Raisin In The Sun Analytical Essay
The black aesthetic is a term that was used describe the artistic works of black people which reflects the unique characteristics of the black experience. Hansberry popular play A Raisin in the Sun did just that. The play portrays the life of the typical 1950's black family in Chicago, Illinois. Yes, there were many things that made the younger family unique. But many of the trials and tribulations they faced in the play were the same struggles many blacks faced during this time. I believe that universal theme in the play was the recognition and trying to accomplish ones dreams. Not to only have a better life for themselves but to also create change to benefit their family's future generations.
In Act one of the play, we are introduced to the Younger family. We had had Lena Younger, who was the family matriarch. Still grieving from recent loss of her husband, she continues …show more content…
to hold on to her lifelong dreams in reach. Then you had Walter Younger, the son of Lena, Brother of Beneatha, Husband of Ruth, and father of Travis. He represents the typical African American Man in the 1950's. He works hard to provide for his family, but with all his hard work, it never enough. The character of Beneatha represented a minority in 1950's women. She was an ambitious college student who had dreams of being a doctor. She prided herself on being an independent, hard working woman who could do anything she could put her mind to. Unfortunately, she tended to look down upon the domestic workers and share cropper whose struggle made it possible for her to be a doctor. When reading the play, you get the sense of the types of people Hansberry was describing. The character's attitudes and behaviors reflect the typical 1950's black experience in America. James T.
Stewart's essay "The Development of the Black Revolutionary Artist" attempts to combat the existing white models that do not correspond to the realities of black existence. Black artists must create their own models to reflect their misrepresented black identity in America. Under the black aesthetic model, what was considered valuable was not a tangible object. Within the black aesthetic, what is considered valuable has the potential to create change for the good of the black community. Within the play, Hansberry gives the characters the opportunity to attain something valuable. The younger family are the decedents of sharecroppers and slaves. They were very proud people. They worked domestic jobs to take care of their family. The thing they didn’t have was something they could call their own. Within this play, the idea of property ownership is valuable. It makes Mama feel like she is finally moving up in life. She would have something she could call her own that could effect change for the future of her family. When she was describing the house to Walter in scene 2 Act 1, she
states
In Act one of the play, we are introduced to the Younger family. We had had Lena Younger, who was the family matriarch. Still grieving from recent loss of her husband, she continues …show more content…
to hold on to her lifelong dreams in reach. Then you had Walter Younger, the son of Lena, Brother of Beneatha, Husband of Ruth, and father of Travis. He represents the typical African American Man in the 1950's. He works hard to provide for his family, but with all his hard work, it never enough. The character of Beneatha represented a minority in 1950's women. She was an ambitious college student who had dreams of being a doctor. She prided herself on being an independent, hard working woman who could do anything she could put her mind to. Unfortunately, she tended to look down upon the domestic workers and share cropper whose struggle made it possible for her to be a doctor. When reading the play, you get the sense of the types of people Hansberry was describing. The character's attitudes and behaviors reflect the typical 1950's black experience in America. James T.
Stewart's essay "The Development of the Black Revolutionary Artist" attempts to combat the existing white models that do not correspond to the realities of black existence. Black artists must create their own models to reflect their misrepresented black identity in America. Under the black aesthetic model, what was considered valuable was not a tangible object. Within the black aesthetic, what is considered valuable has the potential to create change for the good of the black community. Within the play, Hansberry gives the characters the opportunity to attain something valuable. The younger family are the decedents of sharecroppers and slaves. They were very proud people. They worked domestic jobs to take care of their family. The thing they didn’t have was something they could call their own. Within this play, the idea of property ownership is valuable. It makes Mama feel like she is finally moving up in life. She would have something she could call her own that could effect change for the future of her family. When she was describing the house to Walter in scene 2 Act 1, she
states