Dreams Deferred In A Raisin In The Sun

In White America, the 1950s were known as the ‘Happy Days’. Gas was only twenty-three cents, Elvis was on the rise, poodle skirts were in style, and the average family income was just thirty-two thousand a year (Staff). The 50s were known as the “booming decade” due to the economy booming, the booming suburbs and it being the “baby-boom” era. The baby boom and suburban boom went hand in hand. Since rates of unemployment and inflation were low, and wages were high, middle-class people had more money to spend than ever (Staff). In addition, after World War II ended, many Americans were more than ecstatic to breed children because they thought America only had room for peace and prosperity. History.com declared those Americans right. On the contrary,

For poor African-Americans who lacked education, subservient positions were the only options for work. Lena and Ruth are domestic workers and Walter Lee is a chauffeur (Characters Dreams Deferred in Raisin In The Sun). Beneatha, however, tries to avoid the box that African Americans are placed in by attending school and having aspirations of becoming a doctor. She uses Mama and Ruth as examples of what she doesn’t want to settle for and be. Beneatha’s character pulls in the issue of gender roles and feminism, two things that were big issues in the 50s. While everyone asked why she couldn’t settle for being a nurse, she refused to have her dreams put on hold because it wasn’t normal for a female to be a doctor. When her dreams were being looked down upon, she fell in love with an African man who encouraged her aspirations. Feminism was symbolized by Beneatha at a time where women were only seen as domestically and housewives. Feminism had a voice that was Beneatha. Gender roles played a huge part within the play because even though Beneatha, Mama and Ruth were all strong black women, they looked to Walter Lee as the man of the household which he