Lena's American Dream

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Pages: 2

Through her character, Lena Younger Hansberry created a real example of Black America’s struggle to reach the American Dream. Lena’s American dream was to maintain the family’s dignity. She was going to achieve this dream by not letting her family lose their morals over money. Her dream was deferred because her children were going crazy over not having money. Lena Younger, “Somebody would of thought my children done all but starved to death the way they talk about money here late.”(43). She is puzzled why her children behave that way when they have much more than she did when she was younger. Lena’s American Dream is to honor her belated husband’s, Big Walter, memory was also deferred because her children are unsatisfied with the way they are

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Theme Of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

struggles to reach the American Dream of life liberty and pursuit of happiness during the 1950’s and 1960’s. The idea of everyone having the chance to achieve a better life should exist for all. Hansberry created her title using a line from Langston Hughes’ poem, “ A Dream Deferred”. The original poem was written in 1951 about Harlem. Hughes’ line from the poem claimed that when dreams are deferred, they dry up like a raisin in the sun. This meant that they put their dreams aside for another time…

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A Raisin in the Sun Essay

African American family, who are awaiting the arrival of a $10,000 insurance check. This check arouses great tension and conflict within the family. Clearly you can tell that money is a central theme in the plot. Each character has a different idea of what to do with the insurance money as well as different views on the use and importance of money in general. Mama sees money as a way to help her family succeed, Walter believes money is life, Beneatha sees money as a way to achieve her dream of becoming…

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Character Analysis Of Lena Younger In A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

life. This play shows a lot about Lena's character. Like how even though she lived in a run- down apartment struggling with poverty, she held her head up high and maintained her dignity. She supported her children even when they made the wrong decisions. When Lena received $10 000 dollars in insurance money from her deceased husband, she decided to fulfill her lifelong dream by buying a house. She gave the remaining money to her children to fulfill their dreams as well because she knows her children…

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Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

The theme of the American dream can be seen in Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun through Beneatha, Walter and Lena Younger. In the play, Beneatha's idea of the American dream is shown through her determination. Beneatha is determined to defy the odds of becoming the stereotypical domesticated worker like her mother and Ruth. Instead, she has the rare dream of becoming a doctor. She feels as if no one in her family understands her dreams of wanting to become a doctor. While talking to Walter, Beneatha…

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A Raisin in the Sun and Walter Essay

The Youngers are a poor African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago. An opportunity to escape from poverty comes in the form of a $10,000 life insurance check that the matriarch of the family (Lena Younger or Mama) receives upon her husband's death. Lena's children, Walter and Beneatha, each have their plans for the money. The oldest son, Walter (a man of 35 with a wife and a young son), wishes to invest in a liquor store. The younger sister, Beneatha, currently a college student…

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Examples Of Racism In A Raisin In The Sun

Racism. No opportunities. Struggle for acceptance. This is what African Americans had to deal with back in the 1950s. They fought through racism for their opportunities and struggled for acceptance in society. The play A Raisin in the Sun, created by Lorraine Hansberry, explains how a family lives through these tough times for African Americans. Walter Lee Younger, a naive, selfish, and money hungry man, wants to own a business to make a better life for himself. He will try to convince his family…

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A Raisin In The Sun Journal Analysis

Alienated by most Caucasians, the Youngers face struggles that crumble their family relationship. In my opinion, the Youngers dream living like the stereotypical American Sitcom family- living in a nice house, an appropriate amount of money, and a happy and healthy family relationship. They share this common dream, however, they have their own way of achieving this dream. Benetha’s way of achieving the stereotypical middle-class life, is in a way self-benefitting. She wants to try new things like…

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Essay about Elements used in Raisin in the Sun

Drama 160 Term Paper: Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry’s Raisin in the Sun is a monumental play in the theatrical world. Produced in 1959, it became the first play written by an African-American woman to hit the stage and was later nominated for several Tony Awards. The play touched many controversial themes of the time including racial discrimination and poverty. The design of Raisin in the Sun, including scenic, costume, lighting, and sound elements, were crucial to developing the plot…

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