Dreams in “A Raisin in the Sun” ( THIS WORK WAS DONE FOR A CLIENT BUT HE DINT FOR THE TASK SO I AM UPLOADING IT)
Full name
Professor’s name
Course title
Paper’s due date
Dreams in “A Raisin
in the Sun”
Lorraine Hansberry wrote the play "A Raisin in the
Sun" produced on March 11, 1959 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New
York. "A Raisin in the Sun" was the first drama produced by African
American women on Broadway. The play won the New York Drama Critics Award in 1958
and 1959. The title of the play has a significant impact. The play shows how a
family starts out good and gradually goes downhill and then they start back up
good. For instance a sun raises and then sets. "A Raisin in the Sun",
depicts a decisive picture of African American life in the mid 1950s.
Hansberry described the Younger family dreams and how those dreams
became deferred dreams. The family consisted of Mama (Lena Younger), Beneatha
(her daughter), Walter Lee (her son), Ruth (his wife), Travis (their son). They
all dream of a better life. Lena Younger also known as Mama "Claudia
McNeil" receives a life insurance check for 10,000 dollar for the death of
her husband and dreams of having her own home in a clean, integrated
environment. Walter dreams of working as a business man in the liquor store,
Beneatha wishes something that is really unusual as a minority in the early
times of 1960s and that is to become a doctor. Ruth has a same dream just like
Mama’s. She desires a happy family and believes that one step towards this goal
is to have a better and bigger place to live. However, Mama decides to give some
money to Walter in the hope that he will invest 3,000 dollars of the money in
Beneatha's education and the rest in his name to be utilized as he sees fit. Walter thinks
that money is the only way to have success. He wishes to invest all the money
in the liquor business with some of his friends because he believes that
studying medicine is not a profession of women and worries that the cost for
tuition is too high of a cut of the check. At that moment Beneatha, who is furious
and angry, taunts her brother by asking him to forgive her for having a dream. BENEATHA
(Dropping to her knees) Well – I do – all right? – thank everybody! And forgive
me for ever wanting to be anything at all! (Pursuing him on her knees across
the floor) FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME! (Act I, scene i). Walter decided
to invest all his money in business. Just a night before making the investment,
Walter tells Travis (his son) about the business transaction he is going to
make while tucking him into bed. He tells his little boy that soon their lives
will change and paints an elaborate and clear picture of the bright future.
Although Walter is materialistic in what he needs at the core he just desires a
happy family and a son who should have all the opportunities he never
had.
During this time Mama
Purchases a house to fulfill the dream she and her husband have; the only house
she can buy is in a white suburban neighborhood. Mr. Linder is part of the community
welcoming committee where Mama purchased the house. He aims to buy them
out. Mr. Lindner arrives at the Younger house trying to convince them not to
destroy the white community. He offers them lots of money in exchange for their
acceptance. Meantime Walter looses all the cash he has invested in the
liquor business. Walter’s business partner Bobo notifies him that the investment
gone awry. Walter, out of anger and resentment utters, “Man…I trusted you…Man I
put my life in your hand…That money is made out of my father’s flesh” (Act II, scene iii). When they lose
most of their financial resources the whole family falls into a deep depression.
Not only did Walter’s dreams of starting a business castrate, but his family’s
dreams too. At this moment, Walter decides to take the money that the white man
is offering. Mama and other family members detest Walter for easily dealing
with his late father’s money so and feel like they have lost his soul while
being bought out by the white Mr. Lindner. Beneatha, disgusted with decision of
Walter, says he is no more her brother. MAMA Yes – I taught you that. Me and
your daddy. But I thought I taught you something else too… I thought I taught
you to love him (Act III, scene i). Here Mama reminds Beneatha that she taught
her not only to lover her brother, but to respect him too. Mama believes that
even if a family member is at lowest point, you should still love him or her.
Ultimately,
losing everything brought them together because at the last minute Walter
changes his mind about accepting offer of Mr. Lindner. Walter: [W]e have
decided to move into our house because my father—my father—he earned it for us
brick by brick. We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes,
and we will try to be good neighbors. And that’s all we got to say about
that. We don’t want your money (Hansberry, page 133). Walter delivers
these words to white man Mr. Linder and does something respectable, denying
Linder’s offer of a house. At this time the whole family’s spirits are raised
and are proud of the decision made by Walter. Finally, Walter has stood up to
his anxieties, has overcome his love with money and his equating of money with
success, and has decided to stand up for his family. This act of standing with
your family to attain the American’s dream of success sticks them together. They
learn to support one another and to put their families ahead of their own. By
having a home, having high morals and the support of family, each of them is on
track to fulfill their American dream.
References
Duffy, Dayondra.
“Essay about A Raisin in the Sun and Dream.” majortests, August 8, 2013, https://www.majortests.com/essay/a-Raisin-In-The-Sun-And-540015.html
A RAISIN IN THE SUN. “A RAISIN IN THE SUN.” exampleessays, n.d.,
https://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/37529.html
UKEssays.
“A Raisin in the Sun & the American Dream.” ukessays, January 1, 1970,
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-literature/raisin-sun-american.php
A Raisin
in the Sun. “A Raisin in the Sun.” sparknotes,
n.d., https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/raisin/quotes/theme/dreams/