Lui Hiu Ki Beatrice 16208102
Dr. Tammy Ho
ENGL3066
Question 1
01 April 2017
The Dysfunctionality in The Glass Menagerie and A Raisin in the Sun
According to McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine, a dysfunctional family deals with internal and external problems such as “sibling rivalries, parent-child conflicts, domestic violence, mental illness, single parenthood or alcohol or drug abuse, extramarital affairs, gambling, unemployment” etc. In this essay, internal conflict would be the main focus of the discussion of the idea of dysfunctional family. In the following paragraphs, with reference of The Glass Menagerie and A Raisin In the Sun, three perspectives a) the absent father, b) individualism vs. unity and c) reality vs. …show more content…
Ruth, Walter’s wife and Jim, the gentleman caller serve as a wakeup call to the characters who spend more time in dreams than in reality. Amanda in The Glass Menagerie lives in the past; while Tom and Walter live in the future and in their illustrations. They forget the confines of reality. The discrepancy of thoughts between them leads to the dysfunctionality of the family. Walter’s belief in ‘money means everything’, strives him to use up the insurance for investment. His materialistic obsession and pursuit of personal goal lead to his neglectance towards values and heritage. Even when Ruth, the realist tells him to “eat his eggs (get back to reality)” (Ruth 495) , his ego veils his vision in seeing people around him. Yet, after the lost of the insurance and the betrayal of his friend, he is finally brought back to the present. “He finally came into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain…” (Mama 577)) well illustrates his decision to do something for the sake of the family. Tom, instead “went much further” (Tom 642), further than the moon. The line when Tom describes himself as a “bastard son of a bastard” (Tom 122) already foreshadows his later absence. He took away the money for the electricity bill and live his adventurous dream. Perhaps, this is the only moment when Tom regains his ‘self’ and to chase after his dream. In a certain way, he is selfish. However, before the day he leaves, he is overwhelmed with his internal struggle; after he left, he is scarred with guilt with memories of
Dr. Tammy Ho
ENGL3066
Question 1
01 April 2017
The Dysfunctionality in The Glass Menagerie and A Raisin in the Sun
According to McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine, a dysfunctional family deals with internal and external problems such as “sibling rivalries, parent-child conflicts, domestic violence, mental illness, single parenthood or alcohol or drug abuse, extramarital affairs, gambling, unemployment” etc. In this essay, internal conflict would be the main focus of the discussion of the idea of dysfunctional family. In the following paragraphs, with reference of The Glass Menagerie and A Raisin In the Sun, three perspectives a) the absent father, b) individualism vs. unity and c) reality vs. …show more content…
Ruth, Walter’s wife and Jim, the gentleman caller serve as a wakeup call to the characters who spend more time in dreams than in reality. Amanda in The Glass Menagerie lives in the past; while Tom and Walter live in the future and in their illustrations. They forget the confines of reality. The discrepancy of thoughts between them leads to the dysfunctionality of the family. Walter’s belief in ‘money means everything’, strives him to use up the insurance for investment. His materialistic obsession and pursuit of personal goal lead to his neglectance towards values and heritage. Even when Ruth, the realist tells him to “eat his eggs (get back to reality)” (Ruth 495) , his ego veils his vision in seeing people around him. Yet, after the lost of the insurance and the betrayal of his friend, he is finally brought back to the present. “He finally came into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain…” (Mama 577)) well illustrates his decision to do something for the sake of the family. Tom, instead “went much further” (Tom 642), further than the moon. The line when Tom describes himself as a “bastard son of a bastard” (Tom 122) already foreshadows his later absence. He took away the money for the electricity bill and live his adventurous dream. Perhaps, this is the only moment when Tom regains his ‘self’ and to chase after his dream. In a certain way, he is selfish. However, before the day he leaves, he is overwhelmed with his internal struggle; after he left, he is scarred with guilt with memories of