In “A Raisin in the Sun”, Hansberry created Ruth to be a favorable character because she is kind, hardworking, and caring; however some readers may believe that she is irresponsible and close minded and may not like the character due to these reasons.
Hansberry made Ruth appear brave through the way she is able to keep on going no matter what the situation is. This can be seen in Act I Scene I when Mama and Ruth are discussing Walter's decisions in investing in the liquor store, “Mama, something is happening between Walter and me… he needs something – something I can’t give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena.” Ruth shows Lena that she is willing to compromise somehow with Walter to satisfy him and make him happy. This shows her kindness because even though she does not agree with Walter’s plans, she is willing to let him do what he wants because she has faith in him and wants to make him happy at any cost. Another example is in Act II Scene 3, “Oh – Well, they bound to fit something in the whole house. Anyhow, they was too good a bargain to pass up.” In this line, Ruth is talking about the curtains she bought for the new house. Even though she just found out that in won’t fit for the windows she wanted, she is still happy she bought them. Hansberry use this line to show Ruth’s kindness because she is trying to spread her joy and excitement to the entire family because they are moving to a better house and nothing is going to ruin her optimistic mood. Ruth’s kindness is a huge part of keeping the family together and this even shows in her dedication to her family no matter how hard she has to work.
Hansberry made Ruth appear hardworking through the way she stays committed to her family no matter the struggles they face. Rut...
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...say on the subject and lies to Travis about not having 50 cents. Another example is in Act I Scene I when Ruth is talking to Walter in the morning, “(Wearily) Honey, you never say nothing new. I listen to you every day, every night and every morning, and you never say nothing new. (Shrugging) So you would rather be Mr. Arnold than be his chauffeur. So – I would rather be living in Buckingham Palace.” Walter is trying to talk to Ruth about the investment in the liquor store and his dreams of becoming rich and having lots of money in the future; yet, in this quote, Ruth seems irritated and annoyed by him. Hansberry use this to show that Ruth is sometimes annoyed by other people and is not willing to hear what other people want to say because of how close-minded she is. Ruth also can seem mean late on in the story.
Works Cited
A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry
Growing up, Ruth had a rough childhood growing up in a very strict jewish household. Her family was poor, her mother was physically handicapped, her father was verbally and physically abusive, and she faced prejudice and discrimination from her neighbors and classmates because she
Ruth was being prevented from having a baby because of money problems, Walter was bringing him self down by trying to make the liquor store idea work. Once Mama decided to buy the house with the money she had received, Walter figured that he should further go on with the liquor store idea. Then, when Walter lost the money, he lost his dignity and tried to get some money from the “welcome party” of Cylborne Park. Mama forced him to realize how far he went by making him show himself to his son how low he would go. But he showed that he wasn’t susceptible to the ways the racism created.
To begin with, Orleanna in Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible and Materia in MacDonald's Fall on Your Knees both lost their daughter. They both have grieved their loss, but it is in the way they grieved that has determined their progress in life. To start, the death of Ruth May was tragic to say the least, but Orleanna reacted in a smart way that has shown to pay off. It is evident that Ruth May's death was the figurative 'last straw' for Orleanna and she needed no more delay to leave the Congo. Orleanna became fixated on saving herself and her remaining children, saying "as long as I kept moving, my grief streamed out behind me like a swimmer's long hair in the water" (Kingsolver 381). Orleanna kept herself distracted from Ruth May's death
A second major similarity between the two women is their personality of being non-confrontational. Both women, in a sense, let others “walk over them”. Ruth is dominated by her husband, Walter, for the most part and Stella by her husband, Stanley, and sister Blanche. When situations are tense, both characters try to avoid the confrontational subject or shy away when it is brought up. For example, when Walter adamantly keeps trying to force Ruth into supporting his business ideals at breakfast-which she doesn’t agree with-she tries to change the subject by repeatedly telling Walter to eat his eggs (Hansberry 1.
The play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry has many interesting characters. In my opinion, the most fascinating character is Ruth because of her many emotions and captivating personality. She goes through extreme emotions in the play such as happiness, sadness, anger, stress, and confusion. Ruth is very independent, firm, kind, witty, and loving.
Development of characters are shown in multiple events and situations within A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry that will either leave the character changed or not. Walter Younger Jr. undertakes multiple changes throughout the text which develops characteristics of his way of thinking. His experiences change his morals and his appreciation for his family and his surroundings for what they are. Walter’s understanding and feelings are also shown throughout the text, where he becomes a more advanced individual within himself and for his family. Walter is confronted by the event of having another child when his wife, Ruth, shares the information about what has happened and what her plans are to resolve and continue the scenario.
The idea of family is a central theme in Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun. Hansberry alludes to the Old Testament book of Ruth in her play to magnify “the value of having a home and family”(Ardolino 181). The Younger family faces hardships that in the moment seem to tear them apart from one another, but through everything, they stick together. The importance of family is amplified by the choices of Walter and Beneatha because they appear to initiate fatal cracks in the Younger family’s foundation, but Mama is the cement who encourages her family to pull together as one unit. The hardships of the family help develop a sense of unity for the Younger household.
The first fantasy of Ruth's was to go and buy an upgraded house with her family. The barriers in Ruth's way are the welcoming committee telling them to leave and giving her a hard time with moving in. In the movie she struggles with having a tiny house with her whole family in it. She had lots of hope for her family to be in better condition and her imagination life became reality.
People may often be far too familiarized with the trials of betrayal from those they trust most. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry exhibits several acts of deception. One character commits one of the most front facing acts of betrayal. Walter Lee Younger, a simple family man holds a dark side . He betrays the trust his family has placed into him with the remainder of a check his mother chose to give him.
With just one glance at “A Raisin In the Sun”, the reader will notice the undeniable references to “Harlem.” Hansberry’s ties the food references in “Harlem” to major themes dispersed throughout her play. Ruth uses food to prove that she can still take care of her husband; however, Walter Lee refuses her attempts to prove his own independence and strength. Alaiyo, the name A...
Ruth is Walter's wife. Her dream is to have a happy family but she also wants to be wealthy.
Cecilia was diagnosed with cancer while Ruth was in high school and the day before her daughter’s graduation, she passed away (Salokar & Volcansek, 1996). One of the greatest influences on Ruth’s life was her mother and the values she instilled in her from a young age. Two of the greatest lessons that Ruth learned from her mother was to be independent and to be a lady, and by that she meant not to respond in anger but to remain calm in situations (Reynolds, 2009).... ... middle of paper ... ...
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.
today and in the story of Ruth. This is evidenced in Ruth's decision to stay
“WALTER: “.See, that just goes to show you what women understand about the world. Baby, don’t nothing happen to you in this world ‘less you pay somebody off!”(Hansberry). Walter says that money is a man’s domain, and that Ruth, being a woman, just wouldn’t understand. This sexist remark seems to come from his own lack of self-esteem. Unfortunately, for Walter and those around him, he feels the need to put people down in order to feel more powerful.”