The pursuit of happiness is a seemingly never-ending journey for some. Individuals may find that their true happiness cannot be discovered, as there are detrimental circumstances in their path. The pursuit of happiness is a feat that every individual must take on in their life. In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, Ruth has a hard time finding true happiness. There are obstacles standing between Ruth and her happiness that are very significant; her happiness does not just depend on herself. Ruth’s true happiness comes with selfless acts of devotion and kindness. Ruth’s happiness depends on the satisfaction of other characters, such as her husband, Walter. Ruth knows that in Walter’s pursuit of happiness, he would need to find success;
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Due to Ruth’s pregnancy, she is put in an extremely vulnerable situation in which she is required to make a life-changing decision. Her choices are to either get an abortion, or to keep the baby - and risk that baby having a bad life because of their financial struggles. Ruth knows that, “Ain't nothin' can tear at you like losin' your baby” (503). Though she is fully aware of this, she still decides to pay the five dollar down payment to get an abortion. This is an obstacle so severe that Ruth will likely never be able to overcome it, no matter the choice she inevitably chooses. Like the rest of their family, Ruth and Walter also suffer from financial issues - leading to bigger complications. This obstacle keeps Ruth from her sincere sense of happiness. Because of their financial issues, they are forced to continue living with Mama; when they move out of their old house, they go to a neighborhood called Clybourne Park, in which the majority of the population are white individuals. Ruth knows “there ain't no colored people living in Clybourne Park” (536). Ruth likely feels as though she’s an outlier, not only in Walter’s family, but in their future society in which they will be living. Sociological insecurities will only lead to the unlikelihood of Ruth finding true happiness, though there are positives to the situation. Overall, however, the obstacles in which are in the way …show more content…
Ruth does want to get out of their smaller house, she yells, “let’s get out of here” (576). Ruth knows the bigger house is better for them, but there will always be a concern in the back of her mind about if she is fitting in with her neighborhood, or her family for that matter - or not. Furthermore to the fact of feeling like a burden, Ruth also takes concern with Mama and how Walter treats her. Walter appears to not appreciate the graciousness Mama gives to Ruth and himself. Ruth tells Walter how he should be more appreciative, “with [his] mother working like a dog every day...” (544). Ruth feels as though she needs to make up for what Walter is lacking in, even though Mama is Walter’s mom. With Ruth already feeling like a burden, she has to deal with Walter’s blatant selfishness at times. With all these things considered, the chance that Ruth finds her true happiness is extremely
Due to Ruth’s pregnancy, she is put in an extremely vulnerable situation in which she is required to make a life-changing decision. Her choices are to either get an abortion, or to keep the baby - and risk that baby having a bad life because of their financial struggles. Ruth knows that, “Ain't nothin' can tear at you like losin' your baby” (503). Though she is fully aware of this, she still decides to pay the five dollar down payment to get an abortion. This is an obstacle so severe that Ruth will likely never be able to overcome it, no matter the choice she inevitably chooses. Like the rest of their family, Ruth and Walter also suffer from financial issues - leading to bigger complications. This obstacle keeps Ruth from her sincere sense of happiness. Because of their financial issues, they are forced to continue living with Mama; when they move out of their old house, they go to a neighborhood called Clybourne Park, in which the majority of the population are white individuals. Ruth knows “there ain't no colored people living in Clybourne Park” (536). Ruth likely feels as though she’s an outlier, not only in Walter’s family, but in their future society in which they will be living. Sociological insecurities will only lead to the unlikelihood of Ruth finding true happiness, though there are positives to the situation. Overall, however, the obstacles in which are in the way …show more content…
Ruth does want to get out of their smaller house, she yells, “let’s get out of here” (576). Ruth knows the bigger house is better for them, but there will always be a concern in the back of her mind about if she is fitting in with her neighborhood, or her family for that matter - or not. Furthermore to the fact of feeling like a burden, Ruth also takes concern with Mama and how Walter treats her. Walter appears to not appreciate the graciousness Mama gives to Ruth and himself. Ruth tells Walter how he should be more appreciative, “with [his] mother working like a dog every day...” (544). Ruth feels as though she needs to make up for what Walter is lacking in, even though Mama is Walter’s mom. With Ruth already feeling like a burden, she has to deal with Walter’s blatant selfishness at times. With all these things considered, the chance that Ruth finds her true happiness is extremely