Response to the play “A Raisin in the Sun” Act I

Response to the play “A Raisin in the Sun” Act I

Which of the characters does the play encourage us to view negatively? Why and how so? (1180)

1. Beneatha.

2. I don’t know how the play will go in Act II and Act III, but from Act I, she is manipulating her mom, Lena. By saying “I’m just tired of hearing about God all the time. What has He got to do with anything? Does He pay tuition” (1472)? she is making sure that her pious mom will pay her tuition to medical school. She knows her mom too well that she knows her mom will prove to her that God is getting credit for doing something.

Also, she is already twenty years old. Instead of finding a part time job to support herself, she is taking all kinds of unnecessary courses and buying the expensive equipment without committing to complete what she started. For example, the guitar lessons, the play-acting group, the horseback-riding club, and photography, just so she can “express” herself. (1471) She is selfish as her brother Walter said, “I don’t want nothing but for you to stop acting holy ‘round here. Me and Ruth done made some sacrifices for you---why can’t you do something for the family” (1465)? She will be better off expressing herself by getting a job.

Read the first scene or the first few pages and then stop. What potential for conflict do you see here? What do you expect to happen in the rest of the play? (1182)

Walter is a man who loves his wife, Ruth, and their 10-year-old son, Travis. He noticed there was something wrong with his wife by asking “what’s the matter with you this morning?” twice on page 1459. I expect something related to Ruth will happen soon.

Walter gave one dollar, which is all he had for carfare that day (1466) to Travis (1462), so Travis can turn 50 cents in to school. This proves that Walter tries his best to provide the kid’s needs.

On the other hand, he is too egotistical chasing his dream and struggling with his inability to open a liquor store.

The Youngers is a lovely family. We can see as how Ruth mocking the words she thinks her son, Travis, would say on page 1461 after she told him that she has no 50 cents for him to bring to school. She tries hard to make Travis happy. They are poor, but Ruth is teaching Travis positive attitude. The conflict I see will be about dignity and money in this play.

What patterns do you notice regarding where and when things happen? Are there significant deviations? (1184)

Most things happen in 1959 in a two bedroom apartment with a common bathroom that Big Walter had rented on south side of Chicago. The pattern is that all members in the Youngers are struggling to attain their dreams.

The $10,000 insurance money from Big Walter’s death that Lena received is a significant deviation for the Younger family. Only Ruth remain unchanged. She does not turn greedy as the rest of the family. She wants her mother-in-law to keep the money for herself, but not the other family members who all want their share which does not belong to them.

What types of irony, if any, are at work in the play? What is the effect of the irony? (1186)

Mama, Lena, said, “Once upon a time freedom used to be life---now it’s money. I guess the world really do change…” (1483). She also said that “if it wasn’t for you all… I would just put that money away or give it to the church or something” (1481).

The irony part is that if Mama had her way, she would donate the money instead of causing a family feud. The effect of the irony is Mama has to make her choice. A choice not only to fulfill her own dream but also satisfy the greed of the rest of the family, and keep the family together.