Lena Younger (also known as ‘Mama’) is portrayed as the matriarch figure of the Younger family. Since her husband, “Big” Walter Younger died, she has become, “the center of her family 's life and controls many of the interactions of the other family members… such as the economic decisions”. (Bloom) She is religious, moral, and always ready to give advice to her children and grandchild. However, it’s her traditional and conservative way of thinking that leads to many disagreements with the other characters. While Mama “represents the traditional prescribed domestic role assigned to the women of her generation”, her daughter-in-law Ruth Younger represents “a generation in transition”. (Guzzio) She values the traditional role of a housewife and mother; however, she is faced with the decision of terminating her pregnancy in order to provide a better life for the child she already has. Including this topic is a very bold feminist move from Hansberry, since in the 1950’s abortions were illegal. This was “one of the first American plays to address abortion”, which Ruth sees as a way to keep the family together. (Bloom) This scene “reveals Ruth 's independence, expressing her right to choose and to assert control, yet it also depicts the desperation of a working-class woman who cannot afford to have another child.” (Bloom) Mama greatly opposes Ruth getting an abortion. Her conservative views and religious beliefs do not allow her to consider this as an option. She remembers the
The societal expectations of women were traditional, with their primary responsibility or “purpose” to life being getting married, bearing and raising children, and being proper and dutiful to their husbands. Moreover, there were many rights that were permitted to men that were not also given to women, such as the right to vote. With all these unfair expectations imposed on women, it fails to recognize the different circumstances that women can be faced with, such as Burns' situation with working as a prostitute to have some money for herself and her family, which is an occupation that many people frowned upon. Burns further continued to defy these expectations on women with her beginning her job as an abortionist, which created many more challenges for Burns, especially with the sour stigma that is already surrounded towards getting an abortion done, being the one who performs these procedures was much more controversial. By being an abortionist, it completely defied the typical roles of women at this time, expected to have domestic responsibilities such as women having the responsibility of bearing children, with abortion now offering women the chance to change that.
As we read the story, we can feel that Ruth was not in the good mood that morning. She was not happy about Walter’s friend staying late sitting on the couch where her son Travis supposed to sleep. Then, Walter feels that Ruth is mad, so to ease her temper he tells her on his way out to work that she looks young and call her baby to have her attention and make her feel good before he lives. They are both need attentions in other to subsist and that will never be enough. The plant symbolizes to Mama her wish for the family to live together.
This causes Ruthie to feel more abandoned that her only friend, her sister, has chosen to leave her alone with nobody; “She would have considered already the fact that I had never made a friend in my life” (Robinson 130). Lucille’s decision to abandon her sister ultimately led Ruthie to find comfort in Sylvie; “Well, we’ll be better friends. There are some things I want to show you” (Robinson 142). Consequently, Ruthie’s interactions with Sylvie creates a maternal bond; “She could as well be my mother” (Robinson 145). Ruthie’s newfound sense of belonging overcomes her feeling toward abandonment.
The world stereotypes rich people as rude, stuck up and selfish. Ever wonder why? Studies from Yale, The New York Times, TED and more have concluded, money changes everything. Whether it’s attitude, morals or values, money can affect and change all aspects of someone’s life. The play, A Raisin in the Sun, has a theme showing this claim clearly.
When thinking of personal experiences, “The Mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks touches on the emotional topic of abortion. Even though this poem was published decades ago, it can still be seen very relevant to this day. Accepting abortion and the outcome can indeed be a challenging task for many, while others seem to adapt to it without much of a problem. Gwendolyn Brooks’ writing lets us take a look at the mothers view point of abortion and how a mother responds to her new situation. Throughout the poem, the speaker shows signs of grieving concern of the topic of abortion and its outcomes by presenting emotions of regret and memories, shame and guilt, and contradicting herself to almost justify what she has done.
The barrier between her and the neighbours after her husband’s death forced her to become reserved and quiet. Her and her son only went into town if they had to. They preferred to stay close to the garden where they felt safe. The death of the husband is the cause of the mothers’ complete change in character. The death let the audience connect with her on a deeper level to understand her pain and suffering.
This shows what she had to endure to try to keep her baby healthy. It appeals to the loving protective side of the reader. It makes them think about what the baby must be going through beacuase of their economic situation. Rhetorical questions are used to directly engage the
The Younger’s are a family filled with headstrong characters, who break society 's barriers. Bennie is one of the few women who want to a doctor, which is not common at this time. Most people tell her that she should just become a nurse like most women and save her family money by not going to medical school. However, Bennie knows what she wants to do and will not let people stop her. A women is filled with strength when she adjust to many things in life and has overcome more (22).
Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun presents the rise of feminism in America in the 1960s. A Raisin in the Sun is feminist because, with the feminist notions displayed in the play, women establish their rights to fulfil their individual dreams which diverge from traditional conventions of that time. Beneatha Younger, Lena Younger (Mama) and Ruth Younger are the three primary characters displaying evidences of feminism in the play. Moreover, Hansberry creates male characters who demonstrate oppressive attitudes towards women yet enhance the feminist ideology in the play. A Raisin in the Sun is feminist because, the play encourages women to develop an identity for themselves, particularly through education and career.
Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun presents the rise of feminism in America in the 1960s. Beneatha Younger, Lena Younger (Mama) and Ruth Younger are the three primary characters displaying evidences of feminism in the play. Moreover, Hansberry creates male characters who demonstrate oppressive attitudes towards women yet enhance the feministic ideology in the play. A Raisin in the Sun is feminist because, with the feminist notions displayed in the play, women can fulfil their individual dreams that are not in sync with traditional conventions of that time.
Since her husband died she has taken charge. In every decision she makes she shows how much she cares about her family and puts them first. After her husband unexpectedly died the dreams he had for his family were placed into her hands and sprouted from there. Lena is very caring supportive, not only of her kids and
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….” (609). Ruth is begging for Mama not to change her mind on moving saying she will do anything. Her family needs this chance to live a better life.
Hassenberry wrote her play about a poor African American family by the name of the Yongers. Mrs. Younger, Walter Lee, and Beneatha all have there own individual dreams. , But are consistently being differed. Lena Younger, otherwise known as, “Mama” is Walter and Beneatha’s mother and the head of the household. With her deceased husbands ten thousand dollar insurance check Lena bought a three thousand-dollar house with a garden where her family would be happy and hopes to save the rest of the money for Beneatha’s medical school.
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.
Just within the recent decades, men and women started to fight against the gender stereotypes and started to challenge their roles in a family and in the society. The play, A Raisin in the Sun, portrays the lives of African–Americans during the 1950s. Lorraine Hansberry, a writer and a social activist, reinforced the traditional gender roles, especially female’s, by depicting how the Youngers interact and how they act in an economical struggle. Throughout the play, A Raisin in the Sun, she uses Walter Lee Younger, Ruth Younger and Lena Younger to reinforce the traditional role of fathers, wives and mothers within a family.