A Raisin in the Sun Essay
The Importance of Family
By: Carly Abbott
Throughout Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, the Younger family is faced with numerous amounts of financial and social obstacles. Living in such poor conditions, the family struggles to obtain a stable income, which causes some to lose focus of what is important. For example, the son, Walter Younger, becomes so caught up in his dream of owning a liquor store because it appears to be an easy financial solution. Even though Walter’s dream would result in an efficient way to provide for his family, it interferes with the most important aspect in life: family relationships. In the article, “Dreams ‘deferred’ but identity affirmed and manhood restored: a new look at A Raisin in the Sun,” Sayed Abdelmawjoud argues that Walter is saved by the rest of his family members. Within the article, Abdelmawjoud continuously mentions the gradual impact that Lena had on the re-stabilization of Walter’s life. Affirming this opinion, one could argue that family is the most important aspect of a person’s life.
As Abdelmawjoud strongly emphasizes in the article, Walter is a product of his Mother’s actions. Lena does not feel as though she should sit back and watch Walter’s life collapse because of Walter’s inability to prioritize. Therefore, the article mentions a three step plan that Lena hopes to enforce in order to restore Walters’s manhood and bring forth proper consideration. The first step demands Lena to blame him cruelly and remind Walter of how hard his father had to work in order to leave that kind of money for their family. The second step for Lena is to defend Walter against the attacks of other family members. While the last step consisted of Lena’s strategy to help Walter come to his senses and weigh things properly. Using these steps, Lena strives to restore the dignity, pride, and manhood within Walter.
Realizing the extraordinary circumstances that Lena placed herself into in order to re- stabilize Walter’s life, one could argue that family is the most important aspect of a person’s life. Throughout the selfish and egotistical actions of Walter regarding the liquor store dream, Hansberry proves that personal satisfaction does not solve all problems. It appears that Walter believes that his own happiness is more important than his family. This is portrayed through Walters’s lack of interest about Ruth’s abortion. Walter’s main concern revolved around the development of a good business, which caused Walter to lose focus of the harsh situation that his own wife was recently placed into. Since Walter’s dream of owning a liquor store fell apart, Hansberry demonstrates that happiness is not the most important aspect in one’s life. On the other hand, Hansberry does demonstrate the importance of family through the characterization of Lena. Even though Walter previously ignored Lena’s opinion of Bobo, Lena was still there to help Walter rebuild his life. In the end, Lena is the savior of Walter’s life; the one who lifted him up onto his feet when his life appeared to hit rock bottom. All in all, Hansberry uses the characterization of Ruth and Lena to portray the importance of family, rather than personal satisfaction.
Within the article and A Raisin in the Sun, both authors convey the common idea that family is the primary foundation in a person’s life. Although personal satisfaction seems to be the only solution in such desperate times, one persons happiness does not always result in the happiness of everyone else. As Jon Krakauer once stated, “Happiness is only real when shared.” This quote demonstrates the fact that individual happiness creates a false impression and does not properly represent “real” happiness until everyone is satisfied. As seen in the play, Walters dream to own a liquor store was one for himself. The rest of the Younger family was not satisfied with Walter’s decision; therefore, thorough happiness was not reached. However, the selfless actions taken by Lena to rebuild the family acted as guidelines towards a brighter future. Lena’s desire to make her family the number one priority was the only solution to an abundance of issues. In the end, fulfilled happiness is unattainable without the support and approval of your family members; one for all and all for one.
By: Carly Abbott
Throughout Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, the Younger family is faced with numerous amounts of financial and social obstacles. Living in such poor conditions, the family struggles to obtain a stable income, which causes some to lose focus of what is important. For example, the son, Walter Younger, becomes so caught up in his dream of owning a liquor store because it appears to be an easy financial solution. Even though Walter’s dream would result in an efficient way to provide for his family, it interferes with the most important aspect in life: family relationships. In the article, “Dreams ‘deferred’ but identity affirmed and manhood restored: a new look at A Raisin in the Sun,” Sayed Abdelmawjoud argues that Walter is saved by the rest of his family members. Within the article, Abdelmawjoud continuously mentions the gradual impact that Lena had on the re-stabilization of Walter’s life. Affirming this opinion, one could argue that family is the most important aspect of a person’s life.
As Abdelmawjoud strongly emphasizes in the article, Walter is a product of his Mother’s actions. Lena does not feel as though she should sit back and watch Walter’s life collapse because of Walter’s inability to prioritize. Therefore, the article mentions a three step plan that Lena hopes to enforce in order to restore Walters’s manhood and bring forth proper consideration. The first step demands Lena to blame him cruelly and remind Walter of how hard his father had to work in order to leave that kind of money for their family. The second step for Lena is to defend Walter against the attacks of other family members. While the last step consisted of Lena’s strategy to help Walter come to his senses and weigh things properly. Using these steps, Lena strives to restore the dignity, pride, and manhood within Walter.
Realizing the extraordinary circumstances that Lena placed herself into in order to re- stabilize Walter’s life, one could argue that family is the most important aspect of a person’s life. Throughout the selfish and egotistical actions of Walter regarding the liquor store dream, Hansberry proves that personal satisfaction does not solve all problems. It appears that Walter believes that his own happiness is more important than his family. This is portrayed through Walters’s lack of interest about Ruth’s abortion. Walter’s main concern revolved around the development of a good business, which caused Walter to lose focus of the harsh situation that his own wife was recently placed into. Since Walter’s dream of owning a liquor store fell apart, Hansberry demonstrates that happiness is not the most important aspect in one’s life. On the other hand, Hansberry does demonstrate the importance of family through the characterization of Lena. Even though Walter previously ignored Lena’s opinion of Bobo, Lena was still there to help Walter rebuild his life. In the end, Lena is the savior of Walter’s life; the one who lifted him up onto his feet when his life appeared to hit rock bottom. All in all, Hansberry uses the characterization of Ruth and Lena to portray the importance of family, rather than personal satisfaction.
Within the article and A Raisin in the Sun, both authors convey the common idea that family is the primary foundation in a person’s life. Although personal satisfaction seems to be the only solution in such desperate times, one persons happiness does not always result in the happiness of everyone else. As Jon Krakauer once stated, “Happiness is only real when shared.” This quote demonstrates the fact that individual happiness creates a false impression and does not properly represent “real” happiness until everyone is satisfied. As seen in the play, Walters dream to own a liquor store was one for himself. The rest of the Younger family was not satisfied with Walter’s decision; therefore, thorough happiness was not reached. However, the selfless actions taken by Lena to rebuild the family acted as guidelines towards a brighter future. Lena’s desire to make her family the number one priority was the only solution to an abundance of issues. In the end, fulfilled happiness is unattainable without the support and approval of your family members; one for all and all for one.