ipl-logo

Generational Differences In A Raisin In The Sun

550 Words3 Pages

Generating Differences Between Generations Generational differences are prevalent as they are present with all generations. In the play A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, generational differences emerge as one of the significant motifs throughout the plot. Generational differences appear during the play numerous times to describe the differences in beliefs between generations. Specifically, Hansberry addresses the issue of generational differences between Benny and Mama.
Mama’s style of life was tremendously different from Benny in many ways, as she has an old school mentality. For example Mama believes that the world revolves around God as He decides everyones faith. Mama’s remarks describe her beliefs the best as she says to …show more content…

Benny did not like the idea of god getting credit for everything humans achieve as she was totally against believing in god. Benny religious beliefs are exemplified with this quote “I don’t believe in God. I don’t even think about it. It’s just that I get so tired of Him getting credit for all the things the human race achieves through its own stubborn effort” (51). What Benny is saying in other words, is that she is against believing in god and is unhappy how god is credited for all of man's achievements. Benny’s family values were also little to nonexistent. As a result Benny did not carry any sentimental emotions when it came to her family. Instead Benny felt more rage towards her family as she said to Mama about Walter “ He’s no brother of mine” (145). Furthermore Benny goes on to say “There is nothing else to love” when Mama says “I taught you to love” Walter (145). In these quotes it is clear that Benny doesn't have any feeling for Walter because she doesn't even think of him as a brother (145). Benny had a mind of a liberal, as she presumably thought in a unorthodox way.
In conclusion, throughout life, generational differences are common between all generations. However Lorraine Hansberry the author of A Raisin In The Sun put an emphasis on describing the motif of generational differences. Hansberry specifically uses generational differences to show the difference in thoughts and ideas

Show More
Related

Compare And Contrast The Movie A Raisin In The Sun

1449 Words | 6 Pages

The play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry debuted on Broadway in 1959, and the movie was made in 2008. “A Raisin in the Sun” is about the Younger family, the fifth generation of lower-class African-Americans living in Chicago’s Southside. They are faced with problems such as racial discrimination, poverty, and conflicting dreams. As the family decides on how to spend the insurance check of $10,000 from Walter’s father’s death, these problems cause many conflicts to rise. Reading the 1959 play and the 2008 movie, I have realized certain similarities and differences in how the story plays out.

Read More

Resilience In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

587 Words | 3 Pages

“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.” the wise Greg Kincaid says. This explains resilience and that you can overcome bad situations with hard work and perseverance. In A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, this kind of resilience connects with Beneatha Younger.

Read More

Examples Of Heroism In A Raisin In The Sun

1130 Words | 5 Pages

This shows that he thinks of himself and his white neighbors as separate from the Younger’s and shows racism, which will affect the family if they move. At this moment, everything about them moving to Clybourne Park is given a negative point of view from both Mr. Lindner and Mrs. Johnson; leaving the family in a ponder. Following this, their final aspiration to what they were lastly holding onto is blown when Bobo tells the family that their entire savings is gone and Willy Harris has stolen it. The family is left in a state of weakness and deficiency; the family is devastated and starts to fall apart. When the family start to fall apart, Mama will still be the one to pull everyone back together because she is the backbone of the family.

Read More

Decisions In A Raisin In The Sun

973 Words | 4 Pages

Mama made a decision that put Walter in charge of the remaining money, however she did not know that this decision might not have been the best for the Younger family. Walter was hesitant in taking the money, but Mama reassures Walter by saying, "I ain't ever stop trusting you" (Hansberry 546). This line from Mama foreshadows the possibility that Walter will not obey her and do something foolish with the money. Walter proves this foreshadowing as he is talking to Travis and says, "... your daddy's gonna make a transaction... a business transaction that's going to change our lives" (Hansberry 547).

Read More

Theme Of Selfishness In A Raisin In The Sun

811 Words | 4 Pages

In the text “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, the author uses the writing strategy of conflict to develop the central idea of how oneself can become selfish when trying to achieve the American dream. The text shows that the central idea is selfishness because circumstances are presented where various characters fail to take into consideration others while seeking their dreams. For example, Walters says, “ Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ’bout messing round with sick people, then go be a nurse like other women-or just get married and be quiet…. ’’. This example of greed shows that the ambition to obtain a dream brings out the selfishness is true in the instance of Walter.

Read More

Raisin In The Sun Character Analysis

1500 Words | 6 Pages

This shows the family such as Mama and Ruth that they can’t trust Walter with anything now because he lost all of the portion of the money. He is looked down upon for not becoming the “Man” of the house and taking full responsibility when he is supposed to. Another traditional gender role that I see Hansberry challenging is Beneatha in the middle of the book. Beneatha explains how she has started taking guitar lessons Mama and Ruth laugh out loud making fun of her and asking why she wants to play the guitar. All of sudden she gets upset when Mama and Ruth don’t take it seriously “How come you done taken it in your mind to learn to play the guitar?”

Read More

Belonging In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

921 Words | 4 Pages

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun follows the struggles of an African American family living in a neighborhood in 1950s South Side Chicago. The play discusses several issues pertaining to African Americans of the time, such as poverty and discrimination. One of the major themes of the story is the search for a sense of belonging; whether that’s a sense of belonging to the continent of Africa, a neighborhood in Chicago, or on a personal level within the Younger family. The play explores this theme through its characters Beneatha, Mama and Walter.

Read More

A Raisin In The Sun American Dream Essay

699 Words | 3 Pages

( Hansberry 143) Walter’s belief is that people have learned to

Read More

Raisin In The Sun Moral Analysis

861 Words | 4 Pages

Walter states that the Youngers are a calm, good family who “don’t want to make no trouble for nobody,” and are not looking to stir up trouble. All they intend to be is hard working, peaceful “good neighbors” and that give them every right to live in Clybourne Park. Afterwards, Mama, talking to Ruth about Walter, states that, “he finally come into his manhood today,” (151). Walter made his family proud and after much struggle they feel that he has matured. For Mama proudly exclaims that Walter “come into his manhood” by doing the morally right thing “finally.”

Read More

Hardships In A Raisin In The Sun

1127 Words | 5 Pages

Hardships of the Youngers In Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun, the characters of Mama, Walter ,and Beneatha are faced with hardships associated with their dreams being destroyed by discriminatory housing,racial inequality and lack of support from her family towards her education. In the play all the characters have some kind of dream. Mama wants to get a house for the family, Walter wants to have money to provide for his family and plans to do that with a liquor store, and Beneatha wants to become a doctor. Beneatha is going to school and at the same time she’s trying to discover herself,but her family is not supportive of this.

Read More

A Raisin In The Sun Theme Essay

916 Words | 4 Pages

The world stereotypes rich people as rude, stuck up and selfish. Ever wonder why? Studies from Yale, The New York Times, TED and more have concluded, money changes everything. Whether it’s attitude, morals or values, money can affect and change all aspects of someone’s life. The play, A Raisin in the Sun, has a theme showing this claim clearly.

Read More

The Importance Of Family In A Raisin In The Sun

963 Words | 4 Pages

Family is important to everyone in some way because family sticks together no matter what. The play A Raisin in the Sun is about a black family named the Youngers and the hardships they face together as a family. In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Ruth Younger is motivated by her family. This is shown by Ruth wanting to make her family happy, her working even though she is tired, and later when Ruth finds out there is going to be another mouth to feed. Ruth Younger is constantly worrying about her family’s well being and happiness for them.

Read More

Examples Of Family Relationships In A Raisin In The Sun

795 Words | 4 Pages

Raisin in the Sun Book Report     Being in close relations with family member definitely has its ups and downs. There is nothing easy about being in a close relationship with family, but to many family is the most important relationship in their lives. In the story “A Raisin in the Sun” there are many great examples of importance in family relationship just from the way they treat each other and the conversations they have. In the story, Lena Younger, Ruth Younger and Walter Younger all make it very obvious how important family relationships are. Lena Younger (Mama) is the head of the family.

Read More

Social Issues In A Raisin In The Sun

816 Words | 4 Pages

A Raisin in the Sun addresses major social issues such as racism and feminism which were common in the twentieth century. The author, Lorraine Hansberry, was the first playwright to produce a play that portrayed problematic social issues. Racism and gender equality are heavily addressed throughout the play. Even though we still have these issues today, in the 1950’s and 60’s the issues had a greater part in society. Racism and gender have always been an issue in society, A Raisin in the Sun is an important piece of American history during that time period.

Read More

Gender Roles In A Raisin In The Sun

845 Words | 4 Pages

Just within the recent decades, men and women started to fight against the gender stereotypes and started to challenge their roles in a family and in the society. The play, A Raisin in the Sun, portrays the lives of African–Americans during the 1950s. Lorraine Hansberry, a writer and a social activist, reinforced the traditional gender roles, especially female’s, by depicting how the Youngers interact and how they act in an economical struggle. Throughout the play, A Raisin in the Sun, she uses Walter Lee Younger, Ruth Younger and Lena Younger to reinforce the traditional role of fathers, wives and mothers within a family.

Read More

More about Generational Differences In A Raisin In The Sun

Related Topics

Open Document