"A Raisin in the Sun "

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the American Dream inspires the characters of the play, but it is an ideal they see as being kept from them because they are black in a white world. It discusses the struggles of the parents to provide a better life for their children and how this is ultimately achieved despite the hurdles facing them.

From the Paper:

"The ideal of home ownership is what attracts Lena, and she sees her role as dedicated to getting the family out of the slum and into a suburban home. She sees this as a ticket to a form of freedom and an affirmation of life. For her, the money is just a means to achieve this end, a view which conflicts with that of her son: "Once upon a time freedom used to be life--now it's money" (61). She tells Walter that "it makes a difference in a man when he can walk on floors that belong to him" (81), and the house in Clybourne Park therefore offers an opportunity for Lena to change her son, to make him more like his father and less like the bitter man she sees withdrawing from life because he cannot have his way. The house also represents a potential conflict as well as a chance for betterment because it is in a white neighborhood, which frightens others in the family, such as Walter: "So that's the peace and comfort you went out and bought for us today!" (81)."

More papers on "A Raisin in the Sun ":

• Comparison Essay # 8869 : "Social Influence in "Lysistrata," "Oedipus Rex" and "A Raisin In The Sun"
• Analytical Essay # 122460 : "A Raisin in the Sun" and the American Dream"
• Analytical Essay # 135207 : "Clothes" and "A Raisin in the Sun"
• Persuasive Essay # 120790 : "Family in "A Raisin in the Sun"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: