Week 14

"A Raisin in the Sun"

     This drama's setting was during the 1950's.  It is about a poor black extended family that all live in this very small apartment.  The Younger family consist of the mama (Lena), her son Walter, her daughter Beneatha, Walter's wife Ruth, and their son Travis.  Each one of these family members have their own personal dream they are trying to achieve.  They have just come into ten thousand dollars because Lena's husband just died and everyone wants the money.

     Walter is a man who works as a chauffeur for a white man and hates his job.  He is always coming up with these get rich quick plans.  He wants his mother to give him all the money to invest into a liquor store with two of his friends.  Mama doesn't agree with this and doesn't want to give him the money.  She and her husband had always dreamed of owning their own house and that is what she wants to do.  Her daughter is going to college to become a doctor and she plans on putting some money towards her education.  Walter's wife finds out that she is pregnant and thinks about aborting the baby because they don't have the money to take care of another baby, plus the apartment is already too small for everyone. Mama does not agree with this.

     When the money comes Mama takes some of the money and puts a deposit on a house in a white neighborhood.  When she tells the family Ruth is extremely happy, but this crushes Walter.  Mama finally agrees to give Walter the rest of the money after he puts three thousand in the bank for his sister's education.  The climax is when Walter doesn't listen and gives the money to his friend Willy for the investment, but come to find out Willy takes off with the money.  During this time a man from the white neighborhood's committee comes and tries to buy them out of their house because they don't want black people in their neighborhood.  Walter decides to talk to the man about excepting the money, but this upsets the rest of the family because this family has always been a proud family until now.  Mama and her husband has always worked so hard to raise their children to be strong, proud people even though they didn't have much.  They survived just like Mama's plant she has that doesn't get enough sunlight.  When the man gets to the house Walter decides to not except the money and let someone run them out of their home.  His mama and wife are very happy of the choice he made. Mama says "He finally come into his manhood today".

     I couldn't get the movie but I finally found the written version and I have to say I really enjoyed reading this.  Lena is like most mother's who give up their dreams to fulfill their children's.  She spent her life teaching her children how to always love people even when they make mistakes because that's when they need you the most.  Also we as parents have to let our children try at life even when we think they are making the wrong decision, because this is how they learn and grow.