A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry Essay - 1839 Words

A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, has often been dubbed a â€Å"black† play by critics since its debut on Broadway in 1959. This label has been reasonably assigned considering the play has a cast that consists primarily of African American actors; however, when looking beyond the surface of this play and the color of the author and characters, one can see that A Raisin in the Sun actually transcends the boundaries of racial labels through the universal personalities assigned to each character and the realistic family situations that continue to evolve throughout the storyline. As seen when comparing A Raisin in the Sun to â€Å"The Rich Brother,† a story for which the characters receive no label of race, many commonalities can be found†¦show more content†¦Perhaps the most prominent of all the commonalities seen between A Raisin in the Sun and â€Å"The Good Brother† would be the similar personalities of the characters of both stories. The New Republic drama critic Tom F Driver wondered if â€Å"it may have been Miss Hansberry’s objective to show that the stage stereotypes will fit Negroes as well as white people.† Regardless of her intention, creating stage stereotypes that fit both black and white is exactly what Hansberry has done. To prove this stereotype theory, one only needs to show how the assortment of character personalities portrayed in Raisin can all be seen blended into the two main characters of â€Å"The Good Brother.† The blending of character personalities can first be seen by comparing both Walter and Lena from Raisin, with Pete and Donald of â€Å"The Good Brother.† Walter, as noted by literary critic Gerald Weales in his article â€Å"Thoughts on A Raisin in the Sun,† â€Å"has accepted the American myth of success at its face value.† Walter feels his success is solely based on his financial standing and not on his ability to maintain a home and a family. This acceptance of the â€Å"American myth† is also seen in the character of Pete. While he doesShow MoreRelatedA Raisin Of The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry894 Words   |  4 PagesA Raisin in the sun by Lorraine Hansberry there are three major female characters represent three different spectrums of their lives. A Raisin in the Sun a number of social issues are both explicitly and subtly exemplified through out the characters experiences and relationships. First, Hansberry introduce Beneatha who is twenty year old college student with dreams of becoming a doctor in her life. Second, the author mention Ruth as a soft character in the story that wants to become wealthy andRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry802 Words   |  3 Pagespositively to the actions of the White Americans. This leads to African Americans conforming and giving society what they want by changing their style of speech and appearance, this is called cultural assimilation. In Act II, Scene I of A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry interprets the concept of cultural assimilation with the actions of George as he arrives and unintentionally interrupts Beneatha and Walter’s â€Å"African† performance. This scene signifies the struggle between trying to assimilate intoRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry2035 Words   |  8 PagesLorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun is a remarkable play written in 1959 by an African American author about an African American family. This ti me period was in the early days of the modern awakening of civil rights awareness. It was a timely play challenging the then current stereotypical view of a black family by depicting a realistic portrayal of a specific black family with aspirations, hopes, dreams, dignity, and ambition as would be expected from all families regardless of race. TheRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry1199 Words   |  5 Pagesas a person. Walter Lee Younger is a man that goes through many different character changes, which cause conflict amongst the other characters. Once he goes through his rite of passage, he is able to fix his flaws and mature. In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, characterization is used to portray that one must experience a rite of passage in order to mature. Walter Lee Younger starts off the play as a man who is selfish and immature, willing to put money before family. He is characterizedRead MoreA Raisin Of A Sun By Lorraine Hansberry2114 Words   |  9 Pages July 26, 2015 A Raisin in a Sun A dream is what a person strive for to achieve success in their lives. Langston Hughes, ask in Montage of a Dream Deferred, â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the Sun?† A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry is mainly about a family dream to do better for themselves. All the characters in this story has hopes and dreams. The problem with that is that everyone has their own individual dream which cause conflict within the familyRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry987 Words   |  4 PagesA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, which debuted on broad way in 1959. They play takes place sometime in the 1950’s, a time period wrought with social issues which were ignored by the general public. The play concentrates on the Younger family; Ruth, Travis, Walter Lee, Beneatha, and Lena, the family head. The events of the play take place over the course of only a few weeks, where-in the Younger family is to receive a largeRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry544 Words   |  2 Pages A raisin in the sun is a book that explains the life of a family that is in hard times but some how gets through it. The Younger family is at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to economic status this affects the whole family and dreams and values, but the one thing they are good at are arguing and keeping their dreams alive by being a family and loving and caring for one another when nobody else does. The book a raisin in the sun written by Lorraine Hansberry is about a family that areRead MoreA Raisin Of The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry1581 Words   |  7 PagesLorraine Hansberry, a female playwright and black activist, spent almost all of her life dealing with American racism, poverty, and lack of social mobility. As a person who witnessed the daily struggles of African Americans, Hansberry wanted to expose the hypocrisy in the idea that America was the land of equal opportunity. As a result, in 1959, Hansberry wrote the play, A Raisin in the Sun, which details the Youngers, an African American family, who experienced racism, poverty, and the lack of socialRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry?605 Words   |  2 PagesLorraine Hansberry, the author of â€Å"A Raisin in The Sun†, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Hansberry was the youngest of four children. Her father Carl Augustus Hansberry was a prominent real estate broker and her mother Louise Perry was a stay home mother. She grew up on the south side of Chicago in the Woodlawn neighborhood. Later the family moved into an all-white neighborhood, where they experienced racial discrimination. Hansberry attended a predominantly white public school while her parentsRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry774 Words   |  3 PagesMany can see the appeal of the play† A Raisin in the Sun† by Lorraine Hansberry because it is telling how much the Younger family wants the American dream, the better life that each character wants are different from each other. The family wants the insurance money to start their dreams, the money that would not have been available if not for the death of the head of the family. Walter Lee Younger American dream is all about materialism and what he can get right now. He has the notion of a self-made

Dom Casmurro by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, and...

Dom Casmurro by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, and Chronicle of A Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcà ­a Mà ¡rquez Works Cited Not Included Religion is supremacy, perfection and spirituality. A typical Latin American religious community heavily relies on religion to provide a moral framework to guide and protect its citizens. However, projecting religion in the light of perfection is superficial. In actuality, it often contains flaws underneath its idealistic teachings. The inadequacy in maintaining the idealistic doctrines is deeply rooted in society. Such notion is reflected and commented upon in the novels Dom Casmurro by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis and Chronicle of A Death Foretold by Gabriel Garci ­a Marquez. In both novels,†¦show more content†¦Religion as a burden is also evident in Chronicle of A Death Foretold in which the townspeople honour the much disliked bishop solely out of respect to God. The bishop, on the other hand, sends obligatory blessing without evincing a speck of inspiration as he makes the sign of cross mechanically and without malice or inspiration (19). The townspeople greet the bishop in an overwhelming manner, creating a strong contrast against the neglectful attitude of the bishop: But the Bishop didnt stop and then the band of musicians started to play the bishops anthem, and the cocks began to crow in their baskets and aroused all the other roosters in town. (18) g By staying on the boat, the bishop creates a physical distance that further advocates the barrier between the people and the Church, and ultimately affects their religious devotions. These actions of the bishop do not earn him respect as a person but only as an empty shell of authority, another defect in the practical result of religious doctrines. Hence Placida Linero refers to him as the son of the worst kind of mother (127). Religion also becomes less a symbol of ultimate priority and spirituality amongst the younger generation. Garcia Marquez discusses this notion using Santiago Nasar. Santiago engages religion with entertainment rather than an inscrutable symbol of spiritual life:

Dead Mens Path Essay Example For Students

Dead Mens Path Essay Throughout the years, the culture of various populations has changed many times, in many ways, causing negative reactions from some and acceptance from others. Cultures are set in a way that even if changes occur, they keep the fundamental value of the previous culture and add a touch of new beliefs from a new era. In Chinua Achebes Dead Mens Path, Michael Obi, the headmaster of a progressive school, has different religious beliefs from the village he lives in. Obi wishes to close the path leading to the villages burial grounds, but the villagers oppose this action since it compromises their heritage and culture. Ones approach and character in imposing modernization over traditional beliefs can give rise to conflicts and could result in consequences. In Dead Mens Path, Achebe uses symbols in the setting and characterization to express the theme. Firstly, there are many symbols that demonstrate culture in Achebes short storys setting. The main one he uses is the path. It is a connection between the village shrine and their place of burial. In the story, the priest states to Obi: This path was here before you were born and before your father was born. The whole life of this village depends on it. Our dead relative of the villagers depart by it and our ancestors visit us by it. It is the path of children coming in to be born. Therefore, the path represents the heritage of the village, their traditional way of life. In addition, the demolition of one of the school buildings and the garden by the villagers indicate revolting and fighting to keep their rights, values and freedom of their culture. The use of symbols in this short story shows the reader the consequences of opposing the beliefs of a majority and going against their will. Secondly, the author employs characterization to communicate his thesis. The protagonist of the story, Michael Obi, represents the modern traditions with narrow-minded beliefs. In an opposite way, the antagonist of the story, the priest, denotes the traditional customs and the native whose heritage is jeopardised. Moreover, the closure of the path by the headmaster indicates the modern ways overcoming the traditional ones and conflict between different cultures and beliefs. To make the characters more representative and easier to understand for the readers, the author uses an action/reaction way of writing. For example, when an old woman hobbles right across the compound of Obis school, Michael is frustrated and wants to close the path. The old woman is seen as the heritage of the village and the school as a new beginning. It would therefore mean that the new start opposes what was there before, the established roots and culture, that it does not recognize the past. Using characterization, the author demonstrates the relationship between different ways of life and expresses the problem linked to those differences. In conclusion, symbols and characterization were exploited by the author to communicate a message. Consequently, if individuals have problems with a certain culture, they must respect it even though it doesnt correspond to their point of view. Therefore, in order to adapt, adjustments may have to be made.

Tough Enough free essay sample

â€Å"What happens if you get blood on the mat?† I asked Coach Heather, a few hours before our competition. She must not have heard me because I never received an answer. I was extremely nervous because MacKenzie, my flyer, was asked by our coaches to do a twist cradle, even though she had never successfully completed one. Halfway through our routine, it was time for MacKenzie’s twist. She made it all the way around for the first time, although she nicked my nose with her elbow. I rushed to the front to jump onto Sam’s shoulders and kept smiling because I was directly in front of the judges. I glimpsed over at my coaches and saw horrified faces staring back at me. I was confused and looked down, only to discover blood pouring from my face, onto the white of my uniform, and into Sam’s hair.Since I’ve been trained to never stop, I kept going until a judge announces, â€Å"The Morgan School please exit the mat. We will write a custom essay sample on Tough Enough or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † After the staff disinfects the mat, my team would have to finish without me, while I was sent to the hospital. Cheerleaders are taught to always smile, despite how nervous or how much pain; we must keep going. I had broken my nose and still have a chipped bone to this day. Smiling through an injury is easier than smiling through those who ridicule cheerleading. â€Å"It’s not a sport,† yells a player on the football team. â€Å"You do not even do anything,† mumbles a fellow classmate. â€Å"You are in my way,† snaps a fan in the crowd. When I cheer, I tend to block out the insults and focus on the younger children. At sporting events, from across the gym or in the crowd, I see little girls, imitating our moves. Sometimes, they will shout back â€Å"Let’s go blue and white!† Over the summer, we have cheerleading camps for little girls to teach them the basics. Throughout the week, the little ones follow me around watching my every move. Constantly they are hanging onto my legs, hugging me, or shouting â€Å"lift me in the air!† At the end of the week, we put on a show for their parents to demonstrate what they have learned. The bright smiling faces radiating back to their parents are symbols of the accomplishment we fulfilled. I enjoy giving back to the youth of our community as well as spending time becoming acquainted with the energetic future cheerleaders. A broken nose may heal, rude comments will be forgotten, but encouraging little girls to discover their passion is priceless. As a girl with frequent insecurity, cheerleading has taught me how to persevere. I used to hate the way I looked, but with all of the conditioning we do, I have gained muscle and slimmed down to fit into the tight uniforms. When I am a part of the squad, my fears go away because I know that if we mess up, we mess up as a team, not as an individual. As a result, cheerleading has helped me gain confidence in my everyday life and provided me with the strength to not worry about what other people think.The only opinion that matters is my own. I have also learned to remain positive and smile, despite the flying elbows, broken noses, and occasional insults. I have been instilled with teamwork, confidence and perseverance which I’m certain will help me overcome future life challenges.

Gender Identity free essay sample

This paper looks at the issue of gender identity in two novels. Louise Erdrich, in her book Love Medicine, and John Neihardt, in his biographical novel Black Elk Speaks, both address the importance of gender in the daily lives of their characters. This paper compares the role of gender identity to each of the main characters in these novels and how the society in which they live influences their outlook. From the paper: Louise Erdrich, like many of the characters in her novels and short stories, is part Native American, part something else ? in her case, her family is a mixture of a German-American father and a Chippewa mother. Erdrichs parents worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as teachers on a nearby North Dakota reservation and she recalls that her father regularly recited memorized poetry ? Frost and Byron ? to her and her six siblings and it is no surprise that Erdrich started her literary career as a poet, supporting herself by working at a Kentucky Fried Chicken and on road construction crews. We will write a custom essay sample on Gender Identity or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Essay"Those considered, vilest of mankind often have an agreeable persona, while those considered, the saviours of mankind often lack the persona in question" (Pierre Trudeau). This quotation signifies that a person that appears to be composed of a despicable nature often has a bit of good within him while a person with an assumed moral nature may lack the certain goodness that the despicable personage harbours. The above quotation often applies to society because people appear to be very noble and appear to be very sinful. When people are put in a circumstance where ones true intentions become known, a supposed evil personage will often demonstrate some good quality that isolates him from a total evil persona and vice-versa. For example, a person of supposed evil often takes care of their family members. They may commit many acts of injustice upon others but they refrain from doing so towards their family and strive to fulfill their needs, resources permitting.Fagin in his cell.

Budgets Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Budgets - Research Paper Example According to its mission, PepsiCo is a company in the consumer products business (PepsiCo, 2009). It focuses on manufacturing and distributing convenient foods and beverages. Its products include Pepsi Cola and other soft drink brands, Frito Lay, Tropicana, Quaker and Gatorade (PepsiCo, 2009). The types of budget that will be used by any company should conform to the main business of the said company. In PepsiCo’s case, being a company in the food and beverage industry, its budgets should be tailored to its specific needs and targets. The first recommended budget is the advertising budget. Since PepsiCo produces consumer products, these products should be marketed to the widest range of potential customers as much as possible. To do this, PepsiCo needs to aggressively advertise its products and even how it positions its products. Such a move will cost a lot of advertising expenses for PepsiCo, expenses that should be estimated or projected and placed in an advertising budget. This advertising budget includes how much PepsiCo expects to spend in advertising over a period of time (usually within one year) in various advertising vehicles such as print, media and even online. The second recommended budget is the department budget, which is usually prepared on an annual basis, but with a monthly breakdown. This type of budget is prepared for a company that has â€Å"multiple sales revenue units† (Jagels and Ralston, 2006, p. 370). Since PepsiCo has different product lines, the company can treat each product line as a department and draw up a budget specific to that product line. Since the department budget will show the revenues and expenses for the given product line, PepsiCo can immediately analyze which product line is the most profitable for the company, which has a positive contribution to the company’s bottom line and which products need to