Fredrick Douglass says, “You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man” (163). Douglass lives during the period in history during which blacks are harshly enslaved. He explains how one can become enslaved and lose his humanity, but eventually he will shed that bondage by overcoming that which is constricting him and regain his status in the human race. Douglas’s statement is figurative; it is portrayed in The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, by Fredrick Douglass; “A Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry; andA Separate Peace, by John Knowles. In Frederick Douglass’s autobiography, he portrays his progression from a slave to a man. In the beginning of his narrative, he is a slave to his fear. His slavery is described,
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Born as a slave he is not only subservient to his master, but to his fear, as well. However, Douglass faces his fear of his master when he fights back. He frees himself of the bondage of fear and becomes a man, someone who is not enslaved. Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” portrays slavery to money, as a result of frustration. Walter Lee Younger, a middle aged black man, lives with his family on the South Side of Chicago. Many variables lead to his frustration with life, such as racism, poverty and failure; his frustration is channeled toward his lack of money, what he thinks is most important. Walter’s family consists of him, his wife, son, sister and his widowed mother. Near the beginning of the play Walter speaks about his father’s life insurance check. He asks his wife, “Check coming today?” (26). His wife answers his inquiry about the check, “I hope to G-d you ain’t going to get up here first thing this morning and start talking to me ‘bout no money” (26). His wife’s response is that he should not begin his morning by talking about money with her. This shows his fixation on money, his first thought and words to his wife or money
Born as a slave he is not only subservient to his master, but to his fear, as well. However, Douglass faces his fear of his master when he fights back. He frees himself of the bondage of fear and becomes a man, someone who is not enslaved. Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” portrays slavery to money, as a result of frustration. Walter Lee Younger, a middle aged black man, lives with his family on the South Side of Chicago. Many variables lead to his frustration with life, such as racism, poverty and failure; his frustration is channeled toward his lack of money, what he thinks is most important. Walter’s family consists of him, his wife, son, sister and his widowed mother. Near the beginning of the play Walter speaks about his father’s life insurance check. He asks his wife, “Check coming today?” (26). His wife answers his inquiry about the check, “I hope to G-d you ain’t going to get up here first thing this morning and start talking to me ‘bout no money” (26). His wife’s response is that he should not begin his morning by talking about money with her. This shows his fixation on money, his first thought and words to his wife or money