Comparing Power and Control in A Raisin In The Sun and Juno and the Paycock
analytical Essay
981 words
Power and Control in A Raisin In The Sun and Juno and the Paycock
In the two plays, A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and Juno and the Paycock by Sean O'Casey, the reader is presented with a definite struggle for power among its main characters and society's ideals. These plays also serve as functions of drama, where the reader or viewer can also perceive much more in the way they are portrayed by the actors and the director as well, as the overall thematic plot and significance.
In A Raisin In The Sun, the reader is faced with the struggle between Walter and his wife, Ruth, and his mother, Mama, for power and head of the household. In the first Act of the play Walter deliberately oversteps Ruth's authority just to spite her and show his power as head of the family. Travis, their son requests fifty cents for school, and Ruth denies his request because they don't have the money. Walter enters and gives his son more than enough money with his eyes completely transfixed on his wife, who looks at him with utmost scorn and disapproval:
Travis-she won't gimme the fifty cents...
Walter-(To his wife only) Why not?
Ruth-(Simply, and with flavor) 'Cause we don't have it.
Walter-(To Ruth only) What you tell the boy things like that for? (Reaching down into his pants with a rather important gesture) Here son-(He hands the boy the coin, but his eyes are directed to his wife's. Travis takes the money happily)
Travis-Thanks, Daddy. (He starts out. Ruth watches both of them with murder in her eyes. Walter stands and stares back at her with defiance...(Hansberry 30-31)
It is obvious that this scene was meant to be performed, with all its subtle actions and expressed grievances. Here one confrontation of...
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...ter to the house he retreats back to his former attempts of deception by lying to her about supposed jobs and leg pains. Like in Raisin, Jack falls into a fortune which he squanders away and then later realizes he never possessed, getting into a great debt. He uses the money however to make himself head of the family, or man of the house, which ultimately falls apart. At the end of the play though, unlike Raisin, he never acquires any real authority as the play ends in disarray, and he goes off to drown his sorrows at the local saloon.
These two plays show dramatically the struggle for authoritative power over the characters lives, families, and societies pressures. The overall tragedy that befalls them as they are swept up in these conflicts distinctly portrays the thematic plot of their common misconception for power and control over their lives.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the two plays, a raisin in the sun by lorraine hansberry and juno and the paycock by sean o'casey, serve as functions of drama.
- Analyzes how in a raisin in the sun, walter oversteps ruth's authority just to spite her and show his power as head of the family.
- Analyzes how travis won't gimme the fifty cents to his wife, ruth, and walter. they discuss how the son hands the boy the coin, but his eyes are directed to ruth's.
- Analyzes how one confrontation of power between ruth and walter transcends into a greater plight shown in the play as walter tries to assume itative head of the family, which he must not be given by mama.
- Analyzes how mama stands in the way of walter's foolish ambitions and pride, and lets him take on the responsibility of the family affairs.
- Analyzes how walter struggles against the crisis of the money, and society's racist ideologies with mama and mr. lindner.
- Analyzes the power struggle between jack, captain boyle, and juno, his wife, as well as from the overall society.
- Opines that it's a terrible thing to be tied to an always grousin' woman.
- Analyzes how joxer's rhapsody is cut short by the sight of juno coming forward and confronting the two cronies.
- Analyzes how joxer swears to stand up for his dignity as head of the family, but juno retreats back to his former attempts of deception by lying to her about supposed jobs and leg pains.
- Analyzes how these two plays show the struggle for authoritative power over the characters' lives, families, and societies pressures. the tragedy that befalls them as they are swept up in these conflicts distinctly portrays the thematic plot of their common misconception for power and control over their lives.
Related
- analytical
- Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun – Freedomanalytical essayHave you ever found money coming between you and your family and disrupting love and life? Money can destroy families and change them for the worse. In the Raisin in the Sun, the author Lorraine Hansberry, uses events of her life to relate and explain how the Younger family, of Chicago's South side, struggles and improves throughout the book. One main cause for their family's problems is because of money and how it causes anger to control the family. The play deals with situations in which the family is dealing with unhappiness from money. Walter, the man of the house in the Younger family, tries impressing Travis, his son, too much with money instead of teaching him the more important lessons of life. Walter also dreams to invest in a liquor store and make a lot of money and becomes overwhelmed and badly caught up in his dream. Lastly, the Younger family is much too dependent on the check their Mama is receiving. The family has lost the fact that their mama tries to tell them, before, freedom was life but now money seems to have the controlling factor in life. When money becomes an obsession for a family, problems occur.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lorraine hansberry uses events of her life to relate and explain how the younger family, of chicago's south side, struggles and improves throughout the book.
- Analyzes how walter seems to be a good father to travis, but loses control by the end of the play. he relates too much to money, instead of focusing on family fun.
- Analyzes how walter, a chauffeur in chicago, becomes angry and selfish around his family and spends late nights in bars getting drunk.
- Analyzes how the younger family had been excited about receiving a $10,000 insurance check for the death of their husband.
- Analyzes how lorraine hansberry's play, a raisin in the sun, is a popular lesson today.
957 wordsRead More - Race and Destinyanalytical essaySince its first paragraphs, the “A Raisin in the Sun” focuses on a fundamental issue – poverty and how it’s related to race. Hansberry is drawing the portrait of a stereotypical situation, in the mid-20th century, when racial discrimination was linked to lack of money and vice versa. The plays spins around a check of $10000 from the insurance company, granted for the death of Mama’s husband. The story goes with discussing the investment choices about that sum of money. The main male character, Walter Younger, Mama’s son, is presented as man who is eager to get rich fast, over-appreciates money, and has little ethical bias. The phrase “Check coming today?” (p.1294) written in the beginning of the act one, scene one, shows Walter’s impatience and the idea that he places a greater value on material stuff, rather than interpersonal relations.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how ellision's "battle royal" describes a boy who deals with the society having racial problems.
- Analyzes how african americans were not able to realize they were treated unreasonably by white people.
- Analyzes how the protagonist took it for granted that black people were treated by white people in an unreasonable manner. he accepted the situation without any criticism.
- Analyzes how ellison's protagonist, walter younger, adopted society well and was satisfied of his situation without noticing any injustice.
- Analyzes how hansberry's "a raisin in the sun" focuses on racial discrimination and how it is related to lack of money. the main male character, walter younger, is eager to get rich fast and has little ethical bias.
1609 wordsRead More - The American Dream in A Raisin in the Sunanalytical essayA Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry. The primary focus of the play is the American Dream. The American Dream is one’s conception of a better life. Each of the main characters in the play has their own idea of what they consider to be a better life. A Raisin in the Sun emphasizes the importance of dreams regardless of the various oppressive struggles of life.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lorraine hansberry's a raisin in the sun emphasizes the importance of dreams regardless of the various oppressive struggles of life.
- Analyzes how walter is the hero and villain of a raisin in the sun due to the actions he takes revolving his dream.
- Analyzes how walter minimizes the position of a car driver because to him it diminishes his manhood and his sense of individual worth.
- Analyzes how mama's american dream is compromised by the rampant segregation that her family faces in being compelled not to buy a house from the clybourne park white neighborhood.
- Analyzes how beneatha younger is portrayed as an intelligent, energetic college student who intends to become a doctor if she can get the money for tuition. asagai confronts her about assimilating to an oppressive culture.
- Analyzes how hansberry portrays big walter lee as an african american struggling to achieve their version of the american dream.
- Explains that a raisin in the sun: unabridged 25th anniversary edition and the sign in sidney brustein’s window.
1195 wordsRead More - Changing Times In Loraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sunanalytical essayTimes have changed since the play “A Raisin in the Sun “was written by Loraine Hansberry. Only certain things have changed but, many of the conditions from those times still exist today. The play is about the Youngers, a black family who lived on the Chicago's Southside. The younger family had five members. Mama, Walter Lee, Ruth, Travis and Beneatha. While they live in a poor neighborhood, they can't afford to live in better conditions. Mama is expected to collect a 10,000 check from her late-husbands insurance money. Mama and Walter both have disagreement and agreements on what to do with the 10,000 check. They both want to use the money to help support and to benefit the family as a whole. However, the disagreement becomes a conflict of how to manage the money and the way it is to benefit them.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the play "a raisin in the sun" is about the youngers, a black family living on the chicago's southside.
- Explains that walter lee wants to have a better life and to invest in liquor stores. he believes in the american dream. mama wants walter to remember the most important thing in life, which is family.
- Analyzes how walter lee has to decide between reality and the american dream. he is selfish because he has mind set on building and investing money in a liquor store.
- Analyzes how mama disagrees with walter getting the money because of what she believes in. she reminds walter of how hard her generation had to fight to gain freedom.
- Analyzes how walter lee tries to convince his mother to give him $10,000 and that it would benefit the family. his mother's generational values are hurting his manhood and pride.
- Analyzes how walter loses the money his mother gave him to invest; he tries to regain it back.
- Analyzes how mama teaches walter that money isn't everything and is not the answer to all their problems. walter kept thinking that having money would teach him that he could be successful.
- Opines that "a raisin in the sun" is about living a dream and living in the reality of what's important. mama taught walter the most important lesson about life, about family.
910 wordsRead More - Destitution In Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sunanalytical essay...e discuss how the mother Lena, controls Walter's brain until he chooses to undertake the part of being the man of the house and choosing that regardless of what that they were moving into that house paying little heed to what sort of neighborhood it was. The sonnet and title both reflect one another in light of the fact that their dreams that were gradually breaking down like a raisin in the sun regardless they accepted and on the grounds that they had so much confidence they wound up turning into a stronger African American family who in the long run moved out of their little condo into a greatly improved house. Despite the fact that the Younger family are, no doubt segregated again and surmise that their dreams are similar to a raisin gradually breaking up in the sun, regardless they have confidence that they can accomplish these dreams and it just makes them stron
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how "a raisin in the sun" investigates an african american family in destitution in a two-room loft in chicago's south side of town.
- Analyzes how the title of "a raisin in the sun" is critical in light of the fact that lorraine hansberry, a lady who might battle separation before these individuals, never felt embarrassed.
- Analyzes how langston hughes sonnet "harlem: a dream deferred" is about dreams that are put on hold in view of particular reasons.
- Analyzes how hansberry brings up that the breakdown of these dreams could be advised in a positive tone to help the blacks get to be higher in the public arena.
930 wordsRead More - A Raisin In The Sun Symbolismanalytical essayA Raisin in the Sun is a very important part of African American literature. A Raisin in the Sun is basically about the characters wanting to be who they want to be. A Raisin in the Sun displays all of the tension between white and black society. The play portrays a lot of different things through the characters actions. The play has a lot of greed in it, when it comes to mamas’ money. Mamas’ son wants the money all to himself, and mama wants to give it to the whole family.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mama demands that members of her family respect themselves and take pride in their dreams. she would rather have a happy family than money and be miserable.
- Describes beneatha as a college student, who longs and dreams to become doctor. her dreams show her determination and pride that she has in herself.
- Analyzes how the symbols of a raisin in the sun are mama's plant and beneatha’s hair.
- Analyzes how a raisin in the sun portrays the tension between white and black society through the characters' actions.
600 wordsRead More - Free Essays - A Raisin in the Sunanalytical essay“A Raisin in the Sun” is set at in an area where racism was still occurring. Blacks were no longer separated but they were still facing many racial problems. The black Younger family faced these problems throughout the play. The entire family was affected in their own way. The family has big dreams and hope to make more of their poor lives. Walter, the main character, is forced to deal with most of the issues himself. Ruth, his wife, and Travis, his ten-year-old son, really don’t have say in matters that he sets his mind to. Beneatha, his sister tries to get her word in but is often ignored. Lena (Mama) is Walter’s mother and is very concerned about her family. She tries to keep things held together despite all of the happenings. Mama’s husband had just recently died so times seemed to be even harder. They all live in a small apartment when living space is very confined (Hansberry 1731). They all have dreams in which they are trying to obtain, but other members of the family seem to hold back each other from obtaining them (Decker).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how "a raisin in the sun" is set in an area where racism was still occurring. the black younger family faced these problems throughout the play.
- Analyzes how walter has a steady, but low-paying job and wishes that he could do more for his family.
- Explains that the younger family was expecting an insurance check for the amount of ten thousand dollars from the death of mama's husband. mama wanted to buy a bigger house and save some for beneatha’s school.
- Narrates how walter lost his down payment on a white house, which was causing problems for the family, and how he fought to keep his family ties and values strong.
- Analyzes how mama's dream was to keep everyone happy and have a life that they wanted. she gave the money to walter knowing that he had the opportunity to use it for the store.
- Explains hansberry, lorraine, "a raisin in the sun". the bedford introduction to literature.
- Narrates robinson's meeting with baldwin, hansberry, belafonte, et al.
- Analyzes how ruth's dream was to live a better life, not just wanting more money, and keeps her baby, showing that times are not as bad as they could be.
1704 wordsRead More - Lauren Oliver once said, “I guess that’s just part of loving people: You have to give things up. Sometimes you even have to give them up” (Good Reads). This quote connects very well to the play, A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry. The quote conveys the message that if one loves someone, one must give things up. A Raisin in the Sun is about an African-American family living in the south side of Chicago in the 1950s. The Younger family is a lower-class family that has been struggling to make their dreams come true. One of the character’s in the play named Walter Lee has been struggling to make his dreams come true. Walter’s changes that are shown tie to the quote written by Lauren Oliver. The changes that are seen in Walter Lee throughout the book, A Raisin in the Sun, reflects the theme that one must sacrifice something for the love and happiness of one’s family.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lauren oliver's quote connects to the play, a raisin in the sun, written by lorraine hansberry. the quote conveys the message that if one loves someone, one must give things up.
- Analyzes how walter's obsession with money is going to cost him a lot since it is the only thing he cares about.
- Analyzes how walter's selfishness changes into love and sacrifice for his family in the middle of the play.
- Analyzes how walter never takes the responsibility of being a brother seriously, but at the end, he becomes more responsible.
- Analyzes how the changes that are seen in walter convey the theme that one must sacrifice something for the love and happiness of one’s family.
911 wordsRead More - A Raisin in the Sun: The Foundation of Familyanalytical essayThe 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.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lorraine hansberry's play, a raisin in the sun, emphasizes the importance of family. the younger family faces hardships that tear them apart, but through everything they stick together.
- Analyzes how the spiraling tension between the two siblings causes confrontation to form and creep into the younger household.
- Analyzes how walter struggles in understanding who he needs to be for his family. he wants to take his place as the patriarch of the family, but feels incapable of providing them with the lifestyle they deserve.
- Analyzes how beneatha antagonizes her brother with disparagement because she feels that he is personally responsible for the suspension of her dream.
- Analyzes how mama's encouragement for beneatha to quit antagonizing her brother confirms her disgusts with the astringent attitudes of her children.
- Opines that lorraine hansberry's focus on family is relevant and relatable. this portrayal of family development can be seen as insightful and inspirational to many.
- Analyzes ardolino, frank, and masterfile complete. "hansberry's a raisin in the sun."
- Introduces hansberry, lorraine. a raisin in the sun. the norton introduction to literature, 10th ed.
- Opines that hewes, henry, "a plant grows in chicago," in saturday review, vol. xlii, no. 14, april 4, 1959, p.
1191 wordsRead More - An Overview of 'A Raisin in the Sun'analytical essayA Raisin in the Sun is a play telling the story of an African-American tragedy. The play is about the Younger family near the end of the 1950s. The Younger family lives in the ghetto and is at a crossroads after the father’s death. Mother Lena Younger and her grown up children Walter Lee and Beneatha share a cramped apartment in a poor district of Chicago, in which she and Walter Lee's wife Ruth and son Travis barely fit together inside.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that hansberry's creation played a crucial role in the development of african-american drama since the second world war. a raisin in the sun was the first play by african american author set on broadway and was honored by the circle of new york theater critics.
- Analyzes how a raisin in the sun tells the story of an african-american tragedy. the younger family lives in a ghetto after the father's death.
- Analyzes how lena younger's husband died and his life insurance brought the family $ 10,000. after the death of her husband, she buys a new house where the whole family is going to move.
- Analyzes how the youngers' desire to leave the ghetto causes fierce resistance to their future white neighbors. the play is attractive not only by acute but also deep character development.
- Analyzes how mama lena is faced with difficult decisions, especially between the siblings. she wants to make it right for everyone and wants no one to be hurt by a wrong decision.
- Analyzes how lena's son walter lee jr. is a chauffeur, but wants more out of his life. his wife ruth is working from day until night, until she breaks down because she is pregnant again.
- Analyzes how hansberry's play confronts the fragmentation of the family, the black male’s quest for manhood, and the problems of integration.
- Analyzes how each family member struggles to get this much sought after dream. the dream of owning a home is the most important dream for family unity.
- Analyzes how the younger family faces social and economic troubles during the play but at the end they are united. the only character who believes in unity of family and its strength is mother lena.
- Explains that the two characters realize that they were wrong when the insurance money is stolen from walter and when he is rejected as a brother by beneatha. happiness comes to them only when they start working for the good of the family.
- Analyzes how home of the youngers is the only dwelling place in the play, which symbolizes family unity. its lightning changes as the mood of family members change too.
- Analyzes how mr. lindner, an outer character, makes racial segregation a bright and noticeable theme in the play.
- Analyzes how the play shows that discrimination is a terrible thing that could ever happen in society. with the help of an african-american family fighting with confidence and dignity, the plays shows how people should react to such cases.
- Analyzes how mama's plant represents her desire for a new house which will make life for the family better and unite all its members.
- Analyzes how the fragile plant struggles for life and is a bright parallel to family of the youngers, where each member cares only about themselves and the family.
- Analyzes how hansberry's play is realistic in setting, characterization, and dialogue. it reflects the circumstances of african americans in the 1950’s, at the beginning of the civil rights movement.
- Analyzes how hansberry's a raisin in the sun is convincing because ghettos and racism are still present today.
- Analyzes how the play shows that it has the proper values that will never go out of fashion. the focus is not only the discrimination of african-americans in the 1950's and later decades, but also about dreams, money and family ties.
- Cites austin, addell. "a raisin in the sun." cyclopedia of literary characters, revised, third edition (1998): 1-2.
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