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)

 

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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/