Raisin In The Sun American Dream Essay

Words: 851
Pages: 4
Open Document
“Raisin in the Sun” is a play about the struggles of a poor black family in a low end housing complex trying to get out. One of the first things one realizes about the play is how everyone has their own dreams, which are established within the very first act. These dreams all vary, but what they all have in common is getting away from their lives at the current state and they are all connected by the check coming in from their deceased father’s life insurance. These dreams reflect the title’s reference to the play “Harlem” that contains the title of the play about dreams. In the play, it talks about what happens when dreams are “deferred” and questions what happens when they are. The poem is basically asking if you give up or if you keep trying …show more content…
But one thing that can be seen is, that they all want it for themselves to make their own specific dreams come true. Later in the play, when the check does arrive, we find that the two mothers have their dreams seemingly set because a down payment was made into a house and they plan on moving in. Next we learn that the rest of the money was lost by the alcoholic father and so Beneatha and Walter both loses their dreams. This is where the incongruity of the play’s message in respect to the poem “Harlem”s theme is started. We see how both of them have had their dreams crushed, but they neither rotted nor exploded and it seemed like nothing really occurred at all with it. We don’t know if they gave up or not. Or if they exploded or not which is a bad representation of the title’s poem reference. This is again seen as we continue on in the play when we see the final conflict and the representation of dreams. We start to hear the neighborhood that they are try-ing to move into does not want them and they are willing to pay them a lot of money to stay away. This is when the theme of Harlem and pretty much the congruity of the entire play is neglected be-cause they eventually decide to turn down the money and move into the house. This neglects the mother’s idea of wanting a
Show More

Related Documents: Raisin In The Sun American Dream Essay

American Dream in a Raisin in the Sun Essay

CHAPTER III: The Impact of Identity on Dreams – 1. Identity in the Sight of Other People In actual fact, people have a certain view or conception about what somebody is. This view is quite different from what the individual himself has. But then the harm in all this is that this state of affairs has a great impact on what an individual is supposed to become in life especially when he doesn’t have a great sense of objectivity or when he is not determined to achieve his life goal regardless…

Words 4312 - Pages 18

A Raisin In The Sun Research Paper

A Raisin in the Sun Essay A raisin in the sun is an awarding winning novel written by Lorraine Hansberry. This piece of literature gave an accurate portrayal of what it was like to be an urban African American family during time period. This story proved to be inspirational throughout many different generations. This book was made into a movie twice making it three versions. Because it was the easiest to understand, the most realistic, and visual I felt that the original movie was the best of…

Words 422 - Pages 2

How Does Walter Develop

In "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry, Walter Lee Younger represents the African American experience in 20th-century America. Walter's character develops significantly during the play, representing the issues of identity, dignity, and living in the face of racism and economic hardship. Initially, Walter is unhappy and frustrated, locked in a mediocre job with a desire for a brighter future. His desire for financial success conflicts with the realities of racism and oppression. As the story…

Words 905 - Pages 4

Sociology and American Dream Essay

after the American Dream. Throughout his quest he developed specific strategies to attain his goals. Unfortunately, he failed. Yet does this mean the American dream is dead? Your job is to write a collegiate essay that examines the American dream in a literary analysis. You may do this by focusing on one of the following literary perspectives. With all these perspectives, you need to synthesize at least three works from the research list: The American Dream: Define the American dream and argue…

Words 406 - Pages 2

Ap English Literature Comparative Essay

Comparative Essay (Discrimination Makes Determination) There are many ways race is used in literature to commentate on relationships between people. The concept of race in a character’s mind can show a reader multiple perspectives and the dynamics race plays in a character's decisions. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and Richard Wright’s “Big Boy Leaves Home” portray a correlation between racism and power. They compare this correlation in the ways they treat black Americans and white people…

Words 1575 - Pages 7

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

A role model is a person to look up to. Someone who has a strong character and will support you no matter what. A role model should be someone that a person can go to for advice, wisdom, and someone who will never judge. In the play "A Raisin in the Sun" written by Lorraine Hansberry, there is only one person fit for that role. That person is Lena Younger. Lena Younger is the best role model in the play because she is a strong independent woman who would do anything for her family. Her character…

Words 859 - Pages 4

Raisin In The Sun Analytical Essay

This semester, we have spent a large portion of our time focusing on essays, poems and fiction relating to the Black Power and Black Arts movements starting in the 1960s. The first and only play we read together as a class was A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, but because I am already a drama major, this is a text I had already had the pleasure of reading and thoroughly analyzing in my theatrical training. This work was clearly a defining text in the Black Arts Movement, as this play was…

Words 1727 - Pages 7

Essay on great american poet

Langston Hughes A Great American Poet For Prof. Waller’s Argumentative Essay Langston Hughes A Great American Poet Langston Hughes a poet that spoke about the life of as a black during the twenties through the sixties. Hughes had a way of making his poetry insightful to the point where the reader could feel as if he or she had been placed right in the time that Hughes was in. Hughes had a long career and many of his works are still popular with readers today. He was one of the poets that thrived…

Words 1305 - Pages 6