Engage in close reading as you normally would: Be aware of setting, track character development, consider important symbols, and note style, tone, and irony. Keep careful notes that reflect you thinking.
What essential questions emerge for you as progress through the play? Identify 2 or 3 of these. Choose one of these questions and make an effort to answer it.
While reading, some essential questions I pondered were;
-How does the play provide insight to social, racial and political issues presented to African Americans during the 1950's? How does poverty affect these issues?
-What does society value? Is materialistic items and wealth more important than family?
-How does one continue to have hope after dreams are deferred? How do families effect (positively or negatively) individuals with dreams?
In regards to the last question, it seems as though dreams are the only thing that gives characters in A Raisin in the Sun hope. It seems as dreams are what give them purpose, them a reason to be living. Everyone has their own version of a dream. For example, Beneatha wants to be a doctor, Walter wants to own his own business, Mama wants a house to unite everyone, and Ruth wants her family to be whole. By their dreams always being deferred by society, each other, and life how does one keep having hope? I wondered how they do not become super depressed and defeated. In some cases they struggle, (Walters going out and coping with alcohol after his mother denies him the money) but they still work. I also thought about the reason why each person has a dream.. and they mostly came back to family. Mama wants a house so everyone can have more space, Ruth wants a better job so she can pay for her family, Walters wants the business so they will not be in poverty anymore.
I thought this was an interesting concept because during the play you do not see the characters supporting each others dreams. Ruth tells Walter to "eat your eggs" when he is talking about his dreams (basically dismisses him), Walter tells Bennie, "why don't you just get married and have a family" instead of becoming a doctor, and Mama complains to Ruth about how her kids are so enthusiastic with their goals.
The essential questions I wondered about throughout this play were; 1. How did race play a role in the socioeconomic standings of black folk in the 1940’s and how did this impact their well-being? 2. How is the theme of racial difference important in today’s society? 3. What is the message Lorraine Hansberry is trying to convey and is it still prevalent in our society? Race hindered the Younger’s family in many ways. Walter was stuck as being a “servant” of sorts; a chauffeur to the rich. Mama was stuck in the same run down home for many decades. Little Travis slept on a made-down couch in the living room and Ruth contemplated abortion because she believed that she could not provide for the child she may have. The black community has been discriminated against for many years and the time in which it was most apparent without slavery was the time period in which this play was set. The white community did not want the Younger’s to live in the same neighborhood as they were. They were built on not rich, but “hard working people” who worked for many years for what they had. The Younger’s family not only worked for what they had for years, but generations. When the time came for the whites to “welcome’ them, they tried to bribe them to not move in. This is indignant of how the classes were operating back in this time period, and, in some aspects, how some parts of the world work today. This brings into question, how is racial difference important today? Although racism and discrimination is on the decline from the 1940’s, it is still present and is a plague against a functioning, healthy society. This play shows that the folk, even back in the 40’s and 50’s that were discriminated against were people just like the whites. They had the same values and work ethics of the whites but were treated in such low regard that escaping from the prejudice was near impossible. In today’s time it is important to be reminded of the message that A Raisin in the Sun conveys. This message touches not only blacks, but other ethnicity as well. The human race is just that, the human race. This inherent truth brings the revelation that no party should be discriminated or subjugated. This play does a remarkable job of highlighting not only the struggle, but also the perseverance of the afflicted person.
-What does society value? Are materialistic items poverty and wealth important than family?
In response to this question I believe this is the source of all conflict. Things are only important when you give them that importance. In the case of this play every member of the family at one point or another gives money more importance than the actually meaning of family and the well being of the family, mostly because in one moment or another they connect more money to the well being of the family.
Looking at the family as a society, money is held at high importance from the get go. Travis talks about it, Ruth talks about, Walter does, Bennie does, and even Mama does as the story progresses. However as high as money is held at the beginning of the play at the end Walter come to a realization that all of this he's been going for has been all for his family, and in the end it's the family as a while which is held at the highest importance, not how much money they have left.
-How do economic, racial and familial factors play into the events of the play? -How is racial identity both celebrated and oppressed in the play? -In what ways are 1950s conformity revealed through the events and characterization of the play?
In answering the last question, 1950s conformity is revealed in several ways throughout the duration of the play. Most obviously, racial discrimination fuels the white suburban community to pay the family to live in a different area. In preserving the idealistic white, middle class, suburbia image, they attempted to drive away the family.
Secondly, the conformity of the 1950s is demonstrated in the play when Ruth and Walter are talking in the kitchen. After she tells him to eat his eggs, ignoring his discussion about his dreams, he says to Bennie, "why don't you just get married and have a family?" This question, implying she would give up her dreams of becoming a doctor, reveals the common 1950s sentiments regarding the societal roles of women as well as the lacking professional status of African Americans.
Through the struggles regarding race in the plot of the play, conformity, discrimination and societal ideals of the 1950s become apparent. Even through the minor interactions between characters, these sentiments are reflected, making this - a result of the setting - an important feature of the play.
Essential Questions: 1) How can racism, sexism, and theft strengthen a family? 2) What significance do Hansberry's messages hold in present society? 3) How was/is racism towards blacks intertwined with and affected by economic factors?
Answer 3) Money had a significant hold on the Younger family. Walter was driven around making money and spending money. The family awaited impatiently for the arrival of the $10,000 check. The Younger family faced racism as well, initially not directly, but through the conversations they shared with one another, it was evident they encountered racism, such as the stereotypes and treatment of blacks discussed. Racism was reflected through the economic hardships the Younger family faced. Ruth Mama and Walter all worked low paying menial jobs with long hours to come home to a shabby miserable apartment. Whites were discussed as the ones who would have high paying jobs; they may not have been any more skilled than blacks were, but the rule, the assumption was that blacks would not go to college and work equivalently to whites. No, they must work for the whites, while what was viewed as an inferior could not hold a high-paying job. Another way racism is intertwined with economic factors pertains to Mr. Karl Linder's attempt to buy the Youngers' new house in fear of the white people of Clybourne Park being forced to have and interact with black neighbors. The extent of racism is shown here, while a group of whites were will to pay to have somebody not live somewhere, let alone actually pay for someone to live somewhere. Whites tried to use economic gains as a way to further their racism and protect the all-white community. Money was used in an effort to preserve racism.
While reading, some essential questions I pondered were;
ReplyDelete-How does the play provide insight to social, racial and political issues presented to African Americans during the 1950's? How does poverty affect these issues?
-What does society value? Is materialistic items and wealth more important than family?
-How does one continue to have hope after dreams are deferred? How do families effect (positively or negatively) individuals with dreams?
In regards to the last question, it seems as though dreams are the only thing that gives characters in A Raisin in the Sun hope. It seems as dreams are what give them purpose, them a reason to be living. Everyone has their own version of a dream. For example, Beneatha wants to be a doctor, Walter wants to own his own business, Mama wants a house to unite everyone, and Ruth wants her family to be whole. By their dreams always being deferred by society, each other, and life how does one keep having hope? I wondered how they do not become super depressed and defeated. In some cases they struggle, (Walters going out and coping with alcohol after his mother denies him the money) but they still work. I also thought about the reason why each person has a dream.. and they mostly came back to family. Mama wants a house so everyone can have more space, Ruth wants a better job so she can pay for her family, Walters wants the business so they will not be in poverty anymore.
I thought this was an interesting concept because during the play you do not see the characters supporting each others dreams. Ruth tells Walter to "eat your eggs" when he is talking about his dreams (basically dismisses him), Walter tells Bennie, "why don't you just get married and have a family" instead of becoming a doctor, and Mama complains to Ruth about how her kids are so enthusiastic with their goals.
The essential questions I wondered about throughout this play were;
ReplyDelete1. How did race play a role in the socioeconomic standings of black folk in the 1940’s and how did this impact their well-being?
2. How is the theme of racial difference important in today’s society?
3. What is the message Lorraine Hansberry is trying to convey and is it still prevalent in our society?
Race hindered the Younger’s family in many ways. Walter was stuck as being a “servant” of sorts; a chauffeur to the rich. Mama was stuck in the same run down home for many decades. Little Travis slept on a made-down couch in the living room and Ruth contemplated abortion because she believed that she could not provide for the child she may have. The black community has been discriminated against for many years and the time in which it was most apparent without slavery was the time period in which this play was set. The white community did not want the Younger’s to live in the same neighborhood as they were. They were built on not rich, but “hard working people” who worked for many years for what they had. The Younger’s family not only worked for what they had for years, but generations. When the time came for the whites to “welcome’ them, they tried to bribe them to not move in. This is indignant of how the classes were operating back in this time period, and, in some aspects, how some parts of the world work today.
This brings into question, how is racial difference important today? Although racism and discrimination is on the decline from the 1940’s, it is still present and is a plague against a functioning, healthy society. This play shows that the folk, even back in the 40’s and 50’s that were discriminated against were people just like the whites. They had the same values and work ethics of the whites but were treated in such low regard that escaping from the prejudice was near impossible. In today’s time it is important to be reminded of the message that A Raisin in the Sun conveys.
This message touches not only blacks, but other ethnicity as well. The human race is just that, the human race. This inherent truth brings the revelation that no party should be discriminated or subjugated. This play does a remarkable job of highlighting not only the struggle, but also the perseverance of the afflicted person.
-What does society value? Are materialistic items poverty and wealth important than family?
ReplyDeleteIn response to this question I believe this is the source of all conflict. Things are only important when you give them that importance. In the case of this play every member of the family at one point or another gives money more importance than the actually meaning of family and the well being of the family, mostly because in one moment or another they connect more money to the well being of the family.
Looking at the family as a society, money is held at high importance from the get go. Travis talks about it, Ruth talks about, Walter does, Bennie does, and even Mama does as the story progresses. However as high as money is held at the beginning of the play at the end Walter come to a realization that all of this he's been going for has been all for his family, and in the end it's the family as a while which is held at the highest importance, not how much money they have left.
-How do economic, racial and familial factors play into the events of the play?
ReplyDelete-How is racial identity both celebrated and oppressed in the play?
-In what ways are 1950s conformity revealed through the events and characterization of the play?
In answering the last question, 1950s conformity is revealed in several ways throughout the duration of the play. Most obviously, racial discrimination fuels the white suburban community to pay the family to live in a different area. In preserving the idealistic white, middle class, suburbia image, they attempted to drive away the family.
Secondly, the conformity of the 1950s is demonstrated in the play when Ruth and Walter are talking in the kitchen. After she tells him to eat his eggs, ignoring his discussion about his dreams, he says to Bennie, "why don't you just get married and have a family?" This question, implying she would give up her dreams of becoming a doctor, reveals the common 1950s sentiments regarding the societal roles of women as well as the lacking professional status of African Americans.
Through the struggles regarding race in the plot of the play, conformity, discrimination and societal ideals of the 1950s become apparent. Even through the minor interactions between characters, these sentiments are reflected, making this - a result of the setting - an important feature of the play.
Essential Questions:
ReplyDelete1) How can racism, sexism, and theft strengthen a family?
2) What significance do Hansberry's messages hold in present society?
3) How was/is racism towards blacks intertwined with and affected by economic factors?
Answer
3) Money had a significant hold on the Younger family. Walter was driven around making money and spending money. The family awaited impatiently for the arrival of the $10,000 check. The Younger family faced racism as well, initially not directly, but through the conversations they shared with one another, it was evident they encountered racism, such as the stereotypes and treatment of blacks discussed.
Racism was reflected through the economic hardships the Younger family faced. Ruth Mama and Walter all worked low paying menial jobs with long hours to come home to a shabby miserable apartment. Whites were discussed as the ones who would have high paying jobs; they may not have been any more skilled than blacks were, but the rule, the assumption was that blacks would not go to college and work equivalently to whites. No, they must work for the whites, while what was viewed as an inferior could not hold a high-paying job.
Another way racism is intertwined with economic factors pertains to Mr. Karl Linder's attempt to buy the Youngers' new house in fear of the white people of Clybourne Park being forced to have and interact with black neighbors. The extent of racism is shown here, while a group of whites were will to pay to have somebody not live somewhere, let alone actually pay for someone to live somewhere. Whites tried to use economic gains as a way to further their racism and protect the all-white community. Money was used in an effort to preserve racism.