When Lorraine Hansberry wrote her famous play A Raisin In The Sun back in 1959, which is a period of time after the Second World War, she addressed many topics and problems that the United States and especially African American people were facing in their lives. One major concept that she brings to her play is the concept of home and what it means and symbolizes to the Americans and especially African Americans back in those times. She also brings up two extremely important literary criticisms such as feminism and Marxism. The play gives the reader an idea of how the concept of home was essential to African American. When the movie came out, it complements the idea by providing visual images to the audience which helped them better understand.
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Other than feminist criticism, she also provides Marxist criticism. Marxist Criticism “began with Karl Marx’s (1818-1883) insistence that human interactions are economically driven and that the basic model of human progress is based on a struggle for power between different social classes” (Gardner et al. 1270). This means that a person economical and wealth status can have a colossal effect on his social status in the society. In the play A Raisin In The Sun we can easily grasp the fact that the family lives in poverty. This poverty leads to their struggle that they are facing against each of their desires in life. Walter seems to be the character that wants to elevate himself the most in order to become a part of the upper wealthy class. In order to achieve that, he has a dream of owning a liquor store. For him personally, money becomes the definition of life which brings a lot of disappointment to his mother when she sadly says one of the most famous quotes in the play “Oh so now its life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life-now it’s money” (Hansberry, 1007). Unfortunately, he becomes unaware of his irresponsible actions which eventually turn him into a materialistic person who only cares about money and power. By losing the money Mama gave him, he realizes that he is starting to lose all the trust from his beloved ones. At the end of the play, we see Walter …show more content…
After reading the play, I am able to understand the concept of home and what it meant to African Americans prior to the civil rights movement. Home is not just a physical place for them. To achieve that dream they have to overcome many racial problems that the society had placed them in. The audio-visual text makes it easier for the readers and the audience to understand the concept of home by supplying visual images which help them have a complete understanding of the main themes of the texts. Also, Lorraine Hansberry conveyed us as readers many literary criticisms such as feminist and Marxist criticisms. She delivers feminist criticisms mainly through the character of Beneatha while delivering Marxist criticism through character of
Other than feminist criticism, she also provides Marxist criticism. Marxist Criticism “began with Karl Marx’s (1818-1883) insistence that human interactions are economically driven and that the basic model of human progress is based on a struggle for power between different social classes” (Gardner et al. 1270). This means that a person economical and wealth status can have a colossal effect on his social status in the society. In the play A Raisin In The Sun we can easily grasp the fact that the family lives in poverty. This poverty leads to their struggle that they are facing against each of their desires in life. Walter seems to be the character that wants to elevate himself the most in order to become a part of the upper wealthy class. In order to achieve that, he has a dream of owning a liquor store. For him personally, money becomes the definition of life which brings a lot of disappointment to his mother when she sadly says one of the most famous quotes in the play “Oh so now its life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life-now it’s money” (Hansberry, 1007). Unfortunately, he becomes unaware of his irresponsible actions which eventually turn him into a materialistic person who only cares about money and power. By losing the money Mama gave him, he realizes that he is starting to lose all the trust from his beloved ones. At the end of the play, we see Walter …show more content…
After reading the play, I am able to understand the concept of home and what it meant to African Americans prior to the civil rights movement. Home is not just a physical place for them. To achieve that dream they have to overcome many racial problems that the society had placed them in. The audio-visual text makes it easier for the readers and the audience to understand the concept of home by supplying visual images which help them have a complete understanding of the main themes of the texts. Also, Lorraine Hansberry conveyed us as readers many literary criticisms such as feminist and Marxist criticisms. She delivers feminist criticisms mainly through the character of Beneatha while delivering Marxist criticism through character of