The Younger Family In A Raisin In The Sun
A Raisin in the sun is a play that revolves around two major themes, namely the struggle of being black and female as well as dreams, hopes and aspirations. In this essay I will discuss the restrictions that gender play in the aspirations of the women of the Younger family in Hansberry’s play.
In the play we encounter three females that form part of the Younger family. They include Lena, or Mama as she is often referred to, Beneatha and Ruth. Each of these characters play an important role in both their family structure as well as the thematic development of the play. It is important to take into consideration that the play is set in the 1950’s. The Younger females represent both the traditional and non-traditional roles of women during this
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She challenges the reader and society’s perception of the female role. As mentioned previously, during the 1950s and 1960s women were expected to find a good husband and look after domestic chores at home while raising the children. Beneatha, however has little, if any interest in doing this. Beneatha is an intellectual who aspires to be a doctor, which was a male dominated profession. She is not inclined to any domestic chore. She shocks Mama and Ruth, because not only does she consider declining an offer of marriage by wealthy George, she considers to decline marriage completely. During a conversation about her dislike of George’s rich family she tells Ruth, “Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet – if I ever get married” (Hansberry 1985:50). Her dreams of receiving an education and becoming a doctor are threatened when Walter invests the money Mama asked him to put aside for Beneatha’s school and loses it. Even though we are left with a semi-hopeful conclusion of the play when Walter finally steps up to assume the role as head of the house resulting in the family moving to the new house, we are never informed about the outcome of Beneatha’s aspiration. Asagai’s offer to take her to Africa, does leave some hope for
Examples Of Deferred Dreams In A Raisin In The Sun
934 Words | 4 PagesBeneatha 's dream is to go to college and become a doctor. She wants to prove her family´s disbeliefs of her becoming a doctor wrong. Yet she feels defeated after her brother, Walter, goes out and gives away all of her college money to some man that ends up disappearing with the money. She faces challenges financially and faces backlash from her family.
Beneatha's Dream
910 Words | 4 PagesShe wants to become a doctor and get the education she needs to become one. Throughout the play she proves that her independence means a lot to her. Beneatha wants to be free and have her own life, just like the American Dream. In the play she says to Mama and Ruth, “Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet-if I ever get married” (Hansberry32).
Personal Identity In A Raisin In The Sun
825 Words | 4 PagesIn Act 1, Beneatha’s quest to find her personal identity is seen in the way she expresses herself, her ambitions, her roots and the way she deviates from what is acceptable in her family. She tries to find ways to express herself such as trying different hobbies. In the past, Beneatha has been a part of a play-acting group, horseback-riding club, and in Act 1 starts guitar lessons (47). She also has the ambition to become a doctor which is looked down upon by her brother, Walter Lee (38). Additionally, her African roots are important to her search for identity.
Resilience In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun
587 Words | 3 PagesA Raisin in the Sun is an inspirational book/play that tells the overcoming story of an African-American family Going through the terrible struggles of Chicago in the 1950’s. Greg Kincaid once said “No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.”. This explains Beneatha younger, a young woman who tries to find herself while dealing with others scrutinizing and being treated like a child in her family. In conclusion, Beneatha younger is an overpowering character that is shaping her life through independence, an education, and growing closer to her
Theme Of Feminism In A Raisin In The Sun
1502 Words | 7 PagesLorraine 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.
A Raisin In The Sun And Beneatha's Relationship
941 Words | 4 PagesWhere Beneatha enjoys her independent thought, George tells her that there is no need for it. George tells Beneatha that, “You read books... to get a degree. That’s all- it has nothing to do with thoughts” (75). George’s negative outlook on school, something that Beneatha is very interested in, shows signs of unhealthy relationships.
A Raisin In The Sun Feminist Analysis
1499 Words | 6 PagesLorraine 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.
Examples Of Family Relationships In A Raisin In The Sun
795 Words | 4 PagesRaisin in the Sun Book Report Being in close relations with family member definitely has its ups and downs. There is nothing easy about being in a close relationship with family, but to many family is the most important relationship in their lives. In the story “A Raisin in the Sun” there are many great examples of importance in family relationship just from the way they treat each other and the conversations they have. In the story, Lena Younger, Ruth Younger and Walter Younger all make it very obvious how important family relationships are. Lena Younger (Mama) is the head of the family.
The Importance Of Family In A Raisin In The Sun
963 Words | 4 PagesFamily is important to everyone in some way because family sticks together no matter what. The play A Raisin in the Sun is about a black family named the Youngers and the hardships they face together as a family. In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Ruth Younger is motivated by her family. This is shown by Ruth wanting to make her family happy, her working even though she is tired, and later when Ruth finds out there is going to be another mouth to feed. Ruth Younger is constantly worrying about her family’s well being and happiness for them.
Hardships In A Raisin In The Sun
1127 Words | 5 PagesHardships of the Youngers In Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun, the characters of Mama, Walter ,and Beneatha are faced with hardships associated with their dreams being destroyed by discriminatory housing,racial inequality and lack of support from her family towards her education. In the play all the characters have some kind of dream. Mama wants to get a house for the family, Walter wants to have money to provide for his family and plans to do that with a liquor store, and Beneatha wants to become a doctor. Beneatha is going to school and at the same time she’s trying to discover herself,but her family is not supportive of this.
A Raisin In The Sun Literary Analysis Essay
878 Words | 4 Pages, 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. Lena’s dream, “ Festers like a sore” and is the only dream that somewhat comes true.
Social Issues In A Raisin In The Sun
816 Words | 4 PagesA Raisin in the Sun addresses major social issues such as racism and feminism which were common in the twentieth century. The author, Lorraine Hansberry, was the first playwright to produce a play that portrayed problematic social issues. Racism and gender equality are heavily addressed throughout the play. Even though we still have these issues today, in the 1950’s and 60’s the issues had a greater part in society. Racism and gender have always been an issue in society, A Raisin in the Sun is an important piece of American history during that time period.
Raisin In The Sun Symbolism
793 Words | 4 PagesTrusting Walter, her son, she mistakenly gave him the money. Mama specifically told Walter to put away some money away for Beneatha Walter's sister. Like Walter Beneatha has big dreams. She wants to go to medical school
What Is A Reader Response In A Raisin In The Sun
702 Words | 3 PagesReader Response: 3 “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, is a play about a black families experience in 1950s South Side Chicago. The story revolves around what happens to the family when Lena Younger, the matriarch of the family, receives a ten thousand dollar life insurance check upon the death of her husband. Everyone from the family has different plans for what they want to do with the money. Lena Younger serves as the head of the family. She is Walter and Beneatha’s caring mother so they and Ruth call her Mama.
Gender Roles In A Raisin In The Sun
845 Words | 4 PagesJust 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.
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