A Raisin in the sun & The American Dream

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he wants to be rich ● ● ● Often fights and argues -> with his family ● Wants to Improve the familys lives Charlie Etkins is his role model -> because he opened a successful store ● ● GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MAMA" (LENA YOUNGER) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Mother of Beneatha & Walter The female Head of the family A sensitive mother Stands up for her beliefs Strong woman Religious (beliefs in God) Dreams are more important to her than material wealth Caring and nurturing GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT BENEATHA YOUNGER ● ● ● ● ● ● An attractive college girl Young and independent Prides herselfon being independent Searches for her identity Intellectual and well-educated Does not share the sam religious beliefs as her mother She wants a man to appreciate her intelligence more than her beauty Dates two different men Is the happiest with Asagai Is the most depressed and angry with George GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT RUTH YOUNGER ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Hard worker Takes care of the tiny apartment Frustrated about living in poverty Pretty Loves her husband walter & her son Travis Kind, sometimes aggressive Good with everybody Pregnant since two months BIGGEST DREAM Walter: he wants to open a liquor Store with his friends (Bobo & Willy) Lena ,,Mama": she wants to have a house with Garden for the whole familly Beneatha: she wants to be a doctor ● Ruth: she wants a better future for her family to see them happy ● • Walter: ● Ruth: ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERS Impulsive; short tempered; unreliable; caring; distant; insistend; indolent; proud Kind; gentle; caring; faithful; subbron; beautiful; honest; easy to get along with ● Lena: • Beneatha: ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERS ● Modest; reliable; humble; tactful; cautious; considerate; outgoing; generous Confident; independent; stubborn; educated; proud; goal-oriented; self-centered; a little arrogant ,,SMALL" CHARACTERS Joseph Asagai ● ● ● ● ● He is a College student Intelligent Is from Nigeria Is proud on his African heritage Tries to teach Beneatha about her heritage Loves Beneatha -> hopes for a future together -> makes her a marriage proposal Beneatha's amirer Opposite of George George Murchison ● ● ● ● ● A Rich man Shallow Educated Wealthy Constantly making literary allusions -> Beneatha reject him Beneatha's second amirer Travis Younger ● Brave and young boy He goes to Primary school Strong relationship to Lena (his grandmother) ● Karl Lindner Seems nice and polite at first Says he represents a ,,welcoming comitee" -> from the neighborhood where the Youngers planning to move Wants to resolve the ,,Problem" of the black family -> he captivates the family with Money -> so they don't move into the White area" ● ● ● "" He is the only white people/ figure in ,,a raisin in the sun" Mrs Johnson Neighbor of the family Younger Willy Harris Walter's friend Run off with all the money for the liquor store -> swindles Walter and Bobo Bobo ● Walter's friend Tells Walter that Willy has run off with all the money The Drama is divide into: ● ● ● Act I, scene 1: Exposition Act I, Scene 2: rising action Act II, scene 1: rising action Act II, scene 2: climax & falling action Act II, scene 3: turning point/ crisis -> again rising action Act III: falling action/ Dénouement STRUCTURE CONTENS ● ● ● ● ● Exposition: Rising action: Climax/ falling action: Turning point/ Crisis -> rising action: Falling action/ Dénouement: INTERPRETATION CONNECTION TO THE AMERICAN DREAM WHAT WAS THE AMERICAN DREAM IN ,,A RAISIN IN THE SUN?" ● In the `50s was close to materialism -> Walter's American Dream is no longer to become wealthy, but become a men and help his family -> He refuses the money Mr. Lindner offers his family to not move into the new neighborhood -> Focuses on supporting each other through rough times and learning to love In the end, they achieve their American dream despite the colour of their skin Alli THE AMERICAN DREAM THE AMERICAN DREAM DEFINITION ● ● There is no universal definition of what the American Dream is actually is, it varies for each American The basic idea: anyone can achieve anything if they work hard and passionately, anybody can go"from rages to riches" -> inspiration and motivation for Americans to improve themselves and get on in life -> often unrealistic expectations are created HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ● ● ● America was built/ is built on immigration They had permissions as God Is chosen ones: Americans have the right to guide the whole world and to overspread it completely The idea of the American meritocracy, based on the divine blessing of the people, became the national mindeset HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Delecration of Independence The epic of America I have a dream ● ● ● ● First idea: "Delecration of Independence" from Thomas Jefferson in 1776 -> 13 colonies broke away from Great Britain = oneself determine -> 4th July " All men are equal; they have right to live liberty and the pursuit of happiness" "The epic of America" is a book written by James Truslow Adams in 1931 -> "the American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone" "I have a dream" is a speech by Martin Luther King on 28th August 1963 He shares his vision for a more equal society ● AMERICAN DREAM THEN hope for a better life religious freedom important to finish school and get a good paid job kids learn how to be successful men got a good paid job women's dream: getting married and have children Similarities: ● ● ● freedom better life opportunities family higher education equal rights ● ● ● ● ● ● AMERICAN DREAM NOW both parents go to work material things a good job good education health care more money to spend on extra things critical view CRITICISM ● ● ● ● ● "It's called the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it" - George Carlin big gap between poor and rich racism, discrimination, corruption, poverty still present only accessible for a minority harmful for the environment wasteful consumers materialistic (big house, expensive cars...) wealth does not equal happiness ● ● CONCLUSION American Dream promises happiness and glory to those who work hard gap between rich and poor is increasing tied to money and prosperity American Dream has changed in many ways, time and people have changed (different view on American Dream)