Author, Lorraine Hansberry composes each member of the Younger family’s actions, dialogue, and relationships in such a way that they promote the formation of a recurring theme, the American Nightmare. Through the duration of A Raisin in the Sun the family lives along the lines of poverty but always carries their fantasy of being wealthy with them. Though each individual has their own version of the American Dream, they all find themselves constantly consumed in the hopes of possessing something more superior than they previously had. This concept of desire and obsession with money is significant for the evolution of the plot, and is responsible for providing the audience with the insight required to fully understand the underlying and deeper
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She decides to express her love for Walter by trusting him with the remaining money after paying the down payment on their new house. Beneatha’s portion was meant to help pay for her education so she could become a doctor, and Walter’s portion was for him to do what he saw fit and manage it in the best interest of the family. Because Walter tends to measure his self-worth by his “material gain and wealth” and he believes “his aspirations would ensure entrance into [an elevated] society,” he takes a gamble with the family’s money (Matthews 2008). When he loses all of their funds due to his foolish business deal, both his and Beneatha’s chance for their American Dreams are lost. Losing the entirety of Mama’s life insurance check inflicts calamity and a true American Nightmare upon the Younger …show more content…
Even though each member of the Younger family has their own image of what the American Dream looks like, they are all seen as additives that enhance the literary motifs that recur throughout the reading. Also, viewing “the pursuit of [these dreams] through the characters in A Raisin in the Sun [enables the reader to] develop empathy [for the Younger family]” (Viator 2014). By careful development and individualization of each character, the family is properly utilized to create examples of real-world struggles that many are faced with today. These dynamic concepts of A Raisin in the Sun, the American Nightmare and the American Dream, are essential in order to properly send the desired message to the
She decides to express her love for Walter by trusting him with the remaining money after paying the down payment on their new house. Beneatha’s portion was meant to help pay for her education so she could become a doctor, and Walter’s portion was for him to do what he saw fit and manage it in the best interest of the family. Because Walter tends to measure his self-worth by his “material gain and wealth” and he believes “his aspirations would ensure entrance into [an elevated] society,” he takes a gamble with the family’s money (Matthews 2008). When he loses all of their funds due to his foolish business deal, both his and Beneatha’s chance for their American Dreams are lost. Losing the entirety of Mama’s life insurance check inflicts calamity and a true American Nightmare upon the Younger …show more content…
Even though each member of the Younger family has their own image of what the American Dream looks like, they are all seen as additives that enhance the literary motifs that recur throughout the reading. Also, viewing “the pursuit of [these dreams] through the characters in A Raisin in the Sun [enables the reader to] develop empathy [for the Younger family]” (Viator 2014). By careful development and individualization of each character, the family is properly utilized to create examples of real-world struggles that many are faced with today. These dynamic concepts of A Raisin in the Sun, the American Nightmare and the American Dream, are essential in order to properly send the desired message to the