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Comparing Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun And I Have A Dream

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The original poem "Harlem (Dream Deferred)" had a significant impact on both Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream." The narrator of "Harlem (Dream Deferred)" questions what happens when dreams are postponed. Both Lorraine Hansberry and Martin Luther King Jr. studied the effects of a society where everyone is unable to pursue their ambitions. Both works of literature highlight the difficulties faced by African Americans in realizing the American Dream by significantly referencing the themes and imagery found in "Harlem (Dream Deferred)". King's speech and Hughes' poem both examine the concept of stalled ambitions and the effects of a society that does not permit everyone to realize their dreams. In his address, King used the analogy of a check that all Americans had received, but that only African Americans had received the full value of. “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds” (I Have a Dream). This passage demonstrates King's conviction that America has not yet upheld its promises of justice …show more content…

The "American Dream" is the notion that anybody may attain success and prosperity through hard work and effort, and Mama's desire in Hansberry's passage was to possess a home with a garden. “And maybe we could get a house with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime” (A Raisin in the Sun). This passage illustrates Mama's hope for a future in which her family owns a home. Similar to this, the speaker in Hughes' poem inquires as to what happens to a postponed dream. Following that, it says it will "fester like a sore/ And then run." Both pieces emphasize the value of having dreams and the terrible consequences of living in a society where not everyone is given the opportunity to realize

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Colin Sorvillo Dr. Verghese English 2 Honors, Period A Date: The importance of having a dream and the devastation that occurs when that dream is shattered are central themes in many works of literature. Compare and contrast the treatment of these themes in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and “The Pursuit of Happyness”.

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Now, King talks about how they have been promised things, and promised new changes in laws but it just turns into another lie and let down of the African American community. “As in so many past experiences, our hopes had been blasted, and the shadow of deep disappointment settled upon us.” (273 King). King uses this pathos in his letter to shown the men that the broken promise of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights promised another ‘broken promise’. He uses this to appeal to their emotions so they understand why he was upset and

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The setting is illustrated in Southside Chicago and shows the struggle of a black family trying to prejudices when wanting to become successfully wealthy. Between these 2 excerpts, they show that their lives are similar, but have more differences in fulfilling their American Dream. A Raisin in the Sun and The life of Fredrick Douglass have many similarities in regards to their dream. Fredrick and Walter both find their American Dream through different situations, but have meaning to them.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech had a great deal of logos and pathos appeals to persuade his audience to speak out against segregation and to give all men the rights they deserve. He often gave a clear line of reasoning supported by evidence in his speech, like when he says: “This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”... America has defaulted on this promissory note, ... given the Negro people a bad check… which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” (King para. 4)

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Dreams are a common thing in society that hold and bond people together. Hope is in many aspects of our life as well, and fuel many of the wishes Americans possess. From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's famous “I Have a Dream” speech, to Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun play, we find that accomplishing these dreams and goals is something that takes courage or passion. Throughout these two pieces of literature, equality, racism, dreams, and hope are common themes. We can find that real human beings and simple characters share the desire of freedom, and strive for better opportunities in life.

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This explains the struggles that African Americans faced at the time, and how they were treated unfairly. King wanted to start a movement for equality by giving this speech, he thought that even though slavery ended, equality was not given. One part says, “But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”

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Martin Luther King preaches in his speech about the wronging ways they have been treated for so long and what he “dreams” will happen in the time to come. From his speech, he states, “Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’” King is referring to the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” from the Constitution and Declaration of Independence about how they are not being treated as these two documents proclaim that every man should be. While Atticus states, “some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.

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He compares two things to exhibit the injustice people of color have received from America. “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds. " But we refuse to believe that the Bank of Justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice” (King 5).

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