A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry - Research Paper Example

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry depicts the everyday life of black people in a manner that everyone can discuss and understand the oppression and suffering they face. In as much as there were strides that had been taken in the agitation of human rights for the black people; they were still being looked down upon by the white people. Hansberry uses the play to reflect on some of the experiences she had while growing up. This is attributed to the fact that most of the incidences in the play are similar to some of the racial experiences her family faced. However, while explicating her story, Hansberry has exemplified the psychoanalytic and feminist nature of the society. Therefore, this paper shall seek to explain how the playwright has successfully tailored her literary piece to express the feminist and psychoanalytic nature of the society. The play revolves around a black family living in Southern Chicago in the 1950s. The family, the Youngers is about to be given a $10,000 check from the insurance kitty that Mr. Younger who has passed on had been paying. As they wait for this money, everyone in the family has an idea on how the money ought to be spent. The family’s matriarch, Mama wants to use the money to buy a family house in order to fulfill her husband’s dream. Walter Lee, Mama’s son wants to use the money as capital to invest in an alcohol store. According to him, the business is the surest way of getting money to sustain his family. Ruth, Walter’s wife concurs with Mama’s ideas despite the fact that she wishes that Walter and her can provide better opportunities for their son, Travis. Lastly, Walter’s sister, Beneatha wants to use the money to pay her medical school tuition. It is from these desires that the play is set rolling. Feminist Approach First and foremost, Beneatha wish to pursue her education to unmeasured heights is a symbol of women empowerment. This is an example of feminism in the society. It shows that women are standing up for themselves and seeking ways of making themselves strong, as well as making their impact felt in the society. When Asagai tells her that her ambitions should be enough as a woman, she replies, “I know since that is what all novels written by men say, but it is not. Go ahead and laugh, but I am not interested in becoming someone’s little episode in the United States of America” (Hansberry 1.2.114). In making this assertion, it shows how badly she wanted to become a doctor, and there was no way anyone was going to stop her from achieving her dreams. She is exploring life in her pursuit to find her true identity. She dates two men, Asagai and George as she tries to find her true identity. In as much as Asagai constantly criticizes her, she realizes that it is for her own good since he is making her since things about life that she was overlooking. For instance, Asagai teases her that she claims to be an independent woman, yet she is eagerly waiting for her father’s money to pay for her medical school tuition fees. This opens Beneatha eyes and she realizes that she depends on her brother’s investment funds and father’s insurance money to achieve her dreams. She decides to find her own way of achieving her dreams at the same time appreciating his brother. Beneatha is also portrayed as a strong-willed woman who cannot be pulled down a man. This is illustrated in the manner in which she dismisses George Murchison as arrogant and self-centered. According to her, she cannot stand a man who sees himself above others and does not respect other people. Even her name suggests that she has a strong conviction that everything is beneath her. Moore reiterates, “It is a fact that Beneatha is a true feminist, despite her young age.” In as much as Mama is caring and looks after her family extremely well; she does not appear as a true feminist. This is attributed to the fact that she knows that her husband is a womanizer, yet she does nothing to confront him. In as much as she speaks flatly about her husband’s womanizing tendencies, she keeps mum about it. All she says is that she acknowledges the fact that men are womanizers. This depicts him as a woman who is still stuck in the traditional tendencies and beliefs that let men do and get away with infidelity in marriages. Ruth also is not portrayed as a true feminist despite all her efforts to ensure that her family leads a happy life. Hansberry (100) says, “She defers to her husband on several occasion.” This implies that she believes in the traditional beliefs that a woman should comply and be submissive to the husband. This is something that Beneatha would not do since she believes in doing what she thinks is right, and that people must accept her the way she is. This is demonstrated in the manner she refuses to be ‘nice’ even after being told by her mother, Mama. Psychoanalytic Approach Analyzing the play using the psychoanalytic approach entails understanding the driving force that enabled the playwright come up with the play, assessing the behavior of characters and understanding why they behave the way they do, as well as assessing the response the play elicited from the audience. As already explained above, the play, A Raisin in the Sun was motivated by Hansberry’s childhood experiences. In as much as she was born in a middle-class American family living in Southern Chicago, she witnessed the injustices the black Americans were facing. Even though their family was wealthy and lived in a neighborhood surrounded by rich people, she was restricted to spending time in the black ghettos. Domina asserts that, “She spent most of her time with her friends who were leaving in squalid conditions, in the ghettos.” This opened her eyes to the harsh realities the black people were facing in terms of poor housing. Paul says, “It is worth noting that her privilege to live in a leafy neighborhood did not prevent her from experiencing the struggles faced by racial minorities.” This was demonstrated in the manner her father waged a fierce legal battle at the Supreme Court. He had failed a case since he was being deterred from purchasing a home in a neighborhood that was perceived to be an all-white neighborhood. Even though her father won the battle and the law case, their family faced several vicious attacks after they had moved into the newly purchased home. Brown says, “It worth noting that the play is not Hansberry’s autobiography; however, her childhood experiences influence her thoughts and beliefs as she goes about her writing” (240). This is demonstrated in the manner she likens her family’s problems to the Younger’s problems in the play. Several characters in the play have issues that drive their behaviors and make them behave the way they do. For instance, Mama is concerned towards ensuring that her family is happy and is comfortable. Since the patriarchal head of the family is dead, she takes it as her sole responsibility to ensure that her family is protected and are leading a happy life. Her desire to use the money to purchase a house with the insurance money is driven by the fact that she wants her family to live happily together. She also wants her grandson, Travis to have a large compound for playing. Hansberry (120) asserts, “She is not pleased with Travis sleeping on the couch.” She also supports Beneatha’s assertion that George is self-centered and arrogant. She is proving to a mother since she knows extremely well that if she does not take good care of her children, nobody will do it. Beneatha’s actions are driven by the fact that she is educated, enlightened and understands her worth as a woman. This makes her a strong character in the way she advocates for her rights and what she believes in. This implies that education is what makes her a true feminist since she understands what is good for her, and does not entertain being looked down by a man. This is demonstrated when she chooses Asagai over George since she believes that George is extremely arrogant and self-centered. According to Beneatha, “There is no way she would follow someone’s demands and behave the way that someone wants” (Shattuck). She believes that is unique in the way she is, and that people should understand and appreciate her the way she is. This can be contrasted to Ruth’s submission to Walter. Here are high chances that Ruth is not as educated as Beneatha, and that is why she is complying with Walter’s demands without questioning. Lastly, Walter‘s behavior is also motivated by several factors. For instance, he is portrayed as a weak individual who does not step in his father’s shoes to act like a man. This could be attributed to the fact that he did not have a mature relationship with his father and mother. The lack of a mature relationship could have affected Walter since he missed the lessons of stepping up learning how to fulfill manly responsibilities. “His failures as a man are depicted in the manner that he believes that only wealth can bring happiness to a family” (The Art of Social Criticism: Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun). He does not understand that a happy family goes beyond money and wealth. The manner in which he was easily tricked and ripped of the money he wanted to invest in the liquor business portrays him as an inexperienced, and naïve individual who does not live up to the standards of a man. In conclusion, A Raisin in the Sun is a must-read play for anyone who wishes to understand the challenges and oppression the black Americans were facing before human rights laws were established. Through Beneatha, Hansberry has explicated her experiences in her pursuit to fight the oppressing societal system, as well as the people’s expectation of her as a black woman. Works Cited Brown, Lloyd. “Lorraine Hansberry as Ironist: A Reappraisal of A Raisin in the Sun.” Journal of Black Studies (1974): 238–247. Print. Domina, Lynn. Understanding A Raisin in the Sun: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. London: Greenwood Press, 1998. Print. Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage Books, 2004. Print. Moore, Julie. “Analysis of a Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.” 2009. Print. Paul, Reuben. “PAL: Perspectives in American Literature.” Web. 4 Dec. 2012. Shattuck, Kathryn. “Drama Revives A Raisin in the Sun.” The Juilliard Journal 25.2 (2010): n. pag. “The Art of Social Criticism: Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun.” Web. 4 Dec. 2012. Read More