A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry
The setting in an apartment in downtown Chicago as black Americans in the fifties and sixties is obviously going to arouse some sort of quest for a better life, just as black Americans are starting to attain more of their deserved rights. It's interesting that the two characters in A Raisin in the Sun that have the most similar mindset are Mama and Ruth, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. I feel as though this kind of bond doesn't happen often between the in-laws. Regardless, the two both seem to always be dreaming of a way out, either through searching for ways for the money left by Mama's husband to be used to get them into a new setting, or as far as Ruth wanting to have an abortion. Their desire for a better life impacts the whole family, and actually causes controversy between all of the adult members of the family over this large sum of money. One character that always seems to stand in contrast to Ruth is her husband Walter. Through their differences, they both have a common goal: to better their family's life. He feels this pang in his stomach for something better, something different. This pang is so evident that he gives all of his money and his trust to his friend Willy in hopes of starting a liquor store business for money to help that family. Walter also dreams of one day being the CEO of a large company with his own secretary. They're all dreamers.
No comments:
Post a Comment