3-26-08

English Essay
1. How does the idea of assimilationism become important?
2. Discuss the title of the play. How does it relate to the dreams of each of the characters?
3. Think about the role of money in the play. How does it affect different characters?


In the past, we were instructed to read and watch the ever so popular “a raisin in the sun”. This heartbreaking movie was one of the most meaningful movies I have ever seen. Unlike most movies, this one had a meaning, It told a story. It spoke upon such issues as money, pregnancy, racism, and even religion. If you were to have never seen this movie, the title really does it justice.

Usually the phrase that people live by is “you can not judge a book by it’s cover.” Actually this one you can. What does a raisin in the sun mean to you? To me it’s the drying out of someone’s goals and dreams all for something that probably was not even worth it. Many people fail to think beyond the means of the words and the meanings in the dictionaries.

The title of the story really connects to the dreams of most of the characters. All did not go to well for everyone in the family. For example, Walter had this outrageous dream of becoming owner of a liquor store. He tried to make money by any means necessary. Even if it meant degrading himself by being “the best trained monkey you’ve ever seen” show furring snotty Caucasians around all day. His mother finally gave him the money, until she found out what it was for then just like the title his dream became a raisin in the sun.

Money was one of the greatest issues in this play. It caused a lot of destruction but in the end turned out to work just fine. Everybody had a plan for the check that Lena was going to receive including her. Now as you know everyone could not have their way with this so some feelings were going to get hurt. I believe the money was most important to Ruth because she was a stay at home wife with a son and a child on the way however it was not her money to spend. After Lena decided to move into the dream house that she always wanted, the situation became less complicated.

In conclusion, this story went through a lot of the same problems that many people of today go through and not just colored people. Everyone in the world of today’s society has a problem. There were no such things as perfect families back then and there are no perfect families now. Money, pregnancy, racism, and even religion is still a problem even until today so a raisin in the sun is not just a successful play, it's also our lives.