Struggle As In “A Raisin In The Sun” Essay, Research Paper
Many people are born into poverty, along with a society of ridicule and discrimination, in which people must encounter in order to overcome these struggles and accomplish their goals. In Lorraine Hansberry s A Raisin in the Sun, the Younger family face numerous situations and dilemmas that obstruct their path to a better life and future. They struggle in obtaining money, finding their identity, and dealing with a prejudice society. Though, these conflicts only increase their pride, esteem and dignity throughout the drama. Little sunlight enters the tenement of the Youngers who live in south side Chicago, in a place of poverty and poor communities. Their scarcity of money and short income places them into an affordable apartment with two rooms, shared among five members, and one bathroom for all the occupants of the building. Lena Younger, more widely known as mama, achieves her dream of buying a house and immediately puts thirty-five thousand dollars down on a new house and sixty-five thousand into Walter s care. All hope is lost when Walter loses the money and the family ends up back to where they started, with nothing. Though the money is lost, this lifetime dream of Mama and Ruth s is not destroyed. They keep their pride and dignity and contribute to sacrificing their time into working endless hours to keep the house. Ruth says, Lena I ll work I ll work twenty hours a day in all the kitchens in Chicago I ll strap my baby on my back if I have to scrub all the floors in America and wash all the sheets in America if I have to but we got to move (Hansberry 112). Through the struggle of poverty, one can still achieve success by keeping their pride and confronting the problem. Walter often struggles with his identity and individuality as a person. He feels as if an empty life lies ahead of him with no future. He states, Sometimes I can see the future stretched out in front of me just plain as day. The future, Mama. Hanging over there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me a big, looming blank space full of nothing. (Hansberry 54). Walter encounters his problem and comes up with an idea of opening up his own business, to get control over his life, and puts up all his effort to achieve it. Even though his goal is not achieved, Walter still succeeded in his mental spirit and received a change of attitude near the end of the play.
Another obstacle that faces the Youngers is a severe and harsh circumstance of racism and discrimination. Mr. Lindner, a community representative for Clyborne Park, and the residents of the community feel that black families and white families wouldn t be suitable for living together in the same neighborhood. It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our negro families are happier when they live in their own communities, (Hansberry 90) says Mr. Lidner. The Youngers reaction towards this is in a calm manner, with their dignity still at hand. The family pulls through, disregards the racism and moves into the new house nonetheless. We have all thought about your offer and we have decided to move into our house because my father my father he earned it. (Hansberry 121). In conclusion, one can just about achieve the impossible of dreams as long as they stick to their decision and confront the struggles involved. The Youngers were a family of little material possesions, but what they did have, dignity, counted the most. Life may be rough, cruel and difficult, but as long as one pulls through, the troubles are reduced greatly.