In the first few pages of this play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, we are introduced to all of the main characters. In addition, we see all the different personalities and how they begin to play into the storyline early on. First, we have Mama, who runs the house and is mother to both Walter and Beneatha. She may be old, but she still has the biggest influence on the things that happen in the Younger household because of her strong-willed nature and the fact that she will soon receive a ten thousand dollar insurance check. Then, we have Walter and Beneatha. They each have their own dreams for the future, but neither has the funds at the moment, so they are both hoping for help from Mama. These characters also demonstrate the difficulty of being black during this time period- Beneatha also being a woman. Walter has a job he despises as a chauffeur, and Beneatha is desperately wishes to become a doctor. Ruth illustrates for us the typical housewife. A dutiful wife, she too wonders if they are ever meant for something greater, and how her and her husband, Walter, came to be so distant. One of the first sentences in the play, not even a part of the dialogue, demonstrates this: "Life has been little what she expected, and disappointment has already begun to hang in her face," (Hansberry 436).
As we dive into the play, I'm sure we will learn more and more about these characters, and the way that their lives are about to change for the better.
No comments:
Post a Comment