A Raisin In The Sun And The American Dream

“Nothing but the most exemplary morals can give dignity to a man of small fortune.” (Adam Smith) In the essay prompt, the anonymous writer suggests that the Youngers, (a poor African American family from the South side of Chicago in the 1950s) should not take the money from the owners association instead of moving into their new home they purchased with insurance money due to the death of the main character, Walters’ Father Mr.Younger. The house that they purchased with the insurance money is located in a white community, where they are obviously unwanted. With no insurance money left and their dream home on the line, the writer believes it is better to refuse the money because it “undermines their own pride and dignity as human beings.”

The Idea of The American Dream can be interpreted as a mixed blessing for many as they will change who they are or what they believe in just to achieve it. We see this idea in the play A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and Robert Nemiroff. This story shows the struggles of an African American family with dreams and hopes and not enough possibilities to achieve them. Another example of this idea is portrayed in the poem “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes. This poem shows a different side of The American Dream, the side that people often ignore because the outcome is not what they hope for.

Although Walter eventually does the morally correct thing he still has bad morals. Walter does the right thing by standing up to Lindner. When Lindner actually arrives and Walter is about to disgrace himself and the black community by begging Lindner for the money he can’t do it. Instead he says, “We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors.

The play Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry shows how a striving black family living in Chicago in 1959 is brought down by racism. The play shows the importance of family and dreams when the Younger family receives a check for ten thousand dollars from the passing of their grandfather, Big Walter. Big Walter’s son Walter has a dream to be a better provider for his family and because he wants to score big with his liquor store, he invests all of the money left in the store. He is heartbroken after his partner steals all his money and the family is stressed about what is to come next. Walter is like the “caged bird” in “Sympathy” who “beats his wing till its blood is red on the cruel bars” because Walter can see his dream of being a better provider for his family, but his dream is prevented because he is caged by racism.

In the domestic tragedy play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, describes how a family is dealing with financial expenses. The expenses are outrageous because Lena, also known as Mama, has a daughter named Beneatha and attends medical school while the family is paying for the house. The family wants to move into a nicer house, and they work hard to get there. Mama is expecting a ten thousand dollar check inherited by her husband that had died. The father, Walter, wants to buy a liquor store and to finally be in control, but the wife, Ruth, and, Mama, do not want him to.

Bear Grylls once said “ A man’s pride can be his downfall, and he needs to learn to turn to others for support and guidance.” Gryll’s wise advice can be applied to nearly everyone in society. For example, a man might refuse to use government welfare to buy groceries for his family and let his children starve instead. His pride would destroy the family physically. Pride is a dangerous virtue and can be used to fulfill dreams or destroy them.

Beneatha Younger struggles to find her real identity throughout the whole play, “A Raisin in the Sun.” She strives to become a doctor despite being a women. Throughout the whole play she tries out a handful of hobbies that she takes up during the play. She tries out horse riding and then she wants to learn to play the guitar. Beneatha talks about how she is experimenting with many hobbies to find her identity.

Does John Steinbeck show that dreams are futile in the novel Of Mice and Men? Of mice and men is a novel set in the 1930’s it showed how people lived during The Great Depression, It published in 1937 by John Steinbeck an American born author. The American dream is a concept that shows everybody has a chance. The American dream is a belief that anybody can make it regardless of where they are born or what class. It is achieved through sacrifice, risk and hard work (Investopedia.com).

Langston Hughes poem, “A Dream Deferred” explains many similar themes that go along with the play “Raisin in the Sun ”. They both really explain how a dream can come true, and just like that be broken. Langston Hughes poem does a great job of making you sit and question what really happens to a dream that has been pushed to the side. The themes of the play “Raisin in the Sun” closely mirror and capture the meaning of the lines from the Langston Hughes poem “Harlem” (Dreams Deferred).

In a patriarchal society, women are encouraged to focus on their family and its well-being. Most often, women achieve this by caring for the children and the home. However, in the play A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry suggests that women do not have to focus on the family. Instead, they can prioritize their own well-being. Hansberry exhibits these ideas through two female characters, Ruth and Beneatha.