Comparing A Raisin In The Sun And A Brown Dream

Superior Essays
The only way for a person to ever achieve their dreams is to chase them, no matter how unrealistic they may be. Langston Hughes asks of a dream deferred, “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?” What happens when a person tries to ignore their dreams? Hughes implies that a dream that one ignores will fester inside them, like a disease, until they cannot ignore it anymore and it ‘“explodes” (Hughes, 1994). A dream that one ignores is worse than not dreaming at all, as a dream should be what guides you to progress, not what holds you back from living the life you desire. …show more content…
While Mama sacrifices her dreams to help her family move out of the projects and into the suburbs, Francisco sacrifices his life to earn his family citizenship, even if he did not originally intend to. Francisco acts upon his dream by joining the Military, but the poem states, “Only this time, he would finally receive something he had been promised: An officially sealed envelope on top of Old Glory. Citizenship was never earned so graciously. Even, if it comes posthumously, at least extend it to the victim’s family!” showing that his sacrifice to win his family citizenship,while it may not have been planned, was rewarded (12, 3-7) . Francisco should not have needed to die to be considered significant by the government, just like Beneatha should not have needed to give up her dream of becoming a doctor because Walter decided his dream was more important. This sacrifice for the good of others is what in the end rewards pragmatic planning. Francisco’s plan to become a citizen was put in front of all other things, he planned pragmatically, and even then, since he dared to dream, only his family was able to collect the results. The poem also reads, “After four years duty and an honorable discharge there would be plenty of money left over for him to continue his education at a good institution” showing how Francisco had a plan for his life, similar to …show more content…
At a few points in the play, she even seems to fit in more easily than Walter and Beneatha, due to how similar she is to Mama. Ruth has similar wishes to Mama, hoping for a superior life for her children, and sacrifices everything to help them acquire this. She plans pragmatically, working long hours, conserving money, and even considering an abortion to keep the family stable, taking matters into her own hands and consulting an abortionist, “Yes I would too, Walter. (Pause) I gave her a five-dollar down payment” before she tells her husband anything about it (I.ii.237). This proves how willing she is to plan pragmatically before even beginning to dream of a nicer life. Ruth doesn't even bother to dream, it is only when Mama begins to dream, of a house and property of their own, that she aspires to anything at all. The play states, “MAMA (Still staring at [the check]) Now don’t act silly…We ain’t never been no people to act silly ‘bout no money – RUTH (Swiftly) We ain’t never had none before – OPEN IT!” She begins to dream, but not for her sake, for the baby’s and Travis’ (I.ii.165). Ruth hopes that Travis will have great aspirations, so she gives up her own. One could argue that a dream that a person ignores will eat away at them until they cannot avoid it any longer. Ruth’s unwavering perseverance disproves this. She not once thinks of anybody but herself, and that is what allows

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