You've now either read or watched (or
both) A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry's realistic
modern drama about the Younger family who live in the southside of
Chicago. The full-length play is linked to on this blogsite (see down the
right column), and I encourage you to watch it! I won’t mind if you don’t read
the text because the play comes to life when it’s produced, and I know it’s a
challenge to read full-length plays. This play is neither a comedy nor a
tragedy, but falls in the genre we call Realism (as does the one-act play Trifles). The
discussion this week asks you to consider the elements of realism in this play
that remains current for our own time.
Write about one of two options:
Either write about the character you find most compelling, for
whatever reason. Maybe you personally relate to that character, or maybe you
appreciate that character's qualities, or maybe that character frustrated you?
Or write about the family's frustrations and challenges, either because you relate to them, or because you gained some insights you didn't have before.
Your paragraph should be about 200 words minimum, and it's due Sun., May 12, at midnight.
p.s. Be sure to read Langston Hughes' poem, "Dream Deferred" which is where
the play's title comes from
ReplyDeleteThe character that I found to be the most compelling is Beneatha Younger. Beneatha is Walter's younger sister, but she is also a college student with aspirations of becoming a doctor. I found that I both relate to these characters, but I also appreciate the character's quality. I relate to Beneatha because I also have the goals and dreams of becoming a doctor. Although I am more fortunate than her to be able to attend college and I am working towards my dreams, I understand the side she is coming from and her motivations for becoming a doctor. Therefore, I appreciate Beneatha's strong and independent quality. Despite her living conditions, she seems to be very fun, and even though this play is not supposed to be a comedy, she managed to make the crowd, including me, laugh. She had an uplifting spirit and a loving heart. She seems to get along with everyone, and even though she argues with her brother and mother from time to time, she still seems to really love them and appreciate them. She also seemed to be very open to meeting new people, such as her "boyfriend," and she seemed to appreciate his culture and seemed to be very happy and interested in learning about it. Overall an entertaining and loveable character that I seemed to enjoy watching in the play.
The character i found most compelling was mama. She was tough, she had a whole family that was a little out of control to handle and deal with but on top of that she was also dealing with the loss of her husband. She gave every thought, intention, and action to her family and always did what was best for them. She showed patients and grace to everyone when it did not seem like they deserved it but she also never let anyone tell her what to do. She is brave, she is strong, she is caring, she is thoughtful, and she is selfless. I enjoyed watching her in the play. Towards the end she seems to be a little tired emotionally, that is why she gave the money to her son, but she still finds a way to pull the family together.
ReplyDeleteThe character that I liked the most and had a lot of respect for was the mother Ruth Younger. Throughout the play, Ruth works as a domestic servant to provide for her family. She is portrayed as a pragmatic and responsible figure, often serving as a stabilizing force amidst the conflicts that arise within the Younger family. Despite facing numerous hardships, including financial strain and her husband's personal struggles, Ruth remains steadfast in her commitment to her family's well-being. This shows a great amount of strong character growth from Ruth which shows that under stress, she still remains calm and does what she needs to accomplish for her family. Ruth's character is defined by her selflessness and sacrifice. She puts the needs of her family above her own desires, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to their collective success and happiness. Ruth reminds me of my mom a lot because I know that she would do anything for me and my siblings and always thinks and acts based on us. Overall, ruth shows great characteristic's of what being a mother is as well as how hard she worked for her family under the circumstance's they where in.
ReplyDeleteThe character that I admire the most would have to be Ruth Younger, the mother of the story. I believe that mothers are aways the underdogs in a lot of stories and even in real life! Ruth handles almost everything so well while trying to maintain the dynamic of her family. Her character towards her family shows true a selfless personality. Another reason of why I chose Ruth was because she reminds me a lot of my own mom, always putting herself before others in any circumstance. Even when the money came into play she remained humble, showing love, and grace. Mama Ruth shows perseverance, what it means to have tough skin, and to keep going even when all of the odds are against you. It seems as if Ruth always reminds herself of why she is doing what she is doing and what her purpose is, and that is to see her family win, despite all of the adversity she keeps a study tunnel vision, tries her best to control her emotions and to see things through. Overall, Ruth is probably my favorites character out of all of the plays we've watched so far, a strong woman is a woman who should never be recognized, wether that is in a fiction play or real life.
ReplyDeleteI thought that all of the characters in “A Raisin in The Sun” were pretty interesting and unique, but I found Walter to be extremely frustrating in my opinion. I thought that he was extremely selfish with what he wanted to do with the insurance money. I understand that everyone has their own dreams and things that they want to achieve in their life but, wanting to invest in a liquor store over buying a home that could be beneficial to the whole family is pretty selfish and I think that shows where his priorities are. I know that he thought that investing in the liquor store would be beneficial to him and his entire family in the long run, but it was unknown whether that would be the reality. I also thought that he treated his family not so great, especially when he found out that Ruth was pregnant. Along with that, he was completely inconsiderate when Lena decided to put the money down on the house, and him not showing up to work and drinking all day I thought was immature and irresponsible considering that he has a pregnant wife and a young son. Lastly, his decision to give the money that his mother generously gave him to Willy for the “investment” really angered me. Not only did he completely waste his money but also his sister's money which was supposed to be for her education. That angered me and I felt really bad for Beneatha as her dream of being a doctor was essentially destroyed by her brother’s actions. There are certain qualities of Walter’s character that I respect such as his drive but unfortunately, those redeeming qualities were overshadowed by the many fallacies that his character committed.
ReplyDeleteThe character I found the most compelling in "A Rasin in the Sun" was Beneatha, the daughter of Mama and Walter's sister. Despite growing up as an African American woman during the 1950s, Beneatha is both decisive and strong-willed as she strives to become a doctor. In addition to her efforts to enter the medical field, she is, throughout the film, attempting to find her identity as a person. Whether trying new things (like the guitar or horseback riding) or experiencing cultures new to her (with help from Asagai), Beneatha does not limit herself. I am inspired by her determination throughout the play. When I watched her character defeated by her family's financial struggles, I was reminded of all the times I have given up when faced with the realities of life. Several times, I have lost confidence in my abilities and have given up on the things I am passionate about. Seeing her character feel a similar way made me sympathize with her. Still, I want to be able to be as passionate about something as Beneatha is. She was able to bounce back even when it seemed impossible, and I hope to be able to do the same.
ReplyDeleteThe character I found most compelling was Beneatha Younger, Walter’s sister and Mama's daughter. I found Beneatha as both ambitious and inspiring. I think she provided a strong-willed and feminist perspective to the story. Her ultimate goal was to go to medical school to become a doctor. What I liked the most was how she was more focused on finding her identity rather than being completely focused on the insurance money. I appreciate those qualities because I think we should work on prioritizing our own independence and resilience. In the scene where Karl Lidner from the Clybourne park association tried to pay the Youngers money in return for moving away, she absolutely refused to conform to those societal expectations. I think the one character that frustrated me the most was Walter Lee. Although it wasn’t necessarily his entire fault for losing the $6,500, as the viewer I still found it frustrating. I also sensed his disregard for the rest of his family. The way he treated Ruth after finding out she was pregnant was disgusting. He should’ve responded to her with empathy and support rather then distancing himself with frustration.
ReplyDeleteThe family in the play, “Raisin in the Sun” face many challenges as they seem to fight constantly throughout the play, but their biggest conflict and challenge are their financial issues. When they get an insurance check from their late father for $10,000, they all have different ideas and desires on how they want to spend the money. Each character’s desires are worth the money, but they have to be smart in how they use it. Mama uses about $3000 as a down payment on a nice new house, which is also what Ruth wanted to do, then she gives the rest to Walter and trusts him to go to the bank and put it in an account for both him and Beneatha to use for their goals. The most frustrating part of the play is when Walter disobeys his mother’s instructions and instead accidentally loses the money in an investment scam. But this also brings with it the reason why I admire the Younger family so much. When a representative from their new-to-be neighborhood comes to their house giving them an offer to buy back their house for more than they paid for it, they make a noble decision to refuse the offer. While it was financially smarter to accept the offer, the family unanimously agrees that it is worth more to stick to their morals and keep their dignity than any amount of money. Even through all their fights and disagreements, they are able to stick together in an unbreakable bond.
ReplyDeleteThe character that I found the most compelling was Walter Younger. I think that he is both a protagonist and an antagonist. The whole story is about him and the actions he takes in his life. Throughout the whole play, we see how his character changes. He is Mama's only son and Travis's caring father. He is also like a tragic hero. The actions that he took in his life have hurt his family making him "tragic" and he becomes a hero when he decides to finally become a man and enter manhood. Throughout the story, he is the typical African American perspective in the 20th century who is struggling with supporting his family and trying to find a more stable and secure job. He also struggles with racism which limits his job opportunities and overall opportunities in life. It seems as if he thinks that money will solve all his problems but he still can't get enough money. Walter often fights and argues with Ruth, Mama, and Beneatha. He doesn't act as a good listener and thinks that doesn't need to listen, understand, and pay attention to his family. Later in the play, he realizes that he is getting nowhere near success and decides to listen to his family. He begins to listen about Mama's dream of living in a house that is their own and he then realizes that it would make his family happier if we continued to listen and buy them a house instead of becoming rich. I think that it is amazing to see how much Walter has been developing and becoming into a man especially when he stands up to Mr. Lindner and refuses the money that Mr. Lindner offers the family not to move into its dream house in a white neighborhood. Overall, I think that he was a really interesting character to follow along in the story.
ReplyDeleteThe character I found the most compelling in "A Raisin in the Sun," would probably be Mama. Originally, I was considering writing about Beneatha, as I also found her to be quite an inspiring character, but in the end, I'm still drawn to Mama's character. Mama is Walter and Beneatha's mother and she is a very strong woman. She believes in pride, respect, and that her children must chase their dreams, because that's what life is about. Though she encourages her children to find their own path, Mama stays strong to her own beliefs and keeps a head-strong personality. Mama is a nurturing and caring character who lives to provide for and make her children happy. Even when Mama got the money, she refused to use it for personal gain and instead puts it towards a home and her children. Overall, Mama's character portrayed a strong, independent, caring, and inspiring woman.
ReplyDeleteI found Walter Lee to be the most frustrating AND the most compelling character in “A Raisin in the Sun.” He certainly is not the most likeable, but I feel he is the most complex. He is a difficult character, infantile and impulsive and mean-spirited at times, but he is also a man who at his core, simply wants a better life for himself and his family but is repeatedly held down by systemic racism and the cycle of poverty. Although his obsession with success comes off as juvenile and his actions are often misguided, I did find myself empathizing with him quite a bit. !” He resides in a world in which, as Black man, he has to scratch and claw and beg to get ahead, and he is just not willing to complacently accept poverty as his lot in life. As Walter says, “I didn’t make this world! It was give to me this way!” I feel that Walter represents a very real conflict that people in poverty face – the conflict between being a “taker” and being “tooken” from. For some people, integrity feels like a luxury they cannot afford. Thankfully, Walter eventually does realize that he was measuring his manhood by the wrong metrics, for it is not success that determines a man’s worth, it is integrity. He does a complete 180 when he refuses Mr. Lindner’s money, giving his character the redemptive arc that it needs, and making him, in my mind, the most dynamic and compelling character of the play.
ReplyDeleteThe character that I found to be the most compelling was Walter Lee. His character made me very angry. It seemed like he was always yelling at somebody in the play, whether it be his mama or his wife. I know that he was stressed about the money situation, but he was constantly telling his wife to shut up. I know it was based on a different time of history but still watching that and knowing that is how people used to speak to their wives is hard. It frustrated me when he took all of the money and invested it into somebody that ripped him off. His Mom told him to take a part of the money for himself and then put the rest in the bank for his sister's studies, but he got this idea in his head to put it all towards something and not share it like how he was supposed to. That money was not just his, it was everyone's in the family. But I think towards the last part of the play, Walter had growth by beginning to listen to his family and try to be better for them as they start a new life in the house. Every character was trying their best to support the family and they all had some type of growth throughout the story.
ReplyDeleteThe character I was most impressed by was Mama, which was also the name of Ruth Younger. She is strong, resilient and selfless which she portrays in the film. Mama, as a widow and the head of the family, has not only lost her husband but also suffers from the fact that her children sometimes misbehave. Nevertheless, she makes their well-being the first of all things. You can feel her timeless passion in every thought, intention, and action she does. Mama is an embodiment of keenness and courage while in the paths to her destiny, reminding those who will not let her make her own decisions. However, she is also brave, strong, kind, and thoughtful, continuously attempting to accomplish the tasks that will bring the best to her dearest ones. At the end, as she gets emotionally exhausted, she leaves the job to her son, but she still can gather the family together. The fact that Ruth develops such a strength as a mother relies to a great extent on her life experiences, and it also symbolizes how much dedication and sacrifice the majority of mothers, such as my own, have to their families. With her realistic philosophical attitude and tireless perseverance, she becomes an idol not only for her children but also for everyone around her. She indeed epitomizes motherhood's virtues of steadfastness and infinite love.
ReplyDeleteThe character that I am always fascinated with when either reading or watching "A Raisin in the Sun" is Walter Younger. Starting off, I think this man is not a good husband, an extremely rude son, and generally very self-centered. But even though his actions are often really rough and selfish, he does really want to do his best to make a name for himself and help his family. His idea of owning a liquor store isn't just to make him some money to leave his family, but he wants to give his family and son a good life, where they can live comfortably and not have a money be a struggle. The ways he goes about this, begging for money or trying to make himself more important than anyone else in the family makes him extremely unlikable, but he still did lead interactions with the white relator and did his best to hold a job as a chauffer. He wanted truly wanted the best for his family, but due to a combination of circumstances and personal flaws, it never really worked out in his favor.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the most compelling character in "A Raisin in the Sun" is Walter Lee Younger. I find him fascinating because he's so relatable in his struggles and ambitions. Like many people, Walter wants to make something of himself and provide for his family, but he's constantly hitting roadblocks. His frustration with the limitations placed on him because of his race and economic status is palpable throughout the play. Despite his flaws and mistakes, Walter's determination to improve his circumstances and fulfill his dreams is admirable. His internal conflict and eventual growth as he grapples with his identity and responsibilities make him a dynamic and compelling character. Walter's journey resonates with me because it reflects the universal desire for self-fulfillment and the resilience required to overcome obstacles in pursuit of a better life. Additionally, Walter's relationships with his family members, particularly his interactions with his mother and wife, provide insight into his character and motivations. Through Walter's experiences, "A Raisin in the Sun" explores themes of identity, dignity, and the pursuit of the American Dream, making him a character whose story leaves a lasting impression.
ReplyDeleteWhen watching A Raisin In the Sun, I could relate to the families struggle to have better for themselves and each other all while also wanting to help people and their own family. Personally, when I was younger I grew up in minnesota most of my childhood in a very small town where i went to school in a different town. We didn’t always have much and we often lived paycheck to paycheck, but we managed. It was especially hard though when me and all my three other siblings at the time lived together. And even though I was young I was very grateful for what they had and the opportunities they gave us. Even though we grew up rough, I have traveled more around the country than anyone else i knew. And considering my siblings were older I had experienced a lot and younger age than most. Give opportunities as we gained more of an income we still were grateful and made do with the little we had. We grew a garden every year and enjoyed life together no matter what and overall I was happy, even thought money stressed me and my parents out a lot as a kid. Considering now that we are pretty well off and so are my siblings as they all live out of home, I have learned more about being grateful than many for what I have. And considering the story A Raisen In the Sun, I believe the overall lesson is to be there for each other and to be grateful is to be happy.
ReplyDeleteThis family faces so many different challenges throughout this play. Their biggest struggle definitely was just the ultimate struggles against the ugliness of racism and people doing it general. Also just hearing about the poverty and how big their life changed after just trying to better their lives moving into a nicer neighborhood which happen to be a white neighborhood just broke my heart because nowadays its not AS common, still happens, but hearing how common it was was just astonishing. That money was a blessing and a curse all at once but the insight it gave me truly opened my eyes. Hearing their desires and their struggles all together helped me realize its not easy for everyone and everyone has their own demons, so It just honestly made me sad and happy for them at the same time.
ReplyDeleteKaydence Ellison
DeleteI think the most compelling character for me from “Raisin in the Sun,” was Walter Lee. Walter is a very flushed out character, with many admirable qualities, and many flaws. Some might not agree, for they may think he is selfish. For example he did in fact lose $6,500, which was money their family very much needed, all to start a liquor store with his friends. Now this may seem selfish, but I think this comes from his love for his family, and his desire to provide and give them the best. His family was very poor, and he wanted to give as much as he could to them, and give them the best, especially to his son. My favorite scene is when Walter is talking with his son Travis about college, and how he's gonna give him the world, and that he’ll make enough money for all the options for Travis. He wants his son to live his best life, and he is just trying to provide. I think he tried to start a liquor store to make more money for his family and son, and that it was not out of selfishness. This is why Walter Lee is compelling, and my favorite character.
ReplyDeleteI picked the character (Mama) Lena Walter from the play “Raisin in the Sun”. She definitely caught my eye when watching the play, she was my favorite out of the whole family. I grew a personal liking to her character and her effect on the family, her personality was super likable and memorable, and her role was super crucial to the plot and its story. She held the family together and you could tell there was a great amount of strength and wisdom behind her character. She was witty and sarcastic which lightened the mood every now and then, and when it was time to be serious, she had the perfect amount of seriousness needed. She could have easily kept the money and used it as she pleased, but she gave some of the money away knowing full well it might have been in the wrong hands showing she had her family’s best interest. She could have easily been the dominant force in the family, but she chooses to let her family get their affairs in order while giving her motherly support and advice along the way. She was just a solid strong consistent character who seemed to always want to do the right thing, she was admirable to me, she was giving and loving, and I think it’s fitting that today is Mother’s Day, and I believe she was a great mother. She almost reminds me of my grandmother.
ReplyDeleteA moving depiction of the African American experience in 1950s Chicago, "A Raisin in the Sun" deftly ties together the aspirations, hardships, and hopes of the Younger family. Beneatha is one of the most interesting characters because of her intense individualism and will to disobey social norms. She defies racial and gender stereotypes as a young lady who aspires to be a doctor, exemplifying the fortitude and power of the Black community. Audiences are moved by Beneatha's journey of self-discovery and identification, which highlights the challenges of pursuing personal goals in the face of institutionalized tyranny. By highlighting the value of following one's ambitions in spite of difficulties, Lorraine Hansberry encourages viewers to face and get over their own hurdles. Viewers' empathy and understanding are fostered by the Younger family's disappointments and problems, which mirror larger social themes of racism, poverty, and prejudice. A timeless tribute to the human spirit's tenacity and the quest of equality and decency for everyone, "A Raisin in the Sun" follows the family as they face institutional injustices and unfulfilled goals.
ReplyDeleteWalter Lee Younger's journey in "A Raisin in the Sun" has lots of emotions. His desperate longing for a better life for his family really hits home, showing how he wants to find dignity and happiness. But when he faces all those obstacles from society and his own mistakes, it's hard not to feel for him. Walter Lee's frustrations and moments of sadness show who he is, making me think about all the people who still struggle like him today. Even though he messes up sometimes, his determination to make things better is really moving. Through Walter Lee's story, I see how unfair the world can be, but also how strong people can be when they keep fighting for what's right. It makes me feel a mix of understanding, frustration, and hope.
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