Compare And Contrast A Raisin In The Sun And Linda Lowman

Decent Essays
A Raisin in the Sun and The Death of a Salesman are two classic plays that help portray the American dream in two different perspectives. A Raisin in the Sun is by Lorraine Hansberry and is set in the 1950s in Chicago talking about a African American family and their struggles to reach the American Dream. The Death of a Salesman was set in New York in the late 1940s. This play is about a man, Willy, who thinks his charisma and charm are enough to keep his job. Two important secondary characters in this book are Beneatha Younger and Linda Lowman, who are females in the plays. Beneatha Younger is a woman who is independent and modern while Linda Lowman is a woman who is constrained by the wants and needs of her husband and defines the ideal wife. …show more content…
Beneatha is someone who is independent and doesn 't need a man, especially as support. She tells her family that “Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet—if I ever get married” (Hansberry 1796). She considers not getting an education equal to committing to dead. When Willy asks her for the money her mom has been put aside for Beneatha’s medical school, Beneatha questions him: “What do you want from me, Brother - that I quit school or just drop dead, which?” ( Hansberry 1789). Beneatha also tries to be superior by trying to look like European women by straightening her hair, she denies it and gets mad when her boyfriend makes remarks on it and Beneatha argues back saying that she is not “an assimilationist” (Hanberry Act 1, Scene 2). Linda on the other hand, despite being a great wife and a constant support for her husband, always telling his that he is doing great but is constantly hurt and disrespected by Willy. For example, when Linda asks Willy how the Chevy is running, Willy answers by saying “Chevrolet, Linda, is the greatest car ever built” instead of giving her a simple answer, he corrects her by saying the car’s full name and saying it as she should have already known that it would run good (Miller Act I). She has lost respect for herself in the process also, when Willy has an affair instead of leaving him, she stays so he doesn’t get …show more content…
Linda, on the other hand, despite Willy cheating on her and disrespecting her, stays with him because she knows it is her duty and also because she choose to marry him, so she doesn’t have anyone to blame. Beneatha decides to rebel against the rules and norms of society while Linda decides to timidly follow them even though she may disagree with them. Linda is an example of an ideal women during this time period, sticking with her husband and Beneatha is an example of how a women shouldn’t behave, wanting to be like men, have a job and also wanting to independent and not being at the mercy of a man.
Both women play major roles in the lives of the primary characters’s lives. Linda represents the ideal wife, mother, and housewife, whereas, Beneatha is a perfect example of a modern woman with a rebellious perspective to life. Linda helps develop Willy in the play by encouraging and supporting him and without Beneatha, Walter’s harsh behavior towards his family and his view of his superiority over women wouldn’t be brought to light. Without Linda and Beneatha, the main characters would be one sided instead of

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