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I Too Sing America Comparative Essay

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In the realm of American literature, Lorraine Hansberry’s "A Raisin in the Sun" and Langston Hughes’ "I, Too, Sing America" stand as iconic representations of African American experiences, portraying struggles, aspirations, and resilience. "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry portrays the aspirations and challenges of a black family in 1950s Chicago, while Langston Hughes’ poem "I, Too, Sing America" reflects on African Americans’s identity and their fight for equality. Through an examination of the themes of value, desire, and struggle, this paper will explore the similarities and differences between "A Raisin in the Sun" and "I, Too, Sing America," delving into how both texts illuminate the experiences of African Americans in different …show more content…

In Lorraine Hansberry’s "A Raisin in the Sun," Beneatha Younger’s determination to pursue medicine despite societal norms parallels the speaker’s desire for acknowledgment and acceptance in Langston Hughes’ poem. Beneatha’s aspiration to become a doctor symbolizes her quest for self-fulfillment and defiance of societal expectations. She articulates this desire when she passionately declares, "I want to be myself!" Hansberry, 1959, p. 125. This desire for personal agency and autonomy mirrors the speaker’s longing for acknowledgment and inclusion in Hughes’ poem. The line "They'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed—I, too, am America'' expresses the speaker’s yearning for recognition and acceptance despite facing marginalization (Hughes, 1994). Both texts employ literary techniques to convey the intensity of these desires. In "A Raisin in the Sun," Hansberry utilizes dialogue and characterization to depict Beneatha’s unwavering determination, while Hughes employs repetition and vivid imagery in his poem to amplify the speaker’s insistence on claiming their rightful place in society. The exploration of desire not only shapes the characters’ actions, but also contributes to the thematic development of each work, underscoring the enduring struggle for agency and equality within the African American

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Langston Hughes’s poem “I, Too” was written during the Harlem Renaissance, a time of booming cultural pride from African-Americans despite the suffering they had recently endured from Jim Crow - a set of local and state laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern states of America. Hughes utilizes bold syntax to express that no matter what background people come from, everyone has a place in society. He places emphasis on the fact that African-Americans are proud of their nationality by proclaiming, “I, too, sing America…I, too, am America” (Hughes 1,18). Hughes conveys that regardless of the speaker's racial background, they are still Americans, proving that they are a crucial part of society similar to everyone else. His elaborate

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The play “Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, is a powerful play that displays what it like is to have dreams deferred. Hansberry extracted her title from a well-known poem called “Harlem” by Langston Hughes. “Harlem” serves as an epigraph for the play and Hansberry’s play does an excellent job expressing the poem’s themes. The play provokes feelings of suspense and drama as we watch the character’s endeavors, only to be crushed by the very same thing that they yearn for. My analysis of the play and the poem proves that Hansberry’s play was able to capture and manifest the themes of the poem

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Throughout the novel “A raisin in the sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha Younger stands out the most amongst the Younger family, described as a 20 year old college student who one day dreams of becoming a doctor, Beneatha carries herself adequately regardless of what her family’s financial status is. When Beneatha was first introduced to the audience; she comes across as an ungrateful, self-centered person who does not seem to realize or appreciate the sacrifices that her family makes in order for her to obtain an education that will suit her future career of becoming a doctor. Beneatha by far is the most privileged person in the Younger house hold, as well as having the highest education. Beneatha may sometimes be described as a very obnoxious, outspoken young woman, as well as self-centered.

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Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet—if I ever get married.” (Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun, 50; Act 1, Scene 1). In this quote, Beneatha states her priorities and aspirations to become a doctor. Beneatha is not afraid to reject traditional societal expectations, like getting married, and thrive as an independent.

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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.

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Introduction Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” led a great quest for the Younger household. Raisin is set in subsidized housing in Southside Chicago, in which three Black female relatives live and interact with their brother, husband, and son Walter. African Americans were frowned upon before the writing of “A Raisin in the Sun”. However, it her notorious story provided individuals of multiple races new hope for life. In 2006, Diana Adesola Mafe provided the world with her opinion of “A Raisin in the Sun”.

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