A Deferred Dream

1507 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analyzing a raisin in the sun

In A Raisin in the Sun, a play by Lorraine Hansberry, all the characters in the Younger family have experienced the hardship that most African-Americans faced, during the 1950s, in the Southside Chicago ghetto. The Youngers had simple desires for decent jobs and a home of their own and hoped to achieve these dreams. However, they have had to put off their dreams because of the struggle of life for them. This left no exception to the Younger family, but Beneatha Younger was an exception. She was on her way to becoming a doctor which was her lifelong dream. By the end of the play, Beneatha learned about real risk and work and accepted it therefore achieving her dream. She was born poor and in a struggling family. Her dreams were always very demanding and almost impossible considering the family’s low income. Beneatha wanted to become a doctor by successfully completing medical school. Beneatha was in pre-medical school. The family’s income was fueled by Walter Lee’s job as a chauffeur and Mama’s and Ruth’s jobs as domestics. This low income was already used to pay for food, clothes, Travis’s education, and the rent for the cramped, poorly conditioned apartment they lived in. However, Beneatha was using some of this money for her college and education. She was smarter than most of her relatives because of her education. Beneatha was confused because she kept on transitioning from hobby to hobby using her family’s money. Beneatha’s view of life, at this point, was that she was accustomed to being assisted by her family. She assumed life would go according to plan. Beneatha’s dream at the beginning of the play had not been deferred, but only because she is relying on her family to continue her dream, medical school. By the end of the ...

... middle of paper ...

...ssons Beneatha learned to overcome her negative attitude.

In conclusion, Beneatha started out a little immature and was used to being assisted and not working for her dream. After the money disappeared, she had a negative attitude towards this because she thought she couldn’t go to medical school. Asagai came in and told her about idealism vs. realism and that she should be an idealist so that she could move forward in life. Beneatha accepted this advice and understood about how she shouldn’t just sit there and let other people do her work. She understood that she had to work and fulfill her own dream mostly by herself. This advice could help her move forward in life and to keep on pursuing her dream. By the end of the play, Beneatha learned about real risk and work and accepted it therefore achieving her dream.

Works Cited
A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry

Show More
Related

  • Dreams Deferred in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun

    917 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lorraine Hansberry, the author of A Raisin in the Sun, supports the theme of her play from a montage of, A Dream Deferred, by Langston Hughes. Hughes asks, “What happens to a dream deferred?” He suggests many alternatives to answering the question. That it might “dry up like a raisin in the sun,” or “fester like a sore.” Yet the play maybe more closely related to Hughes final question of the poem, “Or does it explode?” The play is full of bombs that are explosions of emotion set off by the frustration of the Younger family, who are unable to grasp the possible reality of their dreams. The family shares the dream of having a better life but compete against each other for the insurance money given to Mama after her husband’s death. The son of Mama, Walter, dreams of being a rich black man by investing the money in a liquor store. His sister, Beneatha, wants to use the money to finish school, so she can pursue her life as a doctor. Mama would rather use the money to buy a home and leave their run down house in the ghetto. Their frustration is obtained from their dreams being deferred and the emotions burst like an exploding time bomb.

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the major themes of the play A Raisin In The Sun is dreams and dreams deferred. Each member of the Younger family had each of their own dreams when the family received ten thousand dollars in the mail. The money was from Mama’s husband who had passed away a few years before. Everyone wanted the money to be for themselves and nobody else. Walter wanted the money to help him open a Liquor Store when Beneatha wanted the money to pay for her Medical School tuition. Travis just wanted fifty cents that his teacher told him he needed for class that day, and Mama wanted to use the money to move her family out of their tiny apartment and into a nice house where they could all live happily. One morning...

    Read More

  • The Themes in the film "A Raisin in the Sun"

    1603 Words  | 4 Pages

    The idea of characters fulfilling and working towards their dreams is a common and relatable theme throughout today’s entertainment culture. From television shows to feature films, it becomes a main focus because many spectators can relate to the exact dream or inspires them to reach for or create a similar dream for themselves. The film “A Raisin in the Sun” takes place in Chicago featuring an African American family living in a small, three-bedroom apartment in the 1950’s. This apartment is not big enough for such a large family and, as a result, the youngest has to sleep on the couch in the living area because there is not enough room or money for a bed for him. Since money is very tight within the family, the insurance check for the death of the father of the family is much needed, but also a source of conflict within the family because they must choose the best way to spend this money to help all achieve their dreams. The Younger family is full of dreams and aspirations, both as a family and as individuals.

    Read More

  • Comparing A Raisin In The Sun And Ibsen's A Doll House

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    She shares that not only would she be able to get married as well as become a doctor, she would get to live in Africa. Her mother does not say no, but she kind of “brushes off” the news Beneatha shares with her as if it is not an option. Her brother, Walter, tells her to forget about it and marry rich. Neither her mother or brother are supportive in this moment. Hansberry ends the play shortly after this moment, so it is unclear what Beneatha’s final decision was. Was she independent enough to liberate herself from her family’s hold? Or did she remain trapped and dependent by their expectations of what her future should look like?

    Read More

  • Success in America: A Raisin in the Sun

    1397 Words  | 3 Pages

    In America, every citizen is guaranteed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Although each person is given these rights, it is how each person uses them that defines how successful they will be in America. There are several obstacles that some Americans face on their pursuit of happiness. In this country’s past, Americans lived by a very specific set of beliefs that valued the importance of hard work, faith, and family. As time progressed and America began to evolve as a nation, this capitalistic society no longer devoted itself to family and faith but rather success, and the pursuit of prosperity. The shift from dependence on tradition towards a society that values success and how people struggle to b successful when society makes it difficult marks a common theme in Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun. Two of the main characters in this story Lena Younger (Mama) and her son Walter Lee directly reflect the shift from tradition to a focus on success and capital and the struggles they face in regards to racism. Mama and Walter Lee’s contrasting values about the American dream and the way in which they pursue their own dreams while facing racism exemplifies the shift from valuing tradition like in previous generations in America, to valuing success and prosperity like in more current generations.

    Read More

  • A Raisin in the Sun: The Foundation of Family

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    Walter and Beneatha’s relationship is very complex. The spiraling tension between the two siblings causes confrontation to form and creep into the Younger household. Walter needs his family to respect him as the man of the family, but his sister is constantly belittling him in front of his mother, wife, and son. This denigrating treatment taints Walter’s view of himself as a man, which carries into his decisions and actions. Beneatha also subconsciously deals with the dysfunctional relationship with her brother. She desires to have her brother’s support for her dream of becoming a doctor, yet Walter tends to taunt her aspiration and condemns her for having such a selfish dream. Mama as the head of the family is heartbroken by the juvenile hostility of her adult children, so in hopes to keep her family together she makes the brave move of purchasing a house. Mama’s reasoning for the bold purchase was,“ I—I just seen my family falling apart….just falling to pieces in front of my eyes…We couldn’t have gone on like we was today. We was going backwards ‘stead of forw...

    Read More

  • Comparing A Raisin In The Sun And Harlem By Langston Hughes

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beneatha believes that education is the way to understanding and self-fulfillment through knowledge and wisdom. It was rare at this time to find a poor well-educated black woman with such high ambitions. Her Mama knowing how much her education meant to her, told Walter to save $3000 for Beneatha's medical school. When they discovered that Walter had invested the money in his liquor store scheme and Willy had run off with all the money, Beneatha was devastated. Her dream according to Langston Hughes poem Harlem”Or does it explode?” She had lost all hope and even though her spirits may have been lifted after her talk with Asagai and the chance to move into a new house, it seems that Beneatha will never realize her

    Read More

  • A Dream Deferred

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore-And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over- like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.Or does it explode?While Langhston Hughes authors this poem, A Dream Deferred, it can easily be interpreted as Toni Morrison's description of Nel and her life of sorrow and dissatisfaction. Sula and Nel, the protagonists in Toni Morrison's Sula, are each the only daughters of mothers whose distance leaves the young girls with dreams to erase this solitude and loneliness. There is no question that Sula alleviates this aloneness with a lascivious and experimental life, "I'm going down like one of those redwoods. I sure did live in this world"(143). Nel, however, for the most part, fails terribly at realizing her dreams and experiencing a happy existence.

    Read More

  • Characters Dreams Deferred in Raisin In The Sun

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beneatha’s dream is to become a doctor. She believes that her dream was deferred when she was born since she is coloured and a female. Although she fights this, her dream is deferred even more when Walter looses the money which she needed to get into medical school.

    Read More

  • The American Dream In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    1007 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Lorraine Hansberry's inspirational play A Raisin in the Sun, a working class African American family's life is turned upside down when death comes for their father. In this play, the main characters: Walter, Benetha, Ruth, and Mama(Lena), all dream of having a better life. Despite the living conditions that rule their lives, they each try to pursue the "American Dream." Although the "American Dream," is different for each character, by the end of the play and through many trials and tribulations; the Younger's come to realize who's dream is the most important.

    Read More

  • Walter Lee's Dreams in A Raisin in The Sun

    1409 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is a play about segregation, triumph, and coping with personal tragedy. Set in Southside Chicago, A Raisin in the Sun focuses on the individual dreams of the Younger family and their personal achievement. The Younger's are an African American family besieged by poverty, personal desires, and the ultimate struggle against the hateful ugliness of racism. Lena Younger, Mama, is the protagonist of the story and the eldest Younger. She dreams of many freedoms, freedom to garden, freedom to raise a societal-viewed equal family, and freedom to live liberated of segregation. Next in succession is Beneatha Younger, Mama's daughter, assimilationist, and one who dreams of aiding people by breaking down barriers to become an African American female doctor. Lastly, is Walter Lee Younger, son of Mama and husband of Ruth. Walter dreams of economic prosperity and desires to become a flourishing businessman. Over the course of Walter's life many things contributed to his desire to become a businessman. First and foremost, Walter's father had a philosophy that no man should have to do labor for another man. Being that Walter Lee was a chauffeur, Big Walter?s philosophy is completely contradicted. Also, in Walter?s past, he had the opportunity to go into the Laundromat business which he chose against. In the long run, he saw this choice was fiscally irresponsible this choice was. In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, Walter Lee's dreams, which are his sole focus, lead to impaired judgement and a means to mend his shattered life.

    Read More

  • Materialism In A Raisin In The Sun

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Though American citizens are recognized as adults at the age of eighteen, human brains take much longer to fully develop. The play A Raisin in the Sun takes place in the apartment of the Youngers, an African American family struggling with financial issues during the 1950’s. Walter’s father has recently passed away, and Mama receives a life insurance check for his death. Walter and Mama share their cramped apartment with Walter’s sister Beneatha, his wife, Ruth, and their son, Travis. Walter works as a chauffeur and Ruth does domestic chores for rich, white families. They do not have many opportunities for better jobs or higher quality education, but Beneatha attends college classes in hopes of becoming a doctor. Walter’s job as a chauffeur

    Read More

  • Dreams Deferred

    1047 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Life, Liberty, and Property.” A component in the Declaration of Colonial Rights, a resolution of the First Continental Congress, this phrase might have been integral to our constitution’s definition of inalienable rights. “Property” was replaced with “the pursuit of Happiness” because our founding fathers knew of the adversity that stood between the way of people and property during that time. For many generations of peoples throughout the years, property- or more of the lack of and fight for- has not been conducive towards the pursuit of happiness. The American Dream is less fulfilled sans the house with a white picket fence. Mimicking her upbringing, Lorraine Hansberry details her own dreams deferred in her play, A Raisin in the Sun, through the convolution of the American Dream, the prioritization of its aspects, and the resounding consequences of the American Dream's selfish mutilation.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Feminism In A Raisin In The Sun

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    She is determined to find her fullness as an individual and to not be defined by the man she marries. Walter constantly criticizes Beneatha’s dream of being a doctor. He treats it as though his dream is no longer feasible. He’s portrayed by Hansberry as being fairly pathetic and helpless. It seems like he needs women to help him move into manhood.

    Read More

  • The Significance of a Title

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    In A Raisin in the Sun, there is a poor family named the Youngers who struggle everyday of their lives. It is around the time where slavery is over but very racial. Luck comes along when Mama Lena receives a ten thousand dollar life insurance check from her husbands death. At Mama Lena’s residence there is her daughter Beneatha and son Walter. They both have their own dreams and plans on what to do with the money. Waltes who resides at Mama Lena with his wife and son plans to invest in a liquor store. On the other hand, Lena’s daughter Beneatha plans to invest the money in medical school which she is estatic to attend after finishing her college years. Mama Lena also has plans for the money which is to invest in a house for her family and send Beneatha to medical school.

    Read More

More about A Deferred Dream

Open Document