Essay on Compare Contrast a Raisin in the Sun - 1026 Words

Frontina Taylor English Comp II Jaime Barrett Compare and Contrast A Raisin In The Sun Essay In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, and 1961 movie written by Lorraine Hansberry and presented by Columbia pictures, one of the most important themes is the American Dream. Many of the characters have hopes and dreams. They all strive towards their goals throughout. However, many of the characters have different dreams that clash with each other. Problems seem to arise when different people’s dreams conflict with one another. Another theme is racism. Racism was rampant during the 1950’s and this often hindered African American dreams. What is the American dream? In the play, A Raisin in the Sun,†¦show more content†¦This caused tension among the family for there was constant arguing and bicke- ring. This situation is far to common in families today, particularly is there is money involved and everyone has their own dreams as to what to do with it. At the end of the play Walter looses $6,500 dollars therefore hindering his and B enetha’s dream. Lena held onto her dream by moving the family to the new house. Another theme and issue that arrives from the play A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, is racism. During the 1950’s blacks and whites were segregated. The house the Younger’s purchased was in the Clybourne Park neighborhood, an all white neighborhood. When Lena told the family they were moving to Clybourne Park they stood with amazement. â€Å"Mama, there ain’t no colored people in Clybourne Park† (p.734). The family heard of other colored families’ houses being set on fire in this neighborhood, they were concerned that the same thing would happen to them. In the film A Raisin In The Sun in 1961, written by Lorraine Hansberry and presented by Columbia Pictures, there are several adaptations that were added and deleted. One adaptation that was added was the different settings. In the play (Hansberry), the setting primarily takes place in the Younger’s living room. The film presents different settings such as Walter’s and Ruth’s bedroom, Benetha’s and Mama’s bedroom, the bar, Walter at work, and the new house.Show MoreRelatedCompare And Contrast A Raisin In The Sun And Lena Younger1072 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent than the ones of a white male, however both will be equally proud of their achievements when one reaches their outcome. The American Dream can be portrayed as being able to succeed at what you want, and while both Lena Younger, Mama, in A Raisin in the Sun and Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, both had similar dreams of achieving love, Lena Younger achieves her dream by providing for her family, Gatsby’s approach on reaching his dream of through improving his wealth did not succeed. Lena YoungerRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun Compare/Contrast Play/Film Essay702 Words   |  3 PagesLorraine Hansberry’s play â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun,† was a radically new representation of black life, resolutely authentic, fiercely unsentimental, and unflinching in its vision of what happens to people whose dreams are constantly deferred. I compared Act One, Scene 2, in the play and the film. The setting in the play is on a Saturday morning, and house cleaning is in process at the Youngers. In the film, the setting is the same as play, with lighting and costumes. The plot in the play is whenRead MoreCompare/Contrast Willy Loman (Death of a Salesman) and Walter Lee Younger (a Raisin in the Sun)2823 Words   |  12 Pagesare none. Characters Walter Lee Younger and Willy Loman are prime examples of this, both pinning their hopes on unattainable dreams to hide the feelings of failure. The theme of illusion versus reality is present in both Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman through the portrayal of main characters Walter and Willy in their struggles for happiness and prosperity. Although the two characters have similar dreams, Walter, a dynamic character, breaks through theRead MoreA Raisin In The Sun Character Analysis902 Words   |  4 PagesGordon: Segregat ion vs. Southern Pride Lorraine Hansberry’s â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† touches on many issues African Americans faced in the early to mid-twentieth century. One can analyze Hansberry’s â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† from many angles, and come away with different meanings. While Michelle Gordon focuses more on segregation and housing discrimination that plagued African Americans on Chicago’s Southside in Hansberry’s â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, William Murray emphasizes on Southern Pride and heritage. ThisRead MoreComparing The Death Of A Salesman And A Raisin The Sun1710 Words   |  7 Pagesthan enough to support your family is something that has always been tremendously significant in the American culture. The Death of a Salesman and A Raisin the Sun are two tales about this struggle. Both stories are about two American families that portray the common way of life around the 1940’s and the struggles that come with it. A Raisin in the Sun is about a bla ck family living in Chicago, and Death of a Salesman is about a white family living in New York. Both families seem to have many problemsRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin Of The Sun1527 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† is about the Younger Family who live in a small apartment in Chicago. The family is torn apart as every member has different dreams and goals, yet Mama and her daughter-in-law Ruth desperately attempt to hold the family all together. In both the movie and the play, the family’s dreams remain the same. Mama wants her family to get along and she wants to purchase a house. Her son, Walter, wants the life insurance money from his father to invest in a liquor store to achieve hisRead MoreAnalysis Of A Raisin In The Sun1185 Words   |  5 PagesArianna Williams-Smart English 1B Professor Quinn Final Essay The epigraph to A Raisin in the Sun is Langston Hughes poem called A Dream Deferred which was written as an example of life in harlem. The lines are a introduction to the white societys actions to take away equal opportunity from black citizens. Hughes main point is that there could be consequences when peoples frustrations build up or accumulate to the point where they have to either surrender their dreams or allow strenuousRead MoreThe Great Gatsby And Harlem By Langston Hughes1089 Words   |  5 Pagesstruggles of the poor, a woman whose voice is full of money. These phrases contrast with the poor world of the couple George and Myrtle Wilson. While Daisy is soaking in money, George and Myrtle basically live in a dust bowl. Figurative language is also used in â€Å"Harlem† when Hughes attempts to give an idea of what a deferred dream would resemble itself as. He compared a postponed dream to a raisin drying up in the sun and he also gives a strong image with our sen ses when he describes how it stinksRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Ways In Which The American Dream Is Presented Through Walter Younger In Lorraine Hansberry1711 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Compare and contrast the ways in which the American Dream is presented through Walter Younger in Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘ A Raisin in the Sun’ and Willy Lehman in Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of the Salesman’ The American Dream is something many Americans desire. The desire to the mind – set or belief that anyone can be successful if they worked hard for what they’ve been yearning. It is considered to be a ‘perfect life’; it can be full of money, contentedness or even love. There are many divergent opinionsRead MoreAn Analysis of Langston Hughes Poem Harlem1520 Words   |  6 Pagesalluding to the dreams of Black Americans because the title Harlem represents a community in New York City that is heavily populated with Black folks. His use of similes is very effective when he compares the dream to a raisin (a simile is prefaced by like) Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Another use of alliteration is found in that line with does and dry (Hughes). The use of simile appears again with Or fester like a sore (a dream linked to a sore); And they run? (this is