walter’s wife shares her vision with Mama and hopes that their son Trivis will find the world a better place to live. Lastly, Beneatha gives her medical school tuition first priority as she tries to figure out her identity by reflecting on their history and Africa.
Walter sometimes drinks too much and is less mature emotionally when compared to other members of his family, as seen in his embrace of self-pity and the tendency to blame outside forces for his own shortcomings. He also struggles with the oppression from within his own family; his mother’s reluctance to share the insurance money so that Walter can invest in a liquor store is seen by him as a great injustice. Despite the more leveled-headed example of his wife, Ruth, Walter is forced to address his issues through the course of the play and, as a result, grows into a mature, more focused man. At the beginning of the play, Walter Lee and Beneatha’s father has recently died, and Mama is waiting for a life insurance check for $10,000. Walter has a sense of entitlement to the money, but Mama has religious objections to alcohol, and Beneatha has to remind him it is Mama’s call how to spend it.