Similarities Between The Great Gatsby And A Raisin In The Sun

Relationships are a central theme that drives the plot forward in both A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. A Raisin in the Sun demonstrates the theme of family relationships through the interactions of almost every character. The relationships in The Great Gatsby are also important to the plot, however, the lifestyles of the wealthy elite seem to complicate these relationships. Both works also focus on another relationship, that is the relationship with money. The Younger family in A Raisin in the Sun are poor working-class people who dream of escaping the lower-class lifestyle, whereas Jay Gatsby, in The Great Gatsby, is a wealthy socialite who is dreaming of a life with a woman who knew him

The play follows the Younger family as they try to fulfill their dreams and escape poverty. The relationship between Mama and her children, Walter Lee and Beneatha, is a focal point of the play. Mama is a matriarchal figure who wants what is best for her family. She is very loving and nurturing towards her children. She also acts as a mediator between Walter and Beneatha, who often have conflicting views. As Mama says, “Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain’t through learning – because that ain’t the time at all. It’s when he’s at his lowest and can’t believe in hisself ‘cause the world done whipped him so!” (Hansberry 145). This quote highlights Mama’s unconditional love for her son, even when he is at his lowest point. Author William Murray writes on Mama’s relationship with her family, “Throughout the play, Mama demonstrates a pride in her family’s legacy of survival and dignity, and she works to share this view of the past with her children.” (Murray 278). Her unwavering loyalty to her family is an example of the importance of family relationships in A Raisin in the Sun. Another relationship highlighted in the play is that between Walter Lee and his family. Following the death of his father, Walter Lee is now the man of the house, not only to his wife and son, but also to his mother and sister, as they live in a multi-generational home. Faced with an internal conflict between choosing to chase his dreams of owning a liquor store or to move his family into a larger home, Walter Lee faces challenges in his family relationships. Ultimately, Walter Lee betrays his family and spends their money on his dreams, which in turn leaves the family with no inheritance, as the person he invested with runs off with the money. Rightfully so, the family is hurt and feel a sense of