Assignment Two: Walter says, "I got me a dream" (Act 1 Scene 1). Describe the American Dream and explain how this theme begins to emerge in this scene. (100 words)
Lorraine Hansberry in, “A Raisin in the Sun,” creates the theme of the American dream in the Younger family’s life. In the first scene the Younger family is waking up and arguing and discussing many things but mostly about the “ten thousand dollars” (Hansberry 43) coming in check form in the mail the next day and what it will be used for. A large sum of money like that for a family like the Youngers could really help them out and extinguish any financial burdens they are facing. The money from the insurance check could also assist them in any pursuit of their dream. Most of the family believes that, “the insurance money belongs to Mama” (Hansberry 38), and, “it’s for her to decide how she wants to use it” (Hansberry 36), but Walter wants to use it, “to invest in [a] liquor store” (Hansberry 38). Everyone in the family has a dream that they could utilize the money to invest in, but bottom line is that Mama owns the right to use the check because the deceased was her husband. Walter works everyday at the same job and does not receive a large salary because they live in a time still dealing with racial equality and his dream is to be rich and be the one giving orders not taking them. Given the power to choose how the money is spent Walter could alter his dream into a reality. There also comes into question whether the money could be used to “help [Beneatha] through [medical] school” (Hansberry 37), which Walter disapproves of because he feels that, “[him] and Ruth done made some sacrifices for [her]” (Hansberry 37) and wonders, “why can’t [she] do something for the family” (Hansberry 37). Part of the American Dream is that all Americans, no matter their race, should have equal opportunities in life which it seams like Beneatha has because she is in school and striving to be a doctor, but Walter disagrees in the fairness there. The American Dream can be seen in the fact that Beneatha has the same opportunity to go to medical school just like white people, but Walter thinks differently because he feels that his opportunity to open a liquor store would be stopped by the money being spent on her schooling, and not his endeavor. The theme of the American Dream emerges in this scene by the mention of all of the family’s dreams and how they did not or could possibly achieve those dreams.
1) Be careful that your posts aren't majority summaries with a little bit of analysis. Analysis is the goal. 2) In the first scene the Younger family is waking up and arguing and discussing many things but mostly about the “ten thousand dollars” (Hansberry 43) coming in check form in the mail the next day and what it will be used for. - awkward, confusing sentence structure 3) "The American Dream can be seen in the fact that Beneatha has the same opportunity to go to medical school just like white people," - this implies the American Dream is a white concept and that blacks wanted a part of it. As the term notes, the American Dream is an American concept. 4) Conclusion sentence sounds more like an introduction sentence. 5) Citations needs to go at the very end of the sentence.
Lorraine Hansberry in, “A Raisin in the Sun,” creates the theme of the American dream in the Younger family’s life. In the first scene the Younger family is waking up and starts to discuss many things but mostly about the use of the “ten thousand dollars,” coming in check form in the mail the next day (Hansberry 43). A large sum of money like that for a family like the Youngers could really help them out and extinguish any financial burdens they are facing. The money from the insurance check could also assist them in any pursuit of their dream. Most of the family believes that, “the insurance money belongs to Mama,” and, “it’s for her to decide how she wants to use it,” but Walter wants to use it, “to invest in [a] liquor store” (Hansberry 36, 38). Everyone in the family has a dream that they could utilize the money to invest in, but bottom line is that Mama owns the right to use the check because the deceased was her husband. Walter works everyday at the same job and does not receive a large salary because they live in a time still dealing with racial equality and his dream is to be rich and be the one giving orders not taking them. Given the power to choose how the money is spent Walter could alter his dream into a reality. There also comes into question whether the money could be used to “help [Beneatha] through [medical] school,” which Walter disapproves of because he feels that, “[him] and Ruth done made some sacrifices for [her],” and wonders, “why can’t [she] do something for the family” (Hansberry 37). Part of the American Dream is that all Americans, no matter their race, should have equal opportunities in life to work for success which it seams like Beneatha has because she is in school and striving to be a doctor, but Walter disagrees in the fairness there. The American Dream can be seen in the fact that Beneatha has the same opportunity to go to medical school just like white people, but Walter thinks differently because he feels that his opportunity to open a liquor store would be stopped by the money being spent on her schooling, and not his endeavor. The theme of the American Dream emerges in this scene by the mention of Beneatha and Walter’s dreams and how they will achieve those dreams.
Lorraine Hansberry in, “A Raisin in the Sun,” creates the idea of the American dream in the Younger family. In the opening scene the family is awake and is arguing about many situations but mostly about the ten thousand dollars that they are about to receive in the mail. They are discussing what this money will be used for. With this amount of money the Younger family can take off the burden of their financial issues. Most of the family believes that the money belongs to their mother and it is her decision on what the money should be used on. Everyone in the Younger family has a dream that they wish to use the money on; Walter wants to use it to open a investor store. The family had obtained this money because the mother’s husband had passed away so the money was legally hers. Walter’s dream is to be rich, but with the job that he is working at he will never obtain this amount of money. Walter believes he deserves the money. This money could also be used to help Beneatha go to medical school so she could pursue her life in being a doctor and have her dream come true The American Dream is that all Americans, no matter their race, should have equal opportunities in life. The American Dream can be seen in how Beneatha wants to go to a medical school, but Walter wants differently because he feels that he should be able to open up a liquor store. The American Dream emerges in this scene by mentioning all the dreams that are hoped to happen even though some may or may not become a reality.
This post is WAY too similar to Ally's post. My advice to avoid this is to not read anyone else's post before making your own post. Once we read or hear someone else's opinion on something it tends to impact our own too much.
Redo posting with a more original response. Thanks.
In “A Raisin in the Sun,” Lorraine Hansberry alludes to the concept of the American dream through the dreams of the Younger family members. The American dream is an ideal that each U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to work for their success, something that Walter Younger wants to do by opening a “liquor store” (Hansberry 33) with his friends. He realizes that, given the mindset towards his race at the time, this would be a difficult feat; however, he believes that he should have an opportunity to make a lot of money for himself and his family. He thinks that the money from Mama’s insurance check they will receive the next day will suffice, but his family members say otherwise. The rest of the family believes that “it’s Mama’s money,” (Hansberry 38) and that she has free reign to use it how she pleases. The family doesn’t have much faith in Walter’s dream, and also feels that Mama shouldn’t use her money for it in the first place. They feel that it’s not his place to come in and ask for the money that she alone is receiving from her dead husband. While they disagree with his dream, he on the other hand disagrees with Beneatha’s choice to enter “medical school,” (Hansberry 37) and also asks her “how much medical school is going to cost,” (Hansberry 36). He feels as though Mama using her money to help Beneatha’s dream won’t help the family, along with claiming that Beneatha doesn’t do much “for the family” (Hansberry 37) to begin with. Both Walter and Beneatha have their own dreams that they want to achieve, however both have their setbacks, including each other. While both of them need the money, they require financial assistance that only one of them could ultimately receive from Mama’s money. They have the ideals of the American dream: equal opportunity, regardless of race or background and based solely on hard work; however, these opportunities also require monetary input as well, something the family currently lacks at the moment.
Lorraine Hansberry in, "A Raisin in the Sun," introduces the audience to the emerging theme of the American Dream through the conversation between Ruth and Walter Younger. The key concept of the American Dream is having equal opportunity to succeed and prosper through working hard, determination and self-motivation regardless of race, religion or creed. Every American, at some point in their life, has a dream or goal that if accomplished would have an outcome that coincides with the ideals of the American Dream. Success, popularity, economic prosperity, and even a simple feeling of accomplishment all are outcomes of finally completing and living the American Dream. However, the idea of pursuing and accomplishing dreams such as these tend to be surrounded by a substantial amount of doubt from other people. The dreams are viewed as pointless and impossible with emphasis on the need to stay grounded in reality due to the demands and circumstances of present life. In Walter Younger's case, he has a desire to go in on a "liquor store" (Hansberry 33) business with a few other gentleman. It is clear that Walter is tired of waiting on success to come his direction. He much rather desires to take advantage of the availability of the life insurance money and take the risk on the business in order to possibly give himself and his family a better life. He clearly is not pleased by the living conditions in the over-filled home. Even though Walter is focused and ready to pursue this business endeavor and provide a better life for his family, he has doubt coming from his wife Ruth. As Walter tries to explain himself and his intensions at breakfast, she continues to say, "eat you eggs and go to work" (Hansberry 33). Later she also includes that the life insurance money "ain't none of our money" (Hansberry 34). Clearly Ruth wants Walter to realize three things: they have no money to risk, they need to be sure Walter continues to work in order to have some continuous income no matter how small it may be, and that the life insurance money belongs to his mother. Despite Walters good intensions, Ruth attempts to snap him back into reality because the odds and the possibility of success are not in his favor due to financial and racial issues. Aside from Ruth's beliefs, it does seem as if Walter's fervor for success and an improved life will not be stopped because of doubt from the people around him.
Lorraine Hansberry in "A Raisin in the Sun" establishes the theme of the American Dream in the scene between Walter and Ruth discussing Walter's future in business. Walker asked his upset wife "You tired, ain't you? Tired of everything. Me, the boy, the way we live- this beat-up hole- everything. Ain't you?" (Hansberry 32). His words display how he desires a business to provide a better home for his family. Walter then says "Mama would listen to you" and "say easy like you been thinking 'bout the store and deal Walter Lee is so interested in" (Hansberry 33). He wants his wife to convince his mother to invest the money she is receiving into his business venture. He believes this check will help him to achieve his dream of making something of himself and a life for his family. He stated "I'm thirty-five years old; I been married eleven years and I got a boy who sleeps in the living room and all I got to give him is stories about how rich white people live..." (Hansberry 34). Walter is fed up with this poor life he has and wants success through this liquor store business. He wants his mother to help him achieve the American Dream with his father's life insurance money. Walter believed this business would allow him to achieve the American Dream.
Lorraine Hansberry"A Raisin in the Sun" Act one Scene one , starts off with a dispute between the Youngers about Walters idea of business venture. The Youngers establish the American dream by Walter deciding to open a business of his own.(Hansberry 33) The Youngers seem alienated from the white middle class, but they still cherish dreams of the American Society. The Youngers struggled because they were middle class which made that a dream . Walter asks his his displeased wife "You tired,aint you?" (Hansberry 32) Walter makes this statement to show the effect that opening a business would have on the Youngers. Walter opens the Liquor store and he would be living out The American Dream . Mama's plant also is a representation of the emerging of The American Dream, because its symbolizes the care she has for her family. The plant acts as a temporary placement for Mama's much larger dream. Mama attempts to take care of her family, yet she's consistent with financial support. Walter takes advantage of these opportunities and he is able to build The American Dream.
1) Sentence structure errors 2) MLA errors 3) Spacing Errors 4) Too much going on here: Walter's business adventure, alienation from white middle class, and symbolism of plant
In "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry introduces the theme of the American Dream in the opening scene through the interactions of Walter and Ruth. The American Dream is an idea that states all people have the opportunity to be successful and prosperous through hard work regardless of their ethnic background or social standing. Walter hopes to achieve his dream of moving up in the world by opening a "liquor store" with his friends (Hansberry 33). Because the time period was set sometime close to the civil rights movement, drinking was a common activity. Walter believes that the business will be successful because there will always be people wanting to drink away their problems. However, with dreams come those who doubt dreams. In this case, Walter believes that he is "tied to a race of women with small minds" (Hansberry 35). Walter wants to use the life insurance money to invest in his business but Ruth insists that the money belongs to his mother Lena. Walter feels that all his wife is capable of doing is shooting down his ideas and it is clear that Ruth is not very confident in Walter's business venture. Despite the negativity of his family members Walter's mind is set on his dream and states that nobody "is ever going to understand me" (Hansberry 38). This shows that Walter knows that he is going to pursue this dream at all costs. He is not pleased with his situation and is convinced that he can do something to change it. Walter's ideals are rooted in the American Dream that through hard work and persistence he can accomplish anything.
In Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," Act l Scene l, the idea of pursuing the 'American Dream' is extremely evident. The main discussion regards an insurance check that will be delivered later in the story due to one of the Youngers having passed away. Walter Younger, the head of the family and son of the man who died, argues with his wife Ruth about his dream of obtaining a liquor license and then investing in a liquor store. The insurance check would open the door for him to do so, but Ruth shoots the idea down because she says the check belongs to his mother, Lena Younger. Walter persists. "I got me a dream...I got to take hold of this here world, baby...I got to change my life, I'm choking to death, baby!" (Hansberry 33). That's what the 'American Dream' is. It's someone's everlasting desire to pursue a greater life for themselves and their family by moving to the states, to "take hold" of the world and change their life for the better. Walter feels constrained, and wants to break through the threshold to change everything that's killing him inside. Walter says, "Nobody in this house is ever going to understand me!" (Hansberry 38). He insists that his idea, his investment, his dream, will save the family and get them where he wants them to be. Walter wants nothing more than to get a glimpse of what the 'American Dream' looks and feels like, and will seemingly stop at nothing to get there.
Lorraine Hansberry in, “A Raisin in the Sun,” creates the theme of the American dream in the Younger family’s life. In the first scene the Younger family is waking up and arguing and discussing many things but mostly about the “ten thousand dollars” (Hansberry 43) coming in check form in the mail the next day and what it will be used for. A large sum of money like that for a family like the Youngers could really help them out and extinguish any financial burdens they are facing. The money from the insurance check could also assist them in any pursuit of their dream. Most of the family believes that, “the insurance money belongs to Mama” (Hansberry 38), and, “it’s for her to decide how she wants to use it” (Hansberry 36), but Walter wants to use it, “to invest in [a] liquor store” (Hansberry 38). Everyone in the family has a dream that they could utilize the money to invest in, but bottom line is that Mama owns the right to use the check because the deceased was her husband. Walter works everyday at the same job and does not receive a large salary because they live in a time still dealing with racial equality and his dream is to be rich and be the one giving orders not taking them. Given the power to choose how the money is spent Walter could alter his dream into a reality. There also comes into question whether the money could be used to “help [Beneatha] through [medical] school” (Hansberry 37), which Walter disapproves of because he feels that, “[him] and Ruth done made some sacrifices for [her]” (Hansberry 37) and wonders, “why can’t [she] do something for the family” (Hansberry 37). Part of the American Dream is that all Americans, no matter their race, should have equal opportunities in life which it seams like Beneatha has because she is in school and striving to be a doctor, but Walter disagrees in the fairness there. The American Dream can be seen in the fact that Beneatha has the same opportunity to go to medical school just like white people, but Walter thinks differently because he feels that his opportunity to open a liquor store would be stopped by the money being spent on her schooling, and not his endeavor. The theme of the American Dream emerges in this scene by the mention of all of the family’s dreams and how they did not or could possibly achieve those dreams.
ReplyDelete1) Be careful that your posts aren't majority summaries with a little bit of analysis. Analysis is the goal.
Delete2) In the first scene the Younger family is waking up and arguing and discussing many things but mostly about the “ten thousand dollars” (Hansberry 43) coming in check form in the mail the next day and what it will be used for. - awkward, confusing sentence structure
3) "The American Dream can be seen in the fact that Beneatha has the same opportunity to go to medical school just like white people," - this implies the American Dream is a white concept and that blacks wanted a part of it. As the term notes, the American Dream is an American concept.
4) Conclusion sentence sounds more like an introduction sentence.
5) Citations needs to go at the very end of the sentence.
Lorraine Hansberry in, “A Raisin in the Sun,” creates the theme of the American dream in the Younger family’s life. In the first scene the Younger family is waking up and starts to discuss many things but mostly about the use of the “ten thousand dollars,” coming in check form in the mail the next day (Hansberry 43). A large sum of money like that for a family like the Youngers could really help them out and extinguish any financial burdens they are facing. The money from the insurance check could also assist them in any pursuit of their dream. Most of the family believes that, “the insurance money belongs to Mama,” and, “it’s for her to decide how she wants to use it,” but Walter wants to use it, “to invest in [a] liquor store” (Hansberry 36, 38). Everyone in the family has a dream that they could utilize the money to invest in, but bottom line is that Mama owns the right to use the check because the deceased was her husband. Walter works everyday at the same job and does not receive a large salary because they live in a time still dealing with racial equality and his dream is to be rich and be the one giving orders not taking them. Given the power to choose how the money is spent Walter could alter his dream into a reality. There also comes into question whether the money could be used to “help [Beneatha] through [medical] school,” which Walter disapproves of because he feels that, “[him] and Ruth done made some sacrifices for [her],” and wonders, “why can’t [she] do something for the family” (Hansberry 37). Part of the American Dream is that all Americans, no matter their race, should have equal opportunities in life to work for success which it seams like Beneatha has because she is in school and striving to be a doctor, but Walter disagrees in the fairness there. The American Dream can be seen in the fact that Beneatha has the same opportunity to go to medical school just like white people, but Walter thinks differently because he feels that his opportunity to open a liquor store would be stopped by the money being spent on her schooling, and not his endeavor. The theme of the American Dream emerges in this scene by the mention of Beneatha and Walter’s dreams and how they will achieve those dreams.
DeleteGreat - thanks!
DeleteLorraine Hansberry in, “A Raisin in the Sun,” creates the idea of the American dream in the Younger family. In the opening scene the family is awake and is arguing about many situations but mostly about the ten thousand dollars that they are about to receive in the mail. They are discussing what this money will be used for. With this amount of money the Younger family can take off the burden of their financial issues. Most of the family believes that the money belongs to their mother and it is her decision on what the money should be used on. Everyone in the Younger family has a dream that they wish to use the money on; Walter wants to use it to open a investor store. The family had obtained this money because the mother’s husband had passed away so the money was legally hers. Walter’s dream is to be rich, but with the job that he is working at he will never obtain this amount of money. Walter believes he deserves the money. This money could also be used to help Beneatha go to medical school so she could pursue her life in being a doctor and have her dream come true The American Dream is that all Americans, no matter their race, should have equal opportunities in life. The American Dream can be seen in how Beneatha wants to go to a medical school, but Walter wants differently because he feels that he should be able to open up a liquor store. The American Dream emerges in this scene by mentioning all the dreams that are hoped to happen even though some may or may not become a reality.
ReplyDeleteThis post is WAY too similar to Ally's post. My advice to avoid this is to not read anyone else's post before making your own post. Once we read or hear someone else's opinion on something it tends to impact our own too much.
DeleteRedo posting with a more original response. Thanks.
In “A Raisin in the Sun,” Lorraine Hansberry alludes to the concept of the American dream through the dreams of the Younger family members. The American dream is an ideal that each U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to work for their success, something that Walter Younger wants to do by opening a “liquor store” (Hansberry 33) with his friends. He realizes that, given the mindset towards his race at the time, this would be a difficult feat; however, he believes that he should have an opportunity to make a lot of money for himself and his family. He thinks that the money from Mama’s insurance check they will receive the next day will suffice, but his family members say otherwise. The rest of the family believes that “it’s Mama’s money,” (Hansberry 38) and that she has free reign to use it how she pleases. The family doesn’t have much faith in Walter’s dream, and also feels that Mama shouldn’t use her money for it in the first place. They feel that it’s not his place to come in and ask for the money that she alone is receiving from her dead husband. While they disagree with his dream, he on the other hand disagrees with Beneatha’s choice to enter “medical school,” (Hansberry 37) and also asks her “how much medical school is going to cost,” (Hansberry 36). He feels as though Mama using her money to help Beneatha’s dream won’t help the family, along with claiming that Beneatha doesn’t do much “for the family” (Hansberry 37) to begin with. Both Walter and Beneatha have their own dreams that they want to achieve, however both have their setbacks, including each other. While both of them need the money, they require financial assistance that only one of them could ultimately receive from Mama’s money. They have the ideals of the American dream: equal opportunity, regardless of race or background and based solely on hard work; however, these opportunities also require monetary input as well, something the family currently lacks at the moment.
ReplyDelete1) Great analysis
Delete2) Put citations at the very end of sentences.
3) Too many grammatical errors; proofread.
4) Do not use contractions (don't)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLorraine Hansberry in, "A Raisin in the Sun," introduces the audience to the emerging theme of the American Dream through the conversation between Ruth and Walter Younger. The key concept of the American Dream is having equal opportunity to succeed and prosper through working hard, determination and self-motivation regardless of race, religion or creed. Every American, at some point in their life, has a dream or goal that if accomplished would have an outcome that coincides with the ideals of the American Dream. Success, popularity, economic prosperity, and even a simple feeling of accomplishment all are outcomes of finally completing and living the American Dream. However, the idea of pursuing and accomplishing dreams such as these tend to be surrounded by a substantial amount of doubt from other people. The dreams are viewed as pointless and impossible with emphasis on the need to stay grounded in reality due to the demands and circumstances of present life. In Walter Younger's case, he has a desire to go in on a "liquor store" (Hansberry 33) business with a few other gentleman. It is clear that Walter is tired of waiting on success to come his direction. He much rather desires to take advantage of the availability of the life insurance money and take the risk on the business in order to possibly give himself and his family a better life. He clearly is not pleased by the living conditions in the over-filled home. Even though Walter is focused and ready to pursue this business endeavor and provide a better life for his family, he has doubt coming from his wife Ruth. As Walter tries to explain himself and his intensions at breakfast, she continues to say, "eat you eggs and go to work" (Hansberry 33). Later she also includes that the life insurance money "ain't none of our money" (Hansberry 34). Clearly Ruth wants Walter to realize three things: they have no money to risk, they need to be sure Walter continues to work in order to have some continuous income no matter how small it may be, and that the life insurance money belongs to his mother. Despite Walters good intensions, Ruth attempts to snap him back into reality because the odds and the possibility of success are not in his favor due to financial and racial issues. Aside from Ruth's beliefs, it does seem as if Walter's fervor for success and an improved life will not be stopped because of doubt from the people around him.
ReplyDeleteWell, hey! Yes, this is great. Good.
ReplyDeleteLorraine Hansberry in "A Raisin in the Sun" establishes the theme of the American Dream in the scene between Walter and Ruth discussing Walter's future in business. Walker asked his upset wife "You tired, ain't you? Tired of everything. Me, the boy, the way we live- this beat-up hole- everything. Ain't you?" (Hansberry 32). His words display how he desires a business to provide a better home for his family. Walter then says "Mama would listen to you" and "say easy like you been thinking 'bout the store and deal Walter Lee is so interested in" (Hansberry 33). He wants his wife to convince his mother to invest the money she is receiving into his business venture. He believes this check will help him to achieve his dream of making something of himself and a life for his family. He stated "I'm thirty-five years old; I been married eleven years and I got a boy who sleeps in the living room and all I got to give him is stories about how rich white people live..." (Hansberry 34). Walter is fed up with this poor life he has and wants success through this liquor store business. He wants his mother to help him achieve the American Dream with his father's life insurance money. Walter believed this business would allow him to achieve the American Dream.
ReplyDelete1) Great analysis!
Delete2) A few errors regarding including quotes
Lorraine Hansberry"A Raisin in the Sun" Act one Scene one , starts off with a dispute between the Youngers about Walters idea of business venture. The Youngers establish the American dream by Walter deciding to open a business of his own.(Hansberry 33) The Youngers seem alienated from the white middle class, but they still cherish dreams of the American Society. The Youngers struggled because they were middle class which made that a dream . Walter asks his his displeased wife "You tired,aint you?" (Hansberry 32) Walter makes this statement to show the effect that opening a business would have on the Youngers. Walter opens the Liquor store and he would be living out The American Dream . Mama's plant also is a representation of the emerging of The American Dream, because its symbolizes the care she has for her family. The plant acts as a temporary placement for Mama's much larger dream. Mama attempts to take care of her family, yet she's consistent with financial support. Walter takes advantage of these opportunities and he is able to build The American Dream.
ReplyDelete1) Sentence structure errors
Delete2) MLA errors
3) Spacing Errors
4) Too much going on here: Walter's business adventure, alienation from white middle class, and symbolism of plant
In "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry introduces the theme of the American Dream in the opening scene through the interactions of Walter and Ruth. The American Dream is an idea that states all people have the opportunity to be successful and prosperous through hard work regardless of their ethnic background or social standing. Walter hopes to achieve his dream of moving up in the world by opening a "liquor store" with his friends (Hansberry 33). Because the time period was set sometime close to the civil rights movement, drinking was a common activity. Walter believes that the business will be successful because there will always be people wanting to drink away their problems. However, with dreams come those who doubt dreams. In this case, Walter believes that he is "tied to a race of women with small minds" (Hansberry 35). Walter wants to use the life insurance money to invest in his business but Ruth insists that the money belongs to his mother Lena. Walter feels that all his wife is capable of doing is shooting down his ideas and it is clear that Ruth is not very confident in Walter's business venture. Despite the negativity of his family members Walter's mind is set on his dream and states that nobody "is ever going to understand me" (Hansberry 38). This shows that Walter knows that he is going to pursue this dream at all costs. He is not pleased with his situation and is convinced that he can do something to change it. Walter's ideals are rooted in the American Dream that through hard work and persistence he can accomplish anything.
ReplyDeleteGreat - thanks.
DeleteIn Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," Act l Scene l, the idea of pursuing the 'American Dream' is extremely evident. The main discussion regards an insurance check that will be delivered later in the story due to one of the Youngers having passed away. Walter Younger, the head of the family and son of the man who died, argues with his wife Ruth about his dream of obtaining a liquor license and then investing in a liquor store. The insurance check would open the door for him to do so, but Ruth shoots the idea down because she says the check belongs to his mother, Lena Younger. Walter persists. "I got me a dream...I got to take hold of this here world, baby...I got to change my life, I'm choking to death, baby!" (Hansberry 33). That's what the 'American Dream' is. It's someone's everlasting desire to pursue a greater life for themselves and their family by moving to the states, to "take hold" of the world and change their life for the better. Walter feels constrained, and wants to break through the threshold to change everything that's killing him inside. Walter says, "Nobody in this house is ever going to understand me!" (Hansberry 38). He insists that his idea, his investment, his dream, will save the family and get them where he wants them to be. Walter wants nothing more than to get a glimpse of what the 'American Dream' looks and feels like, and will seemingly stop at nothing to get there.
ReplyDelete1) No contractions
Delete2) Lacking another concrete detail with commentary
3) Good analysis