"A Raisin in the Sun". Is working hard enough to achieve one's American Dream?

Kathrin Unglaub

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Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Duisburg-Essen, course: ...

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Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Duisburg-Essen, course: A Survey of American Literature, language: English, abstract: This term paper deals with the play "A Raisin in the Sun" and how the concept of the American Dream appears in the play. It will be discussed if working hard is enough to reach one's American Dream. The play is written by Lorraine Hansberry and published in 1958. It takes place in the south of Chicago where the Younger family lives and consists of five people from three different generations. Head of the family is Lena, who is mostly called Mama, right after her we got her son Walter Lee, who will be presented in the main part of this term paper. Besides, there is Walter's wife Ruth and their son Travis. The last member of the Youngers is Walter's sister Beneatha. Mama embodies the first generation and is quite traditional. Ruth, Walter and "Bennie" represent the second generation, whereas Travis is the only child in the third generation. The family has been living in America in the fifth generation and has got African roots. It can be said though that Walter, Bennie, Ruth and Travis are less traditional than Mama and identify with the American way of life. The whole family shares a small apartment in a ghetto and living together is difficult as everybody has got his or her own desire, Dream and point of view about certain topics. Especially Walter Lee expects a lot from life and the reader sympathizes with him. Misunderstood by his family Walter wants to live a better life and represents the concept of the American Dream of a person wanting to "rise from rags to riches". Walter dreams of an office job and really dislikes being a chauffeur for a white person. He wants his son to go to the best schools and to get the best education as possible. Furthermore, he also wants to spoil his wife and get himself a nice car. But why does he fail? Why does nobody in his family support his idea of raising an own business, namely opening a liquor store? Beneatha is not even surprised about Walter's failure. These questions shall be answered in the main part of this paper. Moreover, I quickly want to present the concept of the American Dream, especially focusing on the Dream of "Upward Mobility".