Category: A Raisin In The Sun

Becoming A Man in A Patriarchy Society

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a great fictional example of some of the struggles that African-Americans faced in the 1950s. Hansberry’s play is ultimately having a family as its center, where Mama, is trying to fight for the Younger family’s future under difficult circumstances during a time when discrimination was a major issue in the US. Throughout the entire play, Hansberry displays Walter Lee’s struggles in becoming a man and the head of the family, which is expected of a man during this time. Despite his struggles, he does end up becoming the face of the family who makes the difficult decisions, which is thanks to the major events that Walter Lee goes through after the death of his father. This play is ultimately an example of the struggles that many African-American men went through in the 1950s when it comes to masculinity and being the head of the family.

Walter Lee, the son of Mama, acts as the protagonist and antagonist in this drama, where money seems to be the biggest driver in his decisions. The plot focuses on him and the actions that he makes; most of his actions and mistakes hurt the Younger family to a major extent, and it seems like everything is going the wrong way for the family. Mama, the mother of Walter Lee and the head of the family tells him that he is nothing like his father who recently died:

MAMA. You… you are a disgrace to your father’s memory. Somebody get me my hat. (1938)

This describes the major difficulties that the family has because it is depending on Walter Lee to be the provider, unlike today where women have a much more prominent role in providing for the family financially. The fact that the setting is in a poor part of Chicago after WWII does not contribute positively to the situation either and reading over the play, it is inevitable not to feel the tension that it creates. However, Walter does turn out to be a man that can make decisions on behalf of his family. Walter is the typical man who struggles to support his family, which is an issue in 1950s America because the man is expected to carry the family. Walter therefore tries to discover new opportunities to ensure the family’s economic well-being and money seems to be his solution to all issues that present themselves. However, he does not turn out to be lucky or smart around money. An example of this is when he loses the insurance money that Mama gave him:

BOBO. [Looking up at Walter with the tears running down his face.] Man, Willy is gone. (1962)

This is an example of one of the many bad decisions that Walter makes on behalf of his family even though it comes from good intentions. However, that does not change the fact that the insurance money was the only money that the Younger family had. Walter made a deal with Bobo and Willy about investing in a liquor store. He fails to make his dream come true, he fails in making everyone else’s dreams come true, and lastly, he fails in providing for his family.

Mis-match in expectations is a major theme that appears multiple times throughout the play, and most of the time it ends up in arguments that hurt the family more than it has to. Walter Lee fails to realize that he must pay attention to his family members’ ideas, wishes, and dreams in order to help them, which he most likely should have done in the situation with the insurance money. Up until that point, he had only been worrying about his own dreams and ambitions, and unluckily for everyone, Walter’s decisions affect the whole family even though they have nothing to do with the decision process. However, when Walter realizes that the house is the key to the family’s welfare, and not getting rich quickly, the story has a major turning point because from that point there is hope for the family’s future. By standing up to Mr. Lindner, Walter finally becomes a man. He refuses the money that Mr. Lindner offers the family not to move into their newly bought house:

WALTER. Never mind how I feel – you got any more to say ‘bout how people sought to sit down and talk to each other?… Get out of my house, man. (1956)

Mr. Lindner and the Youngers’ new neighborhood are being discriminated against by trying to convince the Youngers not to move into their new house. Mr. Lindner and the community only see the color of the Youngers’ skin and he threatens to tear the family apart in an all-white community. Ultimately, the Youngers respond to this discrimination with defiance and strength displayed in the quote above. The importance of this is crucial because racism was a huge issue at the time, and still is in today’s society. This is an important example of African-Americans standing up for themselves in terms of racism and defying being suppressed.

Walter’s dreams and ambitions do not become reality, but because of the fact that he becomes more of a man, he reevaluates them. While Mr. Lindner’s offer almost gets the better of him because of the guilt that he has for losing the insurance money, he still does not back down because his family convinces him that they have worked too hard and they cannot see their common dream to be flushed out the toilet. (1972) Walter finally becomes a man, knowing that being proud of his family and believing in, is more important than having money. Throughout the entire play, Walter goes through challenges in order to step foot into manhood. Despite failures and major issues, he succeeds in his own weird, hard, and difficult way.

Ultimately, the Youngers achieve what they dreamed of in the first place. They move to the neighborhood where they are not wanted despite multiple issues. They can look forward to a better life with rooms for pretty much everyone and they can live like humans; not like fish in a can as they have previously been doing. Mama’s plant represents the dream that she has for her family and her own dream of a house with a garden. The fact that the plant has managed to survive all this time gives Mama hope that she can manage the responsibilities of having a real garden. In other words, as long as the plant lives, so does the dream. Because of the decision that Walter makes in terms of turning down Mr. Lindner’s offer, Mama, himself, and the family actualizes the dream that Mama had all along living a better life in a house with a garden and room for everyone. The Youngers are going to live the American dream despite the odds that are against them. Walter Lee beats the odds by becoming the man that Mama always believed he could be. (1951)

The Theme and Character Development in A Raisin in the Sun

In Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”, the American Dream is explored through each character among the different generations during the 1950s. At the beginning of the play, we are introduced to the Youngers that live in Chicago’s Southside in a cramped apartment. We are introduced to Mama, Travis, Beneatha, Ruth, and Walter. However, Mama and Walter undergo major character development. The Youngers have different jobs but also have different dreams. Due to their skin color, the Youngers face labor and housing discrimination which creates challenges in achieving their American Dream (M’Baye171). The American Dream to some means that everyone can achieve what they want, but not everyone achieves the American Dream as evidenced by Walter. Mama, however, is able to achieve her dream.

Mama is the oldest of the Youngers. Mama is a conservative woman who grew up during the times of slavery and believes in the value of hard work. She is appalled by Walter’s obsession with money. Mama was married to Big Walter, who worked hard to provide for his family. Mama is getting a $10,000 insurance check due to the passing of Big Walter and plans to use that money to achieve her dream of being a homeowner. Mama wants to provide for her children by becoming a homeowner since she comes from a time when African Americans were enslaved and couldn’t be homeowners.

Walter’s greediness is his ultimate downfall. Walter works as a chauffeur for a man named Mr. Arnold. Walter is embarrassed by his job because he feels like he can’t provide for his family, a responsibility that was placed on the men during that time period. Walter tells Ruth, his wife, his plan to open up a liquor store and needs $10,000 for the down payment. Walter is hoping that when Mama receives the insurance check of $10,000 that Mama will give him the money to start his business venture. Walter is dissatisfied with life and believes that money will make him happier. When he talks about starting his own business venture he always talks about materialistic things, “I pass them cool, quiet-looking restaurants where the white boys are sitting back and talking about things… sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars…” (Act 1, Scene 2). This goes to show that Walter believes that if he is rich that all his problems will go away and he will be happy. But having lots of money doesn’t guarantee that someone is going to be happy.

Walter is frustrated about the lack of money he needs in order to buy his liquor store. In Act 1, Scene 2, the insurance check arrives and Walter keeps talking about his business. Mama goes and buys a house in Clybourne Park for $3600. Walter finds out and is angry at Mama for spending some of the insurance money. This shows that Walter is selfish because he thinks about his dreams, but not his family’s dreams. Mama feels bad and in Act 2, Scene 2 gives Walter the rest of the money to open up a checking account for Beneatha’s schooling so he can set up a savings account for himself. Instead of opening a checking account for Beneatha’s schooling and his savings account, Walter invests the rest of the money into the liquor store with his co-investors, Bobo and Willy Harris. In Act 2, Scene 3 Bobo tells him that Willy Harris skipped town with the money they gave him. Also, Carl Linder who is with the Home Owners Association of Clybourne Park pays the Youngers a visit to convince them to sell their new home to the neighborhood association. According to M’Baye, Walter finally realizes, “that life is not about having a dream but doing your best in order to achieve it.” (182). Walter believed that throwing money at his dream would cause it to grow, but when his downfall occurs, he realizes that dreams take work. Even though his dream doesn’t work out, he allows Mama to achieve her dream of being a homeowner by not accepting the bribe from Carl Linder for the Youngers to sell their new home to the neighborhood association.

The reality of the American Dream is explored in “A Raisin in the Sun” when Walter’s dream fails, but Mama’s dream succeeds. Mama gives Walter a chance to achieve his dream by giving him the rest of the insurance money. She wanted her children to succeed in life and not struggle the way she and Big Walter did. Mama realizes that she cannot protect Walter from him failing in his dream and that he himself needs to work hard to achieve his own dream. After Walter loses the insurance money, he realized he wanted his American Dream to come easy to him by just putting the investment rather than putting work into it. When he got tempted to accept a bribe not to move, he didn’t accept it and put the needs of his family above his own. This shows that Walter’s character develops from selfish to self-sacrificing when he makes the decision not to accept the bribe.

Works Cited

1. Hansberry, Lorainne. A Raisin in the Sun. Methuen Drama, 2018.
2. M’Baye, Babacar. ‘Discrimination and the American Dream in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in The Sun.’ Bloom’s Literary Themes: The American Dream. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Infobase Publishing (2009): 171-187.

Beneath’s Identity and Independence in A Raisin in the Sun

As adolescents and young adults, we all seek, sooner or later, to forge our own identities and become independent. In A Raisin in the Sun, a play written by Lorraine Hansberry in 1958, we follow Beneatha, an ambitious college student who dreams of becoming a doctor, as she explores her African roots while balancing her aspirations for freedom and agency. In Act I Scene 2, the conversation between Beneatha and Asagai, a Nigerian student she met at school, perfectly encapsulates her projects in life, as well as Asagai’s role in both her search for her identity and her desire for independence. Despite playing a positive role in Beneatha’s journey of rediscovering her African roots, the way Asagai approaches this subject, coupled with his misogynist perspective, seriously jeopardizes Beneatha’s goals of independence and freedom.

To begin, it is undeniable that Asagai’s presence is beneficial for Beneatha’s desire to explore her identity. As a Nigerian student who has lived his entire life in Africa, and also plans to go back there after his studies, Asagai represents a formidable way for her to rediscover her roots and learn more about her African heritage. Indeed, he strongly encourages her to embrace those roots and abandon her “assimilationist” practices. Beneatha is undoubtedly delighted when she receives the gifts Asagai has brought for her. As she gracefully accepts the colorful Nigerian robes and records of African music, she exclaims: “Oh Asagai!…You got them for me!…How beautiful…and the records too!” (61). A few scenes later, she puts her gifts to good use when she performs a tribal dance using the traditional robes and records she received. These events confirm Asagai’s beneficial role in encouraging Beneatha’s interest in her African roots, and, more broadly, in her journey to find her true identity.

However, the way Asagai approaches the subject of assimilation, coupled with his sexist perspective on women’s role in relationships, poses a danger to her goals of free will. Beneatha is a fiercely independent, ambitious, and feminist young woman. Her dreams of becoming a doctor demonstrate her bold ambition, especially considering the fact that she is an African-American woman living in a segregated America. Moreover, she is not afraid to speak her mind, going as far as to question the existence of God in front of Mama, who is deeply religious. Joseph Asagai, on his part, aggressively critiques Beneatha in an effort to impose changes that he deems necessary if she wishes to embrace her African roots. For example, when talking about her straightened hair, he declares: “And so to accommodate that — you mutilate it every week?” (62), accusing her of having assimilated into white American culture. While she initially vehemently denies being an “assimilationist” (63), by the next scene, she has already let her hair go natural… While this decision is not problematic on its own, the fact that she has made this drastic change following criticism from Asagai is entirely contrary to her desire of being able to take her own decisions in life. The fact that these instructions are coming from a man only adds insult to injury. In an effort to satisfy Asagai’s demands, Beneatha has ignored her convictions, which seemed unshakeable until now. Moreover, Asagai explicitly expresses misogynistic comments. On the subject of relationships, he declares that “for a woman, it should be enough” (63). He wishes Beneatha would be quieter and less ambitious, happy with having a man in her life. Considering the fact that she later contemplates his proposal to go back to Nigeria with him, it is evident that Beneatha’s independence is seriously compromised.

In conclusion, despite playing a positive role in Beneatha’s desire to explore her identity, the way Asagai approaches the subject of assimilation, coupled with his misogynist opinions, seriously endangers Beneatha’s goals of independence and freedom. Beneatha’s story is a cautionary tale. It reminds us of the importance of staying loyal to our convictions, despite adversity encountered in life.

Works Cited

1. Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York, Vintage Books, 1994.

For several of Hansberry’s characters, money is a promise of salvation, a gift to be stored up and fought for whenever possible. But as the story unfolds, the Younger family must repeatedly weigh their wish for material wealth against their wish for freedom. Beneatha, Walter, and the others ultimately choose abstract ideals-education, dignity, love-over easy alternatives that hold out the promise of more money. By dramatizing the crises they face before they arrive at these decisions, Hansberry shows that wealth is not always as desirable as it seems, and she reminds us of the sacrifices people make for their freedom.

Throughout the play, members of the Younger family act as if money is too precious to be parted with. In the opening scene, Travis asks his mother for fifty cents, and the seemingly paltry sum is too much for the impoverished Ruth Younger to give away. Although Beneatha doesn’t love George Murchison, her family tells her to continue dating him and taking pride in the match, because George comes from a wealthy family. A financial offer from the Clybourne Welcoming Committee briefly seduces Walter: The money would give him an opportunity to start his own business and become rich. Ruth considers an abortion because her unborn child would drain the Youngers of the little money they currently have. Walter pleads with his mother to donate her ten thousand dollars to his liquor-store scheme, arguing that the Youngers would benefit from the liquor sales. Almost every character shows an occasional lust for money.

However, each time the Youngers are presented with an opportunity to gain or save their money, they must relinquish something else that is valuable. If Mama doesn’t give Travis the fifty cents he asks for, she denies him the chance to participate in a classroom activity, furthering his education and bolstering his pride. By settling for the wealthy George, Beneatha would sacrifice her intellectual passion and spend the rest of her life with a man who casually admits to disliking books. Accepting the offer from the Clybourne Welcoming Committee would mean capitulating to a racist demand: The whites have offered the money to the Youngers because the whites do not want to live in an interracial community. As Mama argues, Ruth’s money-saving abortion would represent a moral defeat for the Youngers, an acknowledgment that the family does not have the love and energy to support a new person. Money that assists Walter in his liquor store plans could instead be invested in Beneatha’s education or a house for Travis-less lucrative ideals that Mama nonetheless clearly prefers to Walter’s dream. Nowhere in A Raisin in the Sun does a character guiltlessly accept or hold onto his or her money.

Again and again, the rejection of wealth is a cause for celebration among Hansberry’s characters. Ruth laughs when Walter gives his fifty cents to Travis; the couple acknowledges that the act of generosity is the right decision. Mama does not argue with Beneatha when she announces her rejection of George, and Beneatha comments on this rare instance of maternal understanding. The climax of the play occurs when Walter rejects the offer from the Welcoming Committee; both Mama and Ruth declare their pride in this deeply flawed man. Ruth chooses not to have an abortion, to Mama’s great relief. The investment in a house for Travis delights each of the Youngers except Walter, and even Walter eventually recognizes the dignity and wisdom behind this hard decision. Each time a character turns down an easy financial offer, the other characters applaud his farsightedness and strength.

It’s surprising that money turns out to be a villain in the Younger family’s story. Like Ruth and Walter, we initially think that any offer of cash is a blessing for the Youngers because it represents a chance to abandon their dingy apartment and begin a new life. But Hansberry shows that no price is high enough for freedom. The black characters she describes must defend their right to an education, a loving home, and a sense of self-worth-even when the white community wants to pay them to abandon these ideals. Throughout the play, Hansberry conveys a sense of anger and disgust. No family should have to make the choices that confront the Youngers as their dreams are repeatedly deferred.

Throughout the 1950s life was very limited for African American women. They were racially discriminated against and classified as second-class. African American people were afraid to stand up for their rights, and the limited freedoms they had were lost. In the 1950’s colored people were mistreated and abused by white people because of their lower status. ‘A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry demonstrated that the Negro playwright has lost the intellectual and, therefore, technical and creative, ability to deal with his own special ethnic group materials in dramatic form’ (Brown, 238). Segregation was enforced all around the world, white people sat at the front of the bus, while black people sat at the back. In schools, there were separate water fountains for colored and whites, as well as washrooms. If someone was ever caught using the wrong water fountains or washrooms, they were brutally punished. Career options for African American people were also limited because higher-paying jobs were awarded to white people. The civil rights movement was introduced during the 1950s. “In 1963, Hansberry became active in the Civil Rights Movement. Along with other influential people, including Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, and James Baldwin, Hansberry met with then attorney general Robert Kennedy to test his position on civil rights” (Biography.com). In “A Raisin in the Sun”, written by Lorraine Hansberry the play demonstrates how Lena, Beneatha, and Ruth who are independent African American women deal with racial discrimination within the various stages of their lives and how they overcome the many challenges they were faced with.

Ruth Younger is married to Walter and the mother of Travis. She is the daughter-in-law to Lena and sister-in-law to Beneatha. Ruth is the newest member of the Younger family. She is a very loving and soft character and holds back anger in tough situations. She is a very pretty woman who is unhappy with the lifestyle she is living. Ruth, alongside the other members of the Younger family continually has to fight poverty although remaining strong women. She lives a very challenging life but even through all of the adversity, she does not let those challenges stand in the way of life. Ruth remains positive even though her life is boring. She lives in a small apartment with the Younger family and takes care of it. She is 30 years old but her tiredness makes her seem a lot older than she is. Her and Walter’s marriage has many problems, but she hopes that one day they will revive the love they once had between them. Ruth feels at fault for not being able to give Walter everything he wants. Ruth doesn’t feel like she is providing as well as she is capable of and feels as though she is disappointing him. Ruth suddenly becomes pregnant and is willing to get an abortion because she believes they can not afford to have a baby. She thinks she would be better off aborting the child for her family’s sake. When she tells Lena and Beneatha they are overwhelmed with joy. Even though it does not clearly say whether she keeps the baby or not, it is safe to just assume that she does not make the rational decision of not keeping her child. The many dreams Ruth has are very realistic and can be easily achieved. Ruth and Lena are different and do not share the same viewpoints. When they argue, Ruth expresses those frustrations with her significant other Walter. Ruth is the type of person who always has to please everyone and create a positive environment around her. Ruth is also one to apologize for everything, even if she is right. She does not want to be involved in conflict and would rather see the world to be at peace. Ruth respectfully listens to advice anyone is willing to offer. Although Ruth is an extremely quiet character and chooses to keep her voice at a lower level, she demonstrates how incredibly strong she is for all that she has endured.

Lena Younger, also known as “Mama” is a strong and wise woman. She is a very motivated character in the play, described as an older woman in her early 60s with white hair. Lena is a faithful Christian woman and the matriarch of the younger family. She is the mother of Walter and Beneatha and Travis’s grandmother. Lena has dedicated her whole life to her children not only providing for them but also helping them strive for greatness. “I come from five generations of people who were slaves and sharecroppers but ain’t nobody pays ’em no money that was a way of telling us we weren’t fit to work the earth” (Hansberry, 1931). Although throughout the play she has struggled to connect with both of her children, Walter and Beneatha both have their problems and different opinions on the world. She worries that Walter may have a money problem and in the middle of the play, he proves that by giving away the inheritance money. Lena also strongly disapproves of Beneatha’s lack of faith in god. Being so religious Mama was very disappointed at Beneatha’s negative attitude towards god. While in disbelief she ends up slapping Beneatha across the face. Mama is a very hardworking and down-to-earth African American woman who struggles to deal with racism and discrimination daily. Mama is an underprivileged woman and despite the lack of money she wants to fulfill her dream of owning her own house with a garden in the backyard. She remains optimistic despite financial and social challenges. Despite those challenges, she has to also deal with losing her husband so soon as well as losing a child. She wants to escape the world she is a part of to escape poverty. She wants to make something of herself and move up in the world. Most African Americans lack stability and Mama wants to be able to live in a world where her rare is accepted. She would like to be someone of worth and merit. Although she demonstrates many challenges being an African American woman in the 1950’s she remains a wise and faithful woman.

Beneatha, also known as Bennie is characterized as one of the smartest females within the play. She is 20 years old slim girl with thick wild hair. Beneatha is not described as being pretty but has a beauty of her own. She has countless career opportunities ahead of her. Although not want to be ordinary, she is always willing to try new things, such as operating a gator, taking guitar lessons, and horseback riding. Within the younger family, she is very knowledgeable and for that, she feels very unique. Throughout her play, she struggles with finding her true identity. Although Beneatha’s dignity is very important to her she remains very independent. She has high ambition to succeed and is immensely intellectual. Beneatha dates two men within the play. Joseph Asagai is a young Nigerian boy, when they met they instantly fell in love, but he ended up accusing her of not being satisfied with the relationship. George Murchison is a rich-colored boy who also dates Beneatha and does not take any of her thoughts seriously. In both relationships she acts very differently, while she is with Asagai she is the happiest she has ever been. While dating George she becomes very depressed and angry. The financial problems within the play affect her substantially because her dream is to become a doctor and all the cash she was supposed to receive, Lena was going to put towards medical school. She does not want to take money from her mother “That money belongs to Mama, Walter and it’s not for her to decide how she wants to use it. I don’t care if she wants to buy a house or a rocket ship or just nail it up somewhere and look at it. It’s hers. Not ours-hers” (Hansberry, 1878). While being so strongly educated, Bennie will not settle with following the basic social norms. Beneatha struggles with not being as independent as she would like to be and realizes that she has to depend on the insurance money from her father’s death to get her through medical school. Since the money she was supposed to receive is gone, she must face the fact that her dream of being a doctor is gone.

The Younger family shows how overcoming racial discrimination is possible. The play debuted on Broadway in 1959. The play takes place in the Washington Park Subdivision of Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. The younger family all had their dreams that they wanted to pursue. When they lost their father they were heartbroken and did not know if they could continue life without him. African American people living in the 1950’s had to deal with segregation in many forms. Overall how colored people were treated was disgraceful, the Younger family showed incredible passion in attempting to achieve their dreams. The challenges they faced forced them to adapt and become strong powerful women. (1618)

Works Cited

1. Brown Lloyd, “Lorraine Hansberry as Ironist A Reappraisal of “A Raisin in the Sun” Journal of Black Studies, Vol 4, No.3, Sage Publications, Inc. March 1974, pp 237-247. JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2783655
2. Hansberry, Lorraine. “A Raisin in the Sun” Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, edited by Robert Diyanni 6th ed. Mcgraw-Hill, 2007, pp. 1871-1935.
3. “Lorraine Hansberry.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 16 Jan. 2019, www.biography.com/people/lorraine-Hansberry-9327823

The film” Raisin in the Sun” by Lamaine Hansberry “ have problems throughout. It started off great with the whole family. Ruth started acting angry and funny with the whole family, but nobody knew what the matter was. Walter did a lot of things without his wife knowing . Everyone was staying together in one big house. Beneatha didn’t agree with several things that Walter was doing behind her back.

Beneatha always acts differently from the other ones in the family. Their mother got a check for $10,000 because they were in need of a house. They were supposed to have been saving, but Walter had other plans with the money. Beneatha didn’t want to marry George because he loved to control everything. For example, in Scene One Beneatha says she wouldn’t marry George because he likes to run stuff. She really didn’t care for God because she believed in another religion.

In Scene Two, Joseph Asagai came in, which was Beneatha’s African boyfriend. He had money and was smart. Ruth went to the doctor and found out she was pregnant and that’s the reason she passed out. Asagai present to Beneatha was appropriate because it was a robe to women and it was also appropriate as they were married. To warn them from danger, their mother always referred to them as, “A black man leaving home to find peace.” Ruth knew she was having an abortion because she went to the abortion clinic. No one wants her to have it. They had a family dance when George came in.

Ruth did not know Walter was not going to work until they called looking for him. He did not tell anyone anything. Walter’s mother purchased a house with the money. Ruth was happy, but Walter was not. Walter was riding around looking for a business instead of going to work. Their mother gave him $6,500 and $3,000 for Bette and $3,500 for saving. The man, Karl Lindner, visited the house to tell them about the house they were moving in. Their mother just wanted the best for them. Bobo brought some news to Walter, which was that Willie stole the money. They did not know what to do. It was a lot of problems going on at the house.

The film “ Raisin in the Sun” taught me a lesson. Money cannot make everybody happy because people try to use it to have control of others. Finally, Asagai asks Beneatha to marry him. The mother aimed too high for her children. Walter did not take the money that Lindner offered, because the plan was to move. He did not have a choice but to accept the money for the problem to be solved. The younger family moved right along with them. The play taught me to always depend on myself and not on anyone else.

Mr. Lindner represents the racial people in society. He defines himself as the one in charge of Clybourne Park’s development and welfare. During this introductory part, he seems polite and has visited with good intentions; he even tries to reason with the Youngers the reason as to why they should not move to Clybourne. But this is not well received by the Youngers, who genuinely understand his racial reasons and the true meaning of the ‘welcoming committee’ (Hansberry p.94). He explains to them that the estate does not prefer people of color living among them. According to them, society is a better place if Whites stayed with Whites and people of color with their colored fellows.

Hansberry uses him also to show the racism barrier that exists between Americans and African Americans. The Americans believe that for there to be development and peace, they should not mingle. This, therefore, leads to Mr. Lindner going to the extent of wanting to purchase back the house the Youngers had bought to prevent them from living with Americans (Hansberry p.95). He portrays Americans who do not show that they are racist and believe they are not, but in real-life encounters with people of color, racism is exhibited. Mr. Lindner is the only White character in this text; therefore, his inclusion represents the extension of Whites who control things in America, leaving African Americans in extreme poverty. These actions portray the reasons why African Americans can barely climb the social ladder due to the impended racial preconception.

Mr. Lindner also shows the structural barriers to opportunity that people of color like the Youngers are likely to face. One structural barrier revealed includes beliefs, where the Americans’ residing in Clybourne do believe that African Americans should stay in their community while Americans remain in their own separately, (Hansberry p.95). This comes out as a barrier to the opportunity that the Youngers have of moving from their old unfurnished house to a new one. The Americans view them as a source of threat over what they have allegedly worked for long. Belief considers some actions as acceptable while others are not; therefore, it can become a structural barrier to exploring an opportunity.

Rules and regulations of a certain environment are also paused as a structural barrier to opportunity. This is revealed when Mr. Lindner explains to them how the community organizes things such as estate upkeep and other essential projects (Hansberry p.92). This gives the Youngers the picture that for them to utilize the opportunity of a new house, they have to abide by the rules and regulations which involved money. Another barrier is the number of people in support of a certain notion. In Clybourne, a majority of people felt it better that people sharing common backgrounds have the same interests and easily get along (Hansberry p.94). This was a barrier for the Youngers not to expect any association in community work or development.

Despite the constitutional amendments made after the Second World War, racism still existed. In the play, the Youngers struggle with racism after acquiring an opportunity to move to a new house. Before this, racism is displayed through poor living standards, where they all work casual jobs for whites (Hansberry p.37). These jobs were left for Negros and showed how much they had to accomplish before being accepted into society by the Whites. Moreover, the areas they lived in also showed discrimination; the houses were poorly structured like the Youngers’ house, which was old, and the Americans lived in well-structured houses. Even today, racism still exists in some parts of the U.S. amongst African Americans and Whites.

The American Dream has played a pivotal role in the aspirations of many Americans. Although the American Dream has been traditionally represented by the idealistic symbol of the “white picket fence”, the dream is perceived differently by different people. For many, this dream resides in the acquisition of money. However, for the characters in literary works such as A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the American Dream encompasses the love and support that comes from loved ones. In A Raisin in the Sun, Ruth Younger, a strong, devoted mother and wife, desperately tries to rekindle the love of her marriage and provide a comfortable life for her family. Similarly, Jay Gatsby, from The Great Gatsby, attempts to rekindle love by charming Daisy Buchanan, a previous girlfriend, to leave her current husband and marry him. The authors of A Raisin in the Sun and The Great Gatsby use the characters Ruth Younger and Jay Gatsby to portray the idea that the American dream is not solely about the accumulation of wealth but rather success as a result of hard work and support from family; Ruth’s ability to achieve her dream and Gatsby’s failure to achieve his dream highlights the need for the support of loved ones to achieve the American Dream.

Ruth Younger, despite falling victim to the shackles of poverty, achieves her American Dream of a financially stable and unified family unit through constant hard work and sacrifice for her family’s benefit. Throughout the play, readers see the rift in Ruth and Walter’s marriage as Ruth feels alone in her struggles to maintain the household and her marriage. Ruth works meticulously to support Walter and his sister, Beneatha, in their toils to achieve their dreams but is frustrated that she does not get as much help as she gives. She tells Walter, “There ain’t so much between us, Walter … Not when you come to me and try to talk to me. Try to be with me … a little even” (Hansberry 88). Frustrated by the lack of support she receives, Ruth lashes out at Walter. She simply wants Walter to “be with [her]” and support her which she feels is something so “little” compared to everything she does for the family. At this point in the play, Ruth is unable to achieve her American Dream. However, it is not her financial situation that prevents her from achieving her dream, but rather the lack of support she receives from Walter and the rest of her family. Despite this, Ruth continues to work harder herself for the benefit of her loved ones. Throughout the book, Ruth’s hardworking and sacrificial attitude is apparent, perhaps no more than when she heatedly says, “Lena — I’ll work … I’ll work twenty hours a day in all the kitchens in Chicago… I’ll strap my baby on my back if I have to and scrub all the floors in America and wash all the sheets in America if I have to – but we got to MOVE! We got to get OUT OF HERE!!” (Hansberry 140). By the end of the play, Ruth is so close to achieving her Dream, provided that they move into a nicer house in a nicer area. Ruth is willing to work for “twenty hours a day” or potentially “strap [her] baby on [her] back” because she is so committed to having her family achieve the American Dream. Her devotion to her family allows everyone, including herself, to have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. She ultimately achieves this Dream as they can move to a better neighborhood with better opportunities for the family. Ultimately, it is because of this familial support that Ruth and her family can achieve the American Dream.

Despite his immense fortune, Jay Gatsby fails to achieve his American Dream of a life with Daisy Buchanan, his inamorata, as exemplified by his inability to charm Daisy; this inability to achieve his dream is significant, demonstrating the idea that power and economic status does not solely allow one to achieve the American Dream. Throughout the novel, Gatsby desperately tries to win over Daisy, who he knows is the one thing he needs to achieve his American Dream. Nick narrates this when he says, “[Gatsby] knew that when he kissed [Daisy], and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch, she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete.” (Fitzgerald 110). When Daisy and Gatsby finally kiss after Gatsby’s numerous attempts to draw Daisy into one of his parties, Gatsby is overwhelmed by “unutterable” feelings as he feels that he is about to achieve his dream, “incarnated” by Daisy. He sees his future “blossom[ing] like a flower” with Daisy as he believes he can win over Daisy. In the end, however, Gatsby does not win over Daisy and subsequently fails to achieve his American Dream. This is important because Gatsby desperately uses his wealth and social status in the hopes of winning over Daisy. This fails though, and readers see that the American dream is not just achieved through the acquisition of money or high social status. Towards the end of the novel, after Daisy kills her husband’s mistress and Daisy chooses to stay faithful to her husband once and for all, Gatsby goes to Louisville to relive old memories. Nick narrates that “[Gatsby] stayed there a week, walking the streets where their footsteps had clicked together through the November night and revisiting the out-of-the-way places to which they had driven in her white car […] so his idea of the city itself, even though she was gone from it, was pervaded with a melancholy beauty” (Fitzgerald 152). After failing to achieve his dream, Gatsby decides to revisit the place where he and Daisy first fell in love. However, he quickly becomes detached from reality and focuses on “revisiting” and reliving the past, something he so desperately clings on to. Gatsby continually goes “out-of-the-way” to impress Daisy by gaining wealth and high social status. This was not enough though and Gatsby was ultimately alone in his “melancholy” without any loved ones. Because he has never had loved ones to support him, Gatsby fails to realize that the dream is not just about social or economic status. His dream dies with him, unachieved due to the lack of loved ones to help and support him.

Despite not being wealthy, with the help and support of her family, Ruth Younger achieves her American Dream, while the wealthy Jay Gatsby fails to achieve his American Dream. This demonstrates the idea that power and wealth do not solely enable one to reach the American Dream. But what does that truly mean in the world today? For many, family provides the stability and love that allows one to have the courage to chase the American Dream. The difference in characters in both books highlights the disparity in people today working towards achieving the American Dream. Perhaps the authors of these books were hinting at the fact that the American Dream is achieved through sacrifice and hard work, with the continued support of loved ones, and not just through the acquisition of money.

In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry an African American family, the Youngers, are presented with a great amount of money, from the husband’s life insurance. The family is faced with the difficult decision of how to spend the money, which leads to each family member wanting to use the money for different things. The wants of each character result in them acting in a different way in response to the presence of money. In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, the author uses symbolism to show how the role of money affects the actions and dreams of Mama, Beneatha, and Walter.

The first character affected by money is Mama. Mama is given money from insurance, in which she would like to use to fulfill her dream of owning her own house for herself and her children. She concentrates on showing how a nice house will be most beneficial for her family, in hopes that they will support her decision of buying the house with the insurance money. Mama displays this when she describes to Walter that, “it makes a difference in a man when he can walk around on floors that belong to him” (Hansberry; Act II; Scene I). Mama makes her children think that showing off their money through a house will make them better than if they do not buy the house. Also, Mama shows that money is a symbol for her husband’s work throughout his life by saying, “working like somebody’s old horse…killing himself…and you – you give it all away in a day” (Hansberry; Act II; Scene III). Mama sees the house as a symbol of the money that her husband worked so hard for so that her dreams could come true. Mama has another dream, which is to have a garden at her new house that she hopes to get for her family. The garden symbolizes the fact that she has a nice house to make her family happy, so she has something to make herself happy with again. This is why she is devastated when she learns that her son, Walter, lost the money, which was going to fuel her dreams.

Beneatha relies on insurance money to help her with the cost of college to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Beneatha seems to think of Mama’s dreams when she explains to Walter, “That money belongs to Mama, Walter, and it’s for her to decide how she wants to use it” (Hansberry; Act I; Scene I). This shows that Beneatha is influenced to act on her mother’s behalf because that is her source of money for schooling. Due to her brother’s actions, her dreams of becoming a doctor are deferred. Walter decided to use all of the insurance money on his own wants, losing the money meant to go towards Beneatha’s schooling. Beneatha expresses her anger by saying that “…people went out and took my future right out of my hands,” explaining that her future has been altered all because of her brother’s selfishness (Hansberry; Act III; Scene I). The concept of money and how the money is handled is the main reason why Beneatha and Walter’s relationship is hindered from there on. By looking at how money played a role in Beneatha’s life it shows how it forced her to put off her ideal future of attending school and how it ruined the relationship she had with her brother.

Finally, Walter saw the insurance money as a motivating factor for his own dreams. Walter was tempted to take actions that would cause tension between him and his family and show his selfishness. The play begins with Walter wanting to produce the best life for his family by establishing a good source of money for them to live off of. In his mind, the best solution was to open a storefront, where he and his buddies would sell liquor. When Walter is given a taste of wealth through the insurance money Mama gave him, he spends it all on the liquor store. He does this in hopes of giving his family the best life possible. His intentions are shown when Walter tells Travis, “Your Daddy’s gonna make a transaction…a business transaction that’s going to change our lives” (Hansberry; Act II; Scene II). This displays how Walter explains to Travis what will happen with the money he has been presented with, which part of it is for his sister’s schooling. This shows Walter is looking out for his own future and dreams and not anyone else’s. Walter shows a new side to him when he says, “We have decided to move into our house because my father- my father- he earned it for us brick by brick” (Hansberry; Act II; Scene II). This explains how the symbolism behind the money convinces Walter to think about his actions and how they would affect his family. By looking at Walter’s actions, it shows how much money played a role in his life.

Throughout the play money plays an important role in each of the characters’ lives as it influences their actions and behaviors. Mama is struck with devastation when she learns that Walter lost the money to his friend. The money was a symbol of something her husband and her dreamed of and worked so hard for. Also in the play, Mama has a dream of owning a garden to symbolize having a nice house for her family to succeed in and something for her to occupy herself with. When her dream gets altered because of her son’s actions she is even more upset. Beneatha is upset because the money is going to fund her college, so she can become a doctor, and now it is gone. Walter was disappointed in himself for losing the money and letting his actions be persuaded by money. How he handled the whole situation involving money shows how he was selfish and thought he knew what would be best for the rest of his family.

The primary aim of this essay is to highlight the character of Dana and to relate it to one or two of the issues or themes written by various authors Harriet Jacobs and/or Hannah Crafts, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Zora Neale Hurston, Lorraine Hansberry, and Audre Lorde. The primary study under consideration is the Kindred novel by Butler. The primary target of Butler in this novel is modern African-American life and it compares it with old or traditional African-American life.

Harriet Jacobs was a girl who escaped slavery. The work of Harriet Jacobs in this regard is an Abolitionist work. The work highlights the incidents of a slave girl and the study raised some issues or challenges raised in this regard. The story has a relationship with the character of Dana in the sense that she was a slave herself. Harriet Jacobs highlights the concept of chattel slavery in this work.

Dana lives with her husband in Los Angeles and her husband is a white male. She and her husband do not consider their racial difference in their relationship. She is living happily and she has equal opportunities in life in the United States. However, the primary issue in this regard is that Dana is facing some issues regarding her modern African-American life. Butler used the slave narrative to examine modern African-American life through the life of Dana in her novel.

The most important thing in this regard is that Harriet Jacobs represents slave culture in her work stating that the slave culture is still dominant in modern African-American life in the sense that people are having a good life in modern Africa but they have to face racism and other related issues in the contemporary modern world. The most important thing in this regard is the job opportunities for black people in modern African-American life. No doubt, they are given equal rights in the country but they still have to face this culture and they are less paid in modern African-American life and they have fewer chances of success in this regard.

The most significant aspect of modern African-American life is the treatment of this culture with black women in particular. Black women have fewer rights than white women in modern African-American life. The best example in this regard is that black women get low wages for the work they do same as that of white women. Moreover, law enforcement agencies in modern African-American life have issues with the black community and cases of murder of black people dominate the society.

The theme of the work of Harriet Jacobs is identical to that of Butler in this context. Harriet Jacobs describes the life of a slave girl in her work and Butler is doing the same in her novel through the character of Dana. Both works make it clear that black women in modern African-American life have to face various issues or challenges regarding their race and identity. They do not have equal rights in modern African-American life and in the same manner, most of the people in modern African-American life consider black women as slaves and they do not respect them.

The theme of the work of Ida B. Wells-Barnett is to protect the rights of African Americans. She was an African American journalist along with an abolitionist and feminist. She was the leader of an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1980s. The primary aim or mission of Ida B. Wells-Barnett was to protect the rights of black women in modern African-American life.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett targeted various issues or challenges faced by black women in modern African-American life such as racism, sexism, and violence. The most important thing in this regard is the inequalities in working conditions for black women in particular and for black people in general in modern African-American life.

The primary issues raised by Ida B. Wells-Barnett include racism, sexism, and violence and Dana is dealing with these issues through her struggles for black females in the country. Dana functions as a descendent of other black female characters as well.

For instance, in the novel Hannah in The Bondwoman’s Narrative. Hannah is a young black girl who has a desire to learn things and to get an education. Hannah lives on a North Carolina plantation and she has an utmost desire to get an education and learn things but society is not allowing black girls to take education.

However, a kind old couple decided to teach Hannah and they broke the laws because no person in the society was allowed to teach black women. In the same manner, that couple converted Hannah to Christianity but the actions of that couple were revealed and it was sent to jail. It means that black people especially black women do not have rights in the country like other communities (Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God. 1937, 1990).

This is the case for Dana as well. Butler is trying to reveal this thing in her novel through the character of Dana who is facing the same issue Although, she has married a white person they do not discuss this issue in their relationship. The primary reason behind this context is that her husband and Dana know that racism is still present in modern African-American life and people are not willing to accept their relationship and give equal rights to Dana in the novel (Hurston, Sweat., 1997).

Moreover, Dana functions as a descendent of other black female characters such as Delia in Sweat in which she works for hours washing the clothes of white people she works as a maid in their homes and offices but her husband Sykes does not work and he is unemployed and uninsured (Hurston, Sweat., 1997). Delia sits under a chinaberry tree waiting for her husband to die and she is not willing his pleas to aid. In the same manner, the husband of Dana is not working (Hurston, Sweat., 1997).

It means that she has married a white person who has no insurance and he is jobless. He has married Dana for his survival and she is an earning woman. However, she is aware of the fact that her husband is using her and he has nothing to do with her. The characters highlight a dark side of modern African-American life in which white people do not respect black women (Hurston, Sweat., 1997).

They are not ready to accept them as the wives in true sense. Most of the white folks in modern African-American life are using black women as their bread and butter. The black women earn and the white folks enjoy their lives at their expense. Moreover, such people are not willing to give equal rights to women in society.

The next work of the author under consideration in the study is Zora Neale Hurston. The story of Zora Neale Hurston was published in 1926. The primary theme of this story is that it highlights the domestically abused, religiously devout laundress of her deadbeat husband. In simple words, the theme of this story is good versus evil (Hurston, 1990). In other words, the major theme of this story is hard work versus laziness and fate.

The most significant work of Zora Neale Hurston is Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) and African American folklore Mules and Men (1935) (Hurston, 1990). The theme of Zora’s work is the personal journey of the African American woman. The essence of her work is the injustice faced by black women in the country and in their families (Hurston, 1990).

The primary issue raised by Zora Neale Hurston in Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) is the pathetic life of a black woman who was brutally beaten and thrashed by her husband (Hurston, 1990). It was the time before the modern African American culture. However, the character of Dana in the novel makes it evident that the modern African American woman is not facing such issues.

Dana is having a good understanding with her husband in this case and they both are living happy lives. She faces various issues in modern African American life such as racism and the non-availability of equal rights and opportunities but she is not beaten up by her husband (Hurston, 1990).

Dana functions as a descendent of other black female characters as well. For instance, in the novel Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha is a young black woman and she has dreams of becoming a doctor.

She goes to college and she is open-minded, unlike her mamma. She wants to become a doctor but his brother cannot afford it. However, she has some different views from her mamma and it is the primary reason that she is not willing to hear from her mamma in some matters, as she believes that her mamma is conservative. Her family is the primary hurdle for Beneatha Younger (“Bennie”) and she is continuously looking for her identity in this play.

She has an independent feminist perspective and she is dating two men Joseph Asagai and George Murchison. Walter Lee Younger was against Beneatha Younger (“Bennie”) in the sense that he believed that Beneatha Younger (“Bennie”) was going to college and it was a waste of money. Dana shares the same idea as Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun because she is also working as a free woman and Beneatha is dating two men Joseph Asagai and George Murchison while Dana has a white husband.

In simple words, both women are young and they have modern thinking in which black women have relationships with white males and vice versa.