By the play’s end, Beneatha’s basic dream of fulfillment is intact. It appears that she might never be a doctor but she is going to Africa with Asagai and will get to experience a new continent, a government and society run by black people, and an adventurous life. The dream matters to Lena because she lived through the difficult time in which many blacks left the South and moved North to make life better for themselves. At that point, they were concerned with more basic human needs like food, shelter, safety, employment and dignity. Consequently, she wants basic well-being for her family, even as they pursue dreams beyond hers.

a raisin in the sun theme essay

Although Lena is ahead of her times in some respects, her dreams and aspirations are largely linked to her family’s well-being, rather than to her own. Scholar Claudia Tate attributes Lena’s low expectations for her individual self to gender conditioning – a term used to describe the expectation that a woman’s goals and dreams be linked to her family alone. Lena tolerates her husband’s womanizing and remains loyal to him even though they suffer under the same impoverished conditions throughout their marriage.

The Economic And Housing Discrimination In A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

Having a dream is what makes a person to never give up and hold onto what motivates us to achieve our goals. Most essays on A Raisin in the Sun focus on racial prejudice and economic hardships of migrating families. Also, we use great sources of information plus our structure is always on point. Beneatha and Walter Lee, on the other hand, are more selfish in their concerns Check Out This Information find more. Travis, in typical childlike fashion, manipulates all the adults in the play in order to achieve his own ends.

  • It is a simple and sad story about a life lived without consequence.
  • This is shown when he turns down Mr. Lindner’s offer of money to deter them from moving into the new house.
  • Other times, that recently developed identity may actually be found in a home.
  • Ultimately, loosing everything they have unites them because at the last moment Walter changes his mind about taking money from Mr. Lindner.

The characters of a melodrama are often stereotyped and exaggerated to indicate something about the culture of the times, making their traits illustrations… It touches on the “Black family” with big dreams but not “Big money”. The family of the film consisted of Lena, of the undefined leader of the family, Walter, chauffeur who had big dreams,… Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun challenges the stereotype of 1950’s America as a country full of doting, content housewives. The women in this play, Mama, Ruth and Beneatha, represent three generations of black women who, despite their double fronted subordination, continue to dream… What happens to a person’s motivation to achieve their goals when their dreams are deferred?

Assess whether the inclusion of these minor characters is necessary to develop the play’s message. And this devotion has been repaid with an extraordinary and continuing popularity, as well as with a stil… How does shakespeare use conflict in Hamlet as a whow does shakespeare use conflict in Hamlet as a way of exploring ideas? How does Shakespeare use conflict in Hamlet as a way of exploring ideas? An individual\’s response to conditions of internal and external conflict is explored throughout literature.

The Importance Of Family

Women are not considered for material wealth as they are expected to better the life of their families. The play illustratesa number of themes which the writer illustrates using different events and reactions as portrayed by Mama and her family. All the family members have aspirations and dreams which are universal and shared among other people from different backgrounds .

Being a father to Travis appears to be the role that Walter values the most. He sincerely wants to be perceived as honorable in his son’s eyes. Knowing the family has little money to spare, Walter gives Travis a dollar when he asks for fifty cents. Walter chooses the liquor store investment not just to make more money for himself, but also to be better able to provide for his wife and family.

A Raisin In The Sun Thesis Statements And Important Quotes Essay

The play focuses on supporting each other through rough times and learning to love. In the end, they achieve their American dream despite the color of their skin. Lorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry Lorraine Hansberry rejected the limitations of her race and gender and through her written works, became a social activist and expanded the role of a black woman in America. Lorraine Hansberry wrote many works that allowed her to explain her views.