Something better than the American Dream

In Lorraine Hansberry’s, A Raisin in the Sun, she portrayed Beneatha as a very misunderstood character who at some points in the book was disrespected by her own family. Beneatha is very well educated, ambitious, and has the mindset of wanting to “find herself”, all why she is trying to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor. Beneatha is also, in her mind and in the readers minds, breaking the women stereotypes that were around in the 1950’s. Beneatha carries the definition of a feminist on her back, who provides a young, independent, feminist perspective. As her great desires of becoming a doctor demonstrate her huge ambition.

In the 50’s, if females ever took the roles and jobs of men, it was always looked at as very odd. In the book, Beneatha brought up to her family her dream of becoming a doctor, but the family just didn’t understand why she would want to do such a thing. In Act 3 scene 1 page 133, Beneatha states, “That was the most marvelous thing in the world, I wanted to do that. I always thought that that was the one concrete thing in the world that a human being could do. Fix up the sick and make them whole again.” With Beneatha saying this, the reason for her deciding to become a doctor is because she loves helping people and that’s all she wants to do. She isn’t thinking about the American dream that was brought up in the book numerous times, she was thinking of a lifestyle that she would genuinely enjoy and something that makes her happy. She also makes it very clear in her quote that being able to help someone medically is one of the wonderful things a human could do. Walter plays the role in the book as the antagonist. He pushes everyone else’s dreams down to put his dreams forward. Walter only thinks that Beneatha’s dream was too big. In act 1 scene 1, page 37, Beneatha says, “Well–I do–all right? Thank everybody! And forgive me for ever wanting to be anything at all! FORGIVE ME FORGIVE ME.” Beneatha is clearly “apologizing” for having her own dreams that are outside the social norms and stereotypes. Beneatha realizes that there is more that she can do beyond the “American Dream”. While Beneatha is struggling to get her family’s approval of her dreams, Walter being the antagonist and rude person he is, he then states, “Go be a nurse like other women, or go get married and be quiet.” (act 1 scene 1, page 38) Wlater is clearly showing that that was what women were really only good for and what their only roles were in society in the 50’s. It was expected that Beneatha was going to be looked at as crazy for thinking all of this. Having all of these negative reactions around her could have changed her mind and think negatively on her dreams as well. Beneatha being the strong feminist she is, she never let anyones bring her down. As she stated, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” 

As it was brought up by Mama, as Beneatha was growing up she tried many different activities that she didn’t quite stick to, which was another reason why no one supported her on becoming a doctor. It started to become hard for her family to provide support through this because she constantly changes her mind. She never let that stop her because she wanted them to understand that she finally found what she wants to pursue her life with. All she wants to do is help people, because as said before, that is the best thing a human could do. 

Beneatha during this book was a very strong protagonist feminist. She struggled getting approval from anyone around her in the community and even in her own family for wanting to break free from the women stereotypes that were set in the 1950’s. The 1950s is often viewed as a time of period of adjustment. Both men and women had strict gender roles and followed social expectations. Beneatha was looking past the expectations and wanted to find her true self and become the best version of herself. A Raisin in the Sun is a play about dreams and Beneatha has a dream for herself. She dreams of becoming a doctor and she is willing to work extremely hard to achieve her goals. 

Question 1) How has the American Dream changed throughout time since the 1950s? Has it improved for everyone? Do you believe we will ever improve in gender stereotypes in the future?

Question 2) Do you believe Walter never put Benetha’s share of the money in the bank because he truly believed she would never make it as a doctor? 

Work Cited 

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Modern Library, 1995

Fantasy Football Tips UK League: Master Your Strategy This Season

Fantasy football has become one of the most engaging pastimes for UK sports enthusiasts, combining strategic thinking with genuine football knowledge. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to fantasy football tips UK league competitions, understanding the fundamentals can significantly improve your performance. This guide explores essential strategies, player selection methods, and tactical approaches that will help you climb the league standings. From budget management to captain selection, we’ll cover everything you need to know to compete effectively in your UK fantasy football league this season.

Understanding the Basics of Fantasy Football Tips UK League

Fantasy football in the UK operates on a straightforward principle: you select real players from actual football clubs and earn points based on their real-world performance. Each week, your chosen squad competes against other managers in your league, with points awarded for goals, assists, clean sheets, and other statistical achievements. Understanding fantasy football tips UK league mechanics is crucial before you begin selecting your team.

The budget constraint is fundamental to fantasy football strategy. You’ll receive a fixed amount of virtual currency to spend on your entire squad, typically around £100 million in major UK leagues. This means you cannot simply select all the best players; instead, you must balance premium assets with value picks. Learning to identify undervalued players who will perform above their price point is a key skill that separates successful managers from casual players.

Player Selection Strategy for Maximum Points

Selecting the right players is the cornerstone of fantasy football tips UK league success. Rather than choosing based solely on reputation or previous seasons, focus on current form, fixture difficulty, and playing time. A player returning from injury might be cheaper but unreliable, while an in-form midfielder from a struggling team might offer better value than an expensive defender from a top club.

• Analyse recent form over the last five to ten matches rather than relying on season-long statistics
• Check injury reports and team news before finalising your squad selections
• Consider fixture difficulty ratings when planning transfers and captain choices
• Monitor playing time to ensure your selected players are guaranteed starters
• Look for differential picks that other managers might overlook for potential advantages

Position flexibility matters significantly in fantasy football tips UK league strategy. Defenders who score like midfielders, or midfielders who play in attacking roles, offer exceptional value. Spending time researching team formations and player roles within their respective systems will reveal opportunities that casual observers miss. This deeper analysis often translates into consistent point accumulation throughout the season.

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Captain Selection and Transfer Strategy

Your captain choice doubles the points earned by that player, making it one of the most consequential decisions each gameweek. Rather than always selecting the most expensive or highest-scoring player, consider fixture difficulty and recent form. A player facing a weak defence might outscore a premium asset playing against a defensive powerhouse. This tactical approach to fantasy football tips UK league captaincy can yield significant advantages over the season.

Transfers allow you to modify your squad between gameweeks, but they come with strategic implications. Most UK fantasy football leagues allow one free transfer per week, with additional transfers incurring point penalties. Plan your transfers strategically by identifying which players are underperforming and which emerging talents offer better value. Avoid panic transfers after single poor performances; instead, make calculated decisions based on longer-term trends and upcoming fixtures.

Fixture Planning and Seasonal Consistency

Successful fantasy football tips UK league managers plan several gameweeks ahead, considering fixture difficulty ratings. Periods when your selected players face weaker opponents present opportunities to accumulate significant points. Conversely, when your squad faces a run of difficult fixtures, you might consider strategic transfers to maintain momentum. This forward-thinking approach separates top-performing managers from those who react passively to results.

Consistency matters more than chasing short-term gains in fantasy football. Rather than constantly tinkering with your squad, establish a core group of reliable performers and make targeted adjustments. Players who consistently deliver points, even if they’re not flashy, will accumulate more total points than volatile alternatives. This philosophy applies equally to your fantasy football tips UK league strategy, where steady progress often outperforms dramatic swings.

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Conclusion and Next Steps

Mastering fantasy football tips UK league requires dedication, research, and strategic thinking. Start by understanding the basic mechanics, then develop a systematic approach to player selection and transfer management. Monitor your league standings, learn from successful managers, and continuously refine your strategy based on results. The combination of statistical analysis, fixture awareness, and tactical decision-making will elevate your performance throughout the season. Begin implementing these strategies immediately and watch your fantasy football league position improve.

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Morskie rejsy wellness polska – odkryj relaksujące podróże na Bałtyku

Morskie rejsy wellness polska to idealna propozycja dla osób poszukujących połączenia wypoczynku, zdrowia i przygody na wodzie. Polska, posiadająca dostęp do Morza Bałtyckiego, oferuje wiele możliwości dla turystów chcących skombinować klasyczne rejsy z programami wellness. Takie podróże łączą piękne krajobrazy wybrzeża z profesjonalnymi usługami spa, joga i medytacją. Niezależnie od pory roku, morskie rejsy wellness polska przyciągają turystów z całej Europy, którzy pragną odnowić siły i zadbać o swoje zdrowie psychiczne i fizyczne. Artykuł ten przedstawia kompleksowy przewodnik po tym, co czeka podróżników na Bałtyku.

Co to są morskie rejsy wellness polska?

Morskie rejsy wellness polska to specjalistyczne wyciecze morskie, które łączą tradycyjne rejsy statkami z bogatym programem wellness. Rejsy te odbywają się na Morzu Bałtyckim, odwiedzając porty w Gdańsku, Gdyni, Sopocie i innych nadmorskich miastach. Uczestnicy mogą korzystać z sal fitness, basenów, sauny, jacuzzi oraz specjalistycznych zabiegów spa dostępnych na pokładzie. Każdy dzień rejsu jest starannie zaplanowany, aby zapewnić równowagę między relaksem a aktywnością fizyczną.

Programy wellness na morskich rejsach polska obejmują zajęcia jogi, pilates, medytację oraz konsultacje z dietetykami. Wiele statków oferuje również terapie uzdrawiające, masaże lecznicze i zabiegi kosmetyczne. Morskie rejsy wellness polska przyciągają zarówno osoby pragnące odpoczynku, jak i tych, którzy chcą poprawić swoją kondycję fizyczną w przyjemnym otoczeniu.

Główne atrakcje morskich rejsów wellness na Bałtyku

Morskie rejsy wellness polska oferują dostęp do wielu atrakcji zarówno na pokładzie, jak i w portach docelowych. Statki wyposażone są w nowoczesne centra wellness z profesjonalnym sprzętem i doświadczonymi instruktorami. Pasażerowie mogą uczestniczyć w zajęciach fitness, jodze, tai chi oraz innych formach aktywności fizycznej.

• Nowoczesne centra spa z saunami i jacuzzi
• Zajęcia jogi i medytacji na świeżym powietrzu
• Profesjonalne masaże i zabiegi uzdrawiające
• Programy dietetyczne dostosowane do indywidualnych potrzeb
• Wizyty w portach z bogatą historią i kulturą
• Wieczorne koncerty i imprezy kulturalne
• Możliwość obserwacji przyrody i ptaków morskich

Porty, w których cumują statki podczas morskich rejsów wellness polska, to miejsca pełne historii i uroku. Gdańsk przyciąga turystów zabytkową Starówką, a Sopot słynie z pięknej plaży i mola. Każdy port oferuje możliwość spacerów, zakupów i poznania lokalnej kultury.

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Sezonowość i najlepszy czas na rejsy wellness

Morskie rejsy wellness polska odbywają się przez większość roku, choć sezon główny przypada na miesiące letnie od czerwca do września. W tym okresie pogoda jest najlepsza, a temperatura wody Bałtyku osiąga najwyższe wartości. Jednak jesienne i wiosenne rejsy oferują mniejsze tłumy i bardziej intymną atmosferę.

Zimowe morskie rejsy wellness polska to wyjątkowa okazja dla tych, którzy pragną doświadczenia bardziej ekskluzywanego. Chłodniejsza pogoda sprawia, że spa i baseny na pokładzie są jeszcze bardziej atrakcyjne. Wiele statków oferuje specjalne pakiety dla grup, rodzin i par, dostosowane do różnych pór roku.

Praktyczne informacje dla podróżników

Planując morskie rejsy wellness polska, warto zarezerwować miejsce z odpowiednim wyprzedzeniem, szczególnie w sezonie letnim. Większość rejsów trwa od 3 do 7 dni, a ceny zależą od kategorii kabiny i wybranego pakietu wellness. Wiele statków oferuje elastyczne opcje płatności i pakiety all-inclusive, które obejmują posiłki, napoje i większość zajęć.

Przed wyjazdem na morskie rejsy wellness polska warto sprawdzić, jakie dokumenty są wymagane, szczególnie paszport lub dowód osobisty. Większość rejsów wymaga ubezpieczenia turystycznego, które pokrywa ewentualne nieprzewidziane sytuacje. Warto również zapoznać się z regulaminem statku i harmonogramem zajęć wellness dostępnych na pokładzie.

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Zdrowotne korzyści morskich rejsów wellness

Morskie rejsy wellness polska przynoszą wiele korzyści zdrowotnych dla uczestników. Połączenie świeżego morskiego powietrza, regularnej aktywności fizycznej i relaksacyjnych zabiegów spa wspomaga regenerację organizmu. Joga i medytacja praktykowane na pokładzie pomagają zmniejszyć stres i poprawiają jakość snu.

Zabiegi spa i masaże dostępne na morskich rejsach wellness polska wspomagają krążenie krwi, zmniejszają napięcie mięśni i poprawiają kondycję skóry. Programy dietetyczne opracowane przez profesjonalnych dietetyków pomagają uczestnikom w osiągnięciu zdrowszych nawyków żywieniowych. Wiele osób wraca z morskich rejsów wellness polska odświeżonych, pełnych energii i z nową perspektywą na zdrowy styl życia.

Podsumowanie i zachęta do zarezerwowania rejsu

Morskie rejsy wellness polska to doskonała inwestycja w swoje zdrowie i samopoczucie. Niezależnie od tego, czy szukasz całkowitego odpoczynku, czy aktywnego wypoczynku połączonego z treningiem, rejsy te oferują coś dla każdego. Zarezerwuj swoje miejsce na pokładzie już dziś i przygotuj się na niezapomnianą podróż po Morzu Bałtyckim, pełną relaksu, zdrowia i przygody.

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F1 turystyka Polska gdzie jechać – przewodnik dla fanów motorsportu

F1 turystyka Polska gdzie jechać to pytanie, które zadaje sobie coraz więcej entuzjastów motorsportu. Polska, choć nie gości Grand Prix Formuły 1, oferuje wiele atrakcji dla fanów szybkich samochodów i sportów motorowych. W naszym przewodniku odkryjesz najlepsze miejsca na mapie Polski, gdzie możesz doświadczyć emocji związanych z wyścigami, odwiedzić tory wyścigowe oraz poznać historię motorsportu. Niezależnie od tego, czy jesteś zapalonym kibicem czy zwykłym turystą zainteresowanym adrenaliną, znajdziesz tu inspiracje na niezapomniane doświadczenia.

Tory wyścigowe w Polsce – gdzie trenują kierowcy

Polska dysponuje kilkoma profesjonalnymi torami wyścigowymi, które przyciągają zarówno amatorów jak i profesjonalistów. Najsławniejszym obiektem jest tor wyścigowy w Poznaniu, który regularnie gości międzynarodowe imprezy motorowe. Tor ten oferuje możliwość jazdy po torze dla turystów, co stanowi niezwykłą okazję do poczucia się jak zawodnik Formuły 1.

Innym ważnym miejscem dla F1 turystyka Polska gdzie jechać to tor w Modlinie, położony niedaleko Warszawy. Obiekt ten jest idealny dla osób pragnących spróbować swoich sił w wyścigach lub uczestniczyć w treningach jazdy sportowej. Wiele ośrodków oferuje również możliwość jazdy supersamochodami na torze, co daje niezapomniane wrażenia.

Muzea motoryzacyjne i kolekcje samochodów sportowych

Dla miłośników historii motorsportu Polska ma wiele do zaoferowania. Muzeum Motoryzacji w Warszawie prezentuje imponującą kolekcję zabytkowych pojazdów, w tym samochody wyścigowe z różnych epok. Zwiedzając to miejsce, poznasz ewolucję technologii motoryzacyjnej i zrozumiesz, jak wyglądała droga do współczesnej Formuły 1.

Wiele prywatnych kolekcji samochodów sportowych jest dostępne dla turystów. Właściciele tych zbiorów z pasją opowiadają o historii każdego pojazdu, co czyni wizytę niezwykle edukacyjną. F1 turystyka Polska gdzie jechać obejmuje również mniejsze muzea poświęcone konkretnym markom lub epokom wyścigów.

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Imprezy motorowe i festiwale w Polsce

Polska organizuje wiele imprez motorowych, które przyciągają tysiące fanów. Festiwale samochodowe, wystawy pojazdów zabytkowych i zawody wyścigowe odbywają się regularnie w różnych miastach. Uczestnictwo w takich imprezach to doskonały sposób na doświadczenie atmosfery motorsportu bez konieczności podróży za granicę.

• Poznańskie Targi Motoryzacyjne – największa impreza motorowa w Polsce
• Rajdy samochodowe organizowane w całym kraju
• Wystawy zabytkowych pojazdów wyścigowych
• Treningi jazdy sportowej na torach
• Spotkania klubów miłośników motoryzacji

Trasy samochodowe i drogi dla entuzjastów

F1 turystyka Polska gdzie jechać to również możliwość odkrywania pięknych tras samochodowych. Polska oferuje wiele malowniczych dróg, które są idealne dla jazdy sportowej w bezpieczny i legalny sposób. Trasy przez Tatry, Beskidy czy Pieniny stanowią wyzwanie dla kierowców poszukujących emocji.

Wiele ośrodków oferuje organizowane wycieczki samochodowe dla grup entuzjastów. Doświadczeni instruktorzy prowadzą uczestników po wybranych trasach, udzielając porad dotyczących techniki jazdy i bezpieczeństwa. To świetny sposób na połączenie turystyki z pasją do motoryzacji.

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Praktyczne porady dla turysty zainteresowanego F1

Planując F1 turystyka Polska gdzie jechać, warto przygotować się odpowiednio. Zarezerwuj miejsca na torach z odpowiednim wyprzedzeniem, szczególnie w sezonie letnim. Sprawdź harmonogram imprez motorowych i dostosuj swój wyjazd do interesujących Cię wydarzeń.

Pamiętaj o ubezpieczeniu i wymaganym sprzęcie ochronnym, jeśli planujesz jazdę na torze. Wiele ośrodków udostępnia kaski i kombinezony, ale warto sprawdzić to wcześniej. Zaplanuj budżet na opłaty za jazdę, noclegi i wyżywienie, aby cały wyjazd był komfortowy i niezapomniony.

Polska ma wiele do zaoferowania dla fanów Formuły 1 i motorsportu. Niezależnie od tego, czy wybierzesz się na tor wyścigowy, do muzeum czy na festiwal motorowy, doświadczysz niezapomnianych chwil pełnych adrenaliny i pasji do szybkich samochodów.

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Dreams, Dreams– It’s All About Dreams!!!

There are two significant ways in which Lorraine Hansberry explores the notion of dreams in A Raisin in the Sun, which this blog post will analyze. The first way Hansberry explores dreams is through each individual character’s dreams. The second is through her symbolic use of light.

Walter’s dreams involve being a successful entrepreneur and providing more for his family. In the first act we learn he has aspirations to open up a liquor store with his friends. Unfortunately because of his low income job and his inability to secure money through a loan, he has been unable to save for his business and simultaneously support his family. Beneatha, his sister, has dreams of going into med school but because of the family’s poor financial prospects she has not been able to chase her dream yet. Walter’s mother Mama’s dream is for her son to be happy, and when she receives the check, it’s to buy the house which would allow her family to have a better life. 

Walter’s wife Ruth’s dream is to support her family and support her husband’s dreams so they might better their circumstances. His son Travis also has a dream, to be a working man like his father wants to be. 

By the end of Act II, none of these dreams materialize because of Walter’s well meaning but naive actions. 

The play is an important piece of literature that depicts the struggles African American families in America went through after WWII, specifically a low income working family in the lower southside of Chicago, the Youngers. The play follows their struggles as they try to move up financially in the world and deals with the harsh realities of the world they live in. At first I thought these characters’ dreams were motivated by money, and although that might be true to a point, I believe there is something that motivates them more. What they are truly motivated by is their dreams, their goals, their desires. They keep them going. This type of motivation can do great things but can also destroy people if they have too much invested emotionally in a dream that doesn’t materialize. But we can see that because of the Younger’s financial situation and living in the 50’s with its institutionalized racism and segregation and limited life and financial opportunities, actually being able to realize their dreams seems unlikely. But after Mama receives a 10,000 dollar check in the mail, all of that changes. The Youngers now have an opportunity to achieve what they have been striving for. They now have the money for Beneatha to afford med school, for Walter to start up his liquor business, and even enough money to purchase a new house for the family. 

Another literary feature Hansberry incorporates into her play is her use of light. In the play, light (and the lack of light as well) symbolizes dreams. Early on, light is represented by the mention of the sun. Mama says, “Lord, if this little old plant don’t get more sun than it’s been getting it ain’t never going to see spring again.” There is only a small window in this very small apartment for too many people. The only light that “fights its way” comes through this window, and the only natural light the family can enjoy each day is only that which “fights its way” through this little window. It is not enough to light their dreams, unfortunately, just as it’s not enough for a single dying plant. I feel like the plant dying represents the dimness in the apartment and the darkness in the lives of these family members who do not live enough “in the sunlight” or have any real way to achieve their dreams. 

Another relevant light related quote in the play happens after Mama tells her family about the new house. Ruth asks Mama, “Is there a whole lot of sunlight?” Mama says yes. In this case, the sunlight represents the possibilities of a better future. It represents hope. In their old apartment, there was almost no sunlight, and the family was constantly drained and weighed down by the world around them. But in this new house, there will be sunlight everywhere. In such a house there is a real possibility they will achieve their dreams.

An interesting light reference easily missed is in Act II, Scene II, when Beneatha’s boyfriend, George and Walter are going at each other. Walter is baiting and insulting George who is acting superior and condescending to Walter. As George is leaving he says, “Bye, Prometheus.” This is a name Walter has never heard of. In the myth of Prometheus, this Titan God of Fire stole fire so he could give it to humanity. Fire, which the sun also represents, symbolizes dreams and a hope for a better future. Promotheus brought this to earth but Zeus tied him to a rock and an eagle plucked out his liver each night, which grew back each day only to be eaten again. This might symbolize the futility of dreams and hope and make us ask the question, how dare Walter try to do something great for himself? He is just a poor black working man with no education and prospects after all, and it’s impossible to advance in a world that is against you. What you’ll get for trying to change your life and your family’s lives is pain and suffering. Hansberry’s Prometheus reference in a way foreshadows what happens later in Act II when Willy steals the money from Walter. The money represents his dream which is stolen, and what’s left in its absence is far more suffering than before he received the money.

Walter is also like Prometheus in how he rebelled against God (this could be the societal infrastructure or norms in Walter’s world), but really changing his circumstances is a dream impossible to achieve in his segregated, racist world. Walter’s dream is actually a fantasy.

QUESTIONS

1. The play starts with a poem. What are the different ways in this play that dreams deferred show up in their character’s lives?

2. At the end of Act II, is there any hope that the characters will improve their lives without money? What are some possible other ways besides money their lives could still improve, despite everything that’s happened? 

“A Raisin In the Sun” By Lorraine Hansberry

“A Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry highlights the idea of the American Dream and how it gave each individual family a goal to achieve. The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can live in a situation of financial stability, comfortability and success. “A Rasin in the Sun” tells the story of an African American family in Chicago in the 1950’s which was a time when attaining the American Dream was more of a challenge for African American families. During this time period of segregation, African American families were more prone to poverty and financial struggles due to society being built on oppressing them and making the goal of the American dream immensely harder to reach. This idea of striving for the American dream is portrayed through the Younger family. The American Dream had always come across as something people are entitled to although, for many it was almost impossible. The 10,000 dollar check the family was going to receive gave them a glimmer of hope and was seen as a gateway to opportunity and felt like a step closer to attaining the American Dream. Each family member had their own individual hopes, dreams and thoughts about how the check could possibly help them enter a new environment.  

Everyone in the family is limited to opportunity due to living under societal confinements. Every character has felt the wrath of being held back from the American dream, even the youngest family member, 10-year-old Travis, is worrisome about having enough money just for grade school. Travis anticipating the check to come in the mail, to me, shows just how significant money is to this family. The book shows how some of the characters are very driven by money. Walter is an example of one who believes that this check could be it for him and his family. He believes with this check he has the power to kickstart a business and he believes starting a business will help him and his family achieve the American Dream although it is a big risk and would require the check in entirety. In the book Walter is described as “erratic.” This description most definitely suits Walter considering his ideas, and moods are unpredictable and spontaneous. Walter has attempted to put his plans into action but was continuously let down. The fact that Ruth is so hesitant about Walter going forward with opening his business shows a lot. It shows that she would feel more comfortable staying in their current situation because she has been shown that most of the time the end goal cannot be met. Ruth tries to shut down any talk of acting on Walter’s dreams to start something new. Ruth being a woman also plays a role as to why she is so persistent on not acting on the opportunity. During their time period, being an African American woman meant it was even harder to do things you hoped to do. Women were looked upon as inferior and incapable. During this time period they were not allowed to do something so simple as to own a credit card. Considering the circumstances, it is reasonable for Ruth to be so hesitant. As much as the family is not exactly living the American Dream currently, their loyalty, and love to one another seems to give them purpose, and hold them together. Mama seems to act as the glue that holds everyone together. Walters father also seemed to see his family as his purpose and muse. This idea is demonstrated in a quote from him in Act 1. “Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams- but he did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile.” (Hanberry page 46) During the 1950’s, the time period of segregation prohibited opportunity for people of the black community. The family being held back from their full potential of living out their dreams is a burden in all aspects of their lives. So much so that Ruth, Walter’s wife receiving news that she is pregnant, feels more of a hardship than something to be celebrated. Travis is already experiencing all of the hardships at such a young age and Benetha (Walter’s younger sister) believes it is unfair to bring another child into their situation of poverty. Based on their circumstances, and the time period, having another child seemed impossible right alongside their aspiration to achieve the American dream. 

This time period tremendously impacted those including the Younger family and people living under similar circumstances. Lorraine Hansberry wrote this play according to the time period so readers could put into perspective the struggles that people facing oppression endured. This play encapsulates how it feels firsthand from this fictional family to be living in the 1950’s and trying chase your dreams. 

Question 1) Who do you think Lorraine Hansberry’s intended audience was, or who was she possibly trying to reach with this play? Why would she try to reach this audience? 

Question 2) Do you believe the American Dream has gotten more attainable? Or has history repeated itself in your eyes? 

POSTS

POSTED ONFEBRUARY 5, 2023EDIT”OLIVIA’S BLOG POST”

Olivia’s blog post

“A Raisin In the Sun” By Lorraine Hansberry

“A Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry highlights the idea of the American Dream and how it gave each individual family a goal to achieve. The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can live in a situation of financial stability, comfortability and success. “A Rasin in the Sun” tells the story of an African American family in Chicago in the 1950’s which was a time when attaining the American Dream was more of a challenge for African American families. During this time period of segregation, African American families were more prone to poverty and financial struggles due to society being built on oppressing them and making the goal of the American dream immensely harder to reach. This idea of striving for the American dream is portrayed through the Younger family. The American Dream had always come across as something people are entitled to although, for many it was almost impossible. The 10,000 dollar check the family was going to receive gave them a glimmer of hope and was seen as a gateway to opportunity and felt like a step closer to attaining the American Dream. Each family member had their own individual hopes, dreams and thoughts about how the check could possibly help them enter a new environment.  

Everyone in the family is limited to opportunity due to living under societal confinements. Every character has felt the wrath of being held back from the American dream, even the youngest family member, 10-year-old Travis, is worrisome about having enough money just for grade school. Travis anticipating the check to come in the mail, to me, shows just how significant money is to this family. The book shows how some of the characters are very driven by money. Walter is an example of one who believes that this check could be it for him and his family. He believes with this check he has the power to kickstart a business and he believes starting a business will help him and his family achieve the American Dream although it is a big risk and would require the check in entirety. In the book Walter is described as “erratic.” This description most definitely suits Walter considering his ideas, and moods are unpredictable and spontaneous. Walter has attempted to put his plans into action but was continuously let down. The fact that Ruth is so hesitant about Walter going forward with opening his business shows a lot. It shows that she would feel more comfortable staying in their current situation because she has been shown that most of the time the end goal cannot be met. Ruth tries to shut down any talk of acting on Walter’s dreams to start something new. Ruth being a woman also plays a role as to why she is so persistent on not acting on the opportunity. During their time period, being an African American woman meant it was even harder to do things you hoped to do. Women were looked upon as inferior and incapable. During this time period they were not allowed to do something so simple as to own a credit card. Considering the circumstances, it is reasonable for Ruth to be so hesitant. As much as the family is not exactly living the American Dream currently, their loyalty, and love to one another seems to give them purpose, and hold them together. Mama seems to act as the glue that holds everyone together. Walters father also seemed to see his family as his purpose and muse. This idea is demonstrated in a quote from him in Act 1. “Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams- but he did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile.” (Hanberry page 46) During the 1950’s, the time period of segregation prohibited opportunity for people of the black community. The family being held back from their full potential of living out their dreams is a burden in all aspects of their lives. So much so that Ruth, Walter’s wife receiving news that she is pregnant, feels more of a hardship than something to be celebrated. Travis is already experiencing all of the hardships at such a young age and Benetha (Walter’s younger sister) believes it is unfair to bring another child into their situation of poverty. Based on their circumstances, and the time period, having another child seemed impossible right alongside their aspiration to achieve the American dream. 

This time period tremendously impacted those including the Younger family and people living under similar circumstances. Lorraine Hansberry wrote this play according to the time period so readers could put into perspective the struggles that people facing oppression endured. This play encapsulates how it feels firsthand from this fictional family to be living in the 1950’s and trying chase your dreams. 

Question 1) Who do you think Lorraine Hansberry’s intended audience was, or who was she possibly trying to reach with this play? Why would she try to reach this audience? 

Question 2) Do you believe the American Dream has gotten more attainable? Or has history repeated itself in your eyes? 

Work cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Modern Library, 1995

The play/novel A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry is a very important piece of literature that represents African American people living through a life of social and economic inequalities. This book is meant to be taken place in a time after WW2, to present day. Hansberry’s writing conveys many messages hidden within the novel that not everyone may realize. For example, the role of money on the Younger family is of great importance being that they come from a life of poverty, and the role that money has on the characters varies for all the characters that were introduced to us in the first scene. In the first few pages of the novel, we are introduced to the role of money by ten-year-old Travis, when he says “Mama, this is Friday. (gleefully) Check coming tomorrow, huh” (Hansberry, pg 28). The fact that this young boy is aware of a check coming in the mail is a indication that money is scarce. In households, ten year olds generally don’t have a grasp on the importance of money, yet that is one of the first statements that Travis says. He then asks his mother, Ruth, for fifty cents for school, in which Ruth replied saying I don’t have any fifty cents to give you. Travis then goes on again to about the fifty cents wondering if he should ask his grandmother, Mama, for money, which Ruth shot down immediately, and then his father, Walter, which again she shut down. Fifty cents doesn’t seem to be a lot of money for most people, but the Youngers aren’t most people. They live in a small, crowded house where all the furniture is very worn. After Travis is done asking for the money for school he asks Ruth if he can go work at the grocery store after school, and Ruth shuts this idea down too. Again, keep in mind that Travis is a ten year old boy, which in my books is a very young age to be working, and it is clear that he has been doing it for some time now, so who really knows when he started working. Walter comes out of the bathroom and hears about what Travis wants to do and says that Ruth should let him go. Travis tells Walter that he needs to because Ruth won’t give him the fifty cents because she doesn’t have it. Walter says “What you tell the boy things like that for” and proceeds to give him the fifty cents and then an extra fifty cents to splurge on himself by either taking a taxi to school or buy some fruit (Hansberry, pg 31). In this scene we maybe get the feel that money isn’t as scarce as its being played off to be, but this isn’t the case because when Walter goes to leave for work, he realizes that he doesn’t have enough money and has to ask Ruth for fifty cents. In the novel Walter is shown to be very driven by money, it seems to be almost all he cares about. Before Walter had left to go to work, he an Ruth talked about an idea of Walters to open a liquor store with two of his other friends and needs to produce a downpayment of ten-thousand dollars, and he wants Ruth to talk to Mama about it, because that check that Travis had previously mentioned is actually belonging to Mama. Walter knows Mama wont listen to him as well as she would to Ruth. After their conversation the character Beneatha, Walters sister, is introduced. Beneatha is a strange character, because the whole novel seems to show how poor the family is, but Beneatha seems to be the one of only one who isn’t driven by money. Again the check is brought up when Walter tells Beneatha that the check is coming tomorrow, and Beneatha says that its Mamas money and she can do whatever she wants with it. Beneatha reassures herself as someone to be carefree of money, which I find this ironic because she seems to be spending the most of it. She is in college, and wants to go to medical school to be a doctor which means around eight years of school, and that type of schooling isn’t cheap. We then find out that she wants to take guitar lessons, in which Mama and Ruth question her because the year before she was taking acting lessons, and then before that she was taking horseback riding lessons, in which she apparently lost interest in all. These lessons most likely cost money and the family is clearly not well off enough for someone to be changing their mind about their hobbies. We also learn that Beneatha has been getting to know a man called George, and he is said to be a very wealthy man. Ruth believes that she should marry this man because of this fact and thinks that Beneatha is weird for not wanting to be with him for the money, reassuring that Beneatha isn’t money driven. Beneatha makes herself out to not have a care in the world about money, but she seems to be spending the most. Finally when Mama is introduced, we learn the amount the check is for, ten-thousand dollars, and why she’s getting this check, life insurance on her husband. Remember that Walter needs ten-thousand just for his deposit on the liquor store, and we don’t know if Walter has any money saved, so we would assume that Walter would need all the money. Mama states that she intends to lay out some money for Beneatha’s schooling, showing again that Beneatha is spending money, and that she wants no part in the idea of owning a liquor store and that Walter is no businessman. Ruth explains to Mama that no one is until they have a business, but then goes on to tell Mama that she should spend the money on herself and she should go see the world. So, we are shown that Ruth is also not entirely money driven and has the interests of everybody in her mind. Mama then throws the idea of her picking up some days to work, and it is not stated how old she is, but she is old enough to have a son in his mid-thirties, so I’d have to assume she is up there, and for her to go back to work just shows again how scarce money is for the family. Money is always going to have an important role in households, and especially for households that don’t have much. Money has a role on the family, but also has a role on the characters individually.

What character do you think is most directly influenced by the role of money?

Why do you think Beneatha’s character is not as influenced by money as the others, or if you think she is influenced by money, how?

Work cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Modern Library, 1995.

The award winning play/novel “a Raisin in the Sun ” written by Lorraine Hansberry is undoubtobly a classic, inspiring generations of readers to truly inform themselves on the social and economic issues affecting african americans. Hansberry starts us in a worn down apartment that, in her words, “the furnishings of this room were actually selected with care and love and even hope—and brought to this apartment and arranged with taste and pride.” (page 24) In other words, at one point in time the apartment and its furniture was picked out with genuine love and hope, but, as like many of the dreams these characters had, it passed them by and in the current day it’s ragged and clearly overused. I find the relationship between Walter and Ruth, as well as both of their relationships with Mama to truly show the extent of sadness that hangs over the house due to defferred dreams. We see through the dialogue Hansberry writes for Ruth that, while she is putting up a brave face in the first scene for those around her, she is clearly unhappy with where she is in life and how her and her family have turned out. Whether that is anyones fault or not isnt necessarily the point in this instance, it’s just to point out how crushed her spirit seems to be when we first meet her. Despite the description of her telling us that in her youth she was a vibrant beautiful woman, it seems life has passed her by, or at least she thinks it has. Between pages 28-30, I believe we see a perfect example of my point with how she awakens her son and husband. It’s almost robotic for her at this point. “Come on now, boy, it’s seven thirty! (Her son sits up at last, in a stupor of sleepiness) I say hurry up, Travis! You ain’t the only person in the world got to use a bathroom!” (Pages 28-29) This is followed by a constant barrage of yells at her husband to awake, despite the bathroom not even being open yet, showing us just how used to Walters rough mornings she is and how sick and tired they all are of living the way they do. Walter even asks Ruth later in the scene multiple times “What’s the matter?” and continuously responded with “Nothing.” Because to Ruth there really is nothing wrong, she has unfortunately seemed to accept her, and her family’s place in the world and doesnt want to take any risks with her husband. Even if her reasons for saying no to Walter are valid it shows a lack of willpower that many might have felt at the time due to the terrible circumstances they were placed in. Later in the scene we see Walter and Ruth having an argument over Walter wanting to possibly go into business with a few friends and using “the check” Mama is supposed to get as a jumping off place. It seems, immediately, that this is not the first time Walter has brought something like this to Ruth. And it is implied that Walter’s plans are never well thought out, or actually possible. But this one doesnt seem all that crazy, and Ruth just continuously shoots him down until Walter begins to question why “His Woman” does’nt blindly support him on anything he wants to do. Showing another big issue with some of the characters in this book, misogyny. What these examples are showing is a larger, overarching issue of how our country was at the time of this play. The system was rigged, and the “American Dream” told them that as long as they worked hard and stayed out of trouble they would be ok. But despite every single one of the members of Mama’s family being extremely hard working, they barely get by in the most basic of living quarters. They share a bathroom with other families, which Walter seems to have a lot of issues with. The house is way too small for the amount of people living in it, and beyond that, they can barely afford the extras on top of that. All while both Walter and Ruth work and Travis even makes some extra change holding groceries, and Mama has her big check. They still can very rarely afford anything, with my example being Ruth saying no to her son asking for 50 cents when he needed it for school. Even though Walter ends uo giving it to him because he doesnt want his son to know about the family’s money struggles, it’s hard to hide it from him with the way that they live. 

In conclusion, the relationship between Ruth and Walter, to me, perfectly shows what themes Lorraine Hansberry was trying to convey. With the ideas of money troubles being a constant talking point with the two, as well as bickering over how they share those troubles with their son. And the Mother who still lives with them as well has her own very strong opinions on how they should handle things, even if being a little old school. Each character provides a different look into life during this time period and shows the themes presented by Hansberry.

Hello, my name is Kenari Curry and I’m from Syracuse Ny. I am an exercise science major looking to go into physical therapy or athletic training. I like watching sports and comedies as well as napping.