A Raisin in the Sun Argumentative Essay

A Raisin in the Sun

Every family has an important object, like a necklace, a vase or a well-known picture. In the Younger family, the most important thing is an ordinary plant. But, this ordinary plant is extraordinary in Walter's family, it represents the strength, the hope and dream, and Mama's nurture to the plant. As Mama nurtures the plant, it represents Mama's care for the plant and the family.

First, the plant represents strength. It struggles with the poor environment. It is weak, but resilient. It does not have enough sunshine, but still survives. Similarly, the department barely gets any sunlight at all. "The sole natural light the family may enjoy in the course of a day is only that which fights its way through this little window." (Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun, P487) There is no doubt that black people are in a low class during the Great Depression. They live in poverty and struggle with the society. In this play, each character must overcome the bad living condition and the prejudice from the society. "Mama – sometimes when I’m downtown and I pass them cool-quiet-looking restaurants where them white boys are sitting back and talking ‘bout things…sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars…sometimes I see guys don’t look much older than me-" (Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun,P522) Walter feels unfair because of the fact that men of the same age as him have more chances in the world because of their race. But he is helpless. Things he can do is struggling with the fact and making a living. When it turns to Beneatha, she seems more confident. For example, George is well-educated and wealthy, Beneatha still does not like him. However, Beneatha is planning to be a doctor, and does not depend on "marrying well" for her financial security. In order to achieve her dream, she needs to struggle with the public opinion since people's thought -- women, especially black women, cannot become a doctor. As for Mama and Ruth, they are supposed to be as beautiful as the white women. However, they need to do a lot of hard work and support the family. Hopefully, they are so optimistic that they live every day simply: Making a breakfast for her husband, getting a basket of fresh fruit... Just like the poor plant, they all have strong minds and strong personalities.

In addition, the plant is strong because it represents dream and hope. In the poor condition, Walters' dreams become dried up like a raisin in the sun. Not just dreams are dried up, their relationship also dried up. Many quarrels are caused by the money. It's obvious that the plant still alive in the bad condition. Moreover, the family members and the plant are sometimes common. They have to concentrate all of their energies on surviving and realizing their dreams. First, it reflects Mama's dream -- She wants a house with a garden. Her plant and her dream are both important for her. Mama