A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a incredible play about a poor black family in south side Chicago in the 1930's. Its an incredible tale about Human struggles, hopes, and most importantly dreams. The play does an amazing job of making each character unique and relatable in many different ways. Each character from Mama to Walter Lee Jr. has a different dream and hope for the family, as in real life sometimes each persons dream's don't correlate or fit perfectly together with one another but ultimately wanting what's best for their family wins out. The sum of the Younger family's parts were greater then each individuals wants.
Each character wants to use the money for a different reason but thinks their reason is the best for the family as a whole. Mama wants to use the money to buy a house and get out of the rat trap apartment they are in, that was always her and her husbands dream. Walter Jr. wants to use the money to start up a liquor store and make steady money for the family, Beneatha wants to use the money to finish her schooling to become a doctor, and Ruth believes the money belongs to mama who should do what she wants with it. Eventually Walter Jr. Loses most of the money after his friend runs of with the money he was going to start up the liquor store with. Well at first this is a problem but eventually they decide to move anyways despite their future seeming unclear and uncertain. However they have decided that the family will no longer let their dreams fade and to peruse better lives and their dreams.
This play is not about dreams differed but rather finding the strength to pick up the pieces and live a life worth living when it seems like all hope is lost. This play is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the strength of a family. The younger family was able to pick up the pieces of a seemingly shattered dream and still find hope in realizing that dreams are worth chasing. That's what I believe this play was about.
Thank you.
I enjoyed reading this post of yours. As I read the play I didn't really think about dreams differed either. I agree with your stance and I think they are trying to find a small piece of hope when they feel there is no hope at all.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you said that the family picked up the pieces of their basically shattered dream and put their hope into making it work in the new house.
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