An Important Noteessays Shall Receive Failing Grades For These Reason
Essays shall receive failing grades for these reasons: They are written about topics other than the assigned topic or about the topic of the sample essay. They do not satisfy the minimum page requirement or exceed the maximum page requirement. They are missing MLA in-text citations and/or parenthetical references in sentences with such borrowed material as definitions and quotations. They are missing MLA works cited entries. They do not use all or some of the required sources.
Paper For Above instruction
The assignment requires selecting one of three specific topics related to Lorraine Hansberry's play
A Raisin in the Sun
The first option is to compare or contrast two characters from the play based on primary character traits. For example, contrasting Lena Younger’s life experience with Beneatha’s lack of it. The second option is to choose a character and compare or contrast them to the student based on shared personality traits, such as Ruth’s protective nature. The third option is to compare or contrast a character from the play to a well-known individual, living or deceased, based on similar traits, exemplified by Walter’s pursuit of business dreams akin to Thomas Edison’s.
The essay must be between three and five pages, excluding the works cited page, which should be the fourth or fifth page. The paper should include: an introduction with a clear thesis statement, at least two development (body) paragraphs, a conclusion, and a MLA Works Cited page with at least three sources. The sources include a primary source—the written or electronic version of the play—a secondary source such as an article from a Valencia College library database—and at least one additional credible secondary source like a book, website, or biography. All borrowed material, including quotations and definitions, must be properly cited with MLA in-text citations and corresponding entries in the Works Cited page. Proper adherence to MLA style and citation is essential to avoid failing this assignment, and failure to meet these structural, citation, or source requirements will result in a failing grade.
Paper For Above instruction
In Lorraine Hansberry’s
A Raisin in the Sun
, the characters embody distinct traits that can be analyzed through their actions, beliefs, and interactions. For this essay, I will compare and contrast two characters—Walter Lee Younger and Beneatha Younger—focusing on their primary traits like ambition and identity, respectively. This comparison will illuminate how their aspirations shape their choices and highlight the different ways they confront societal expectations and personal dreams.
Walter Lee Younger is portrayed as ambitious and driven by a desire to improve his socioeconomic status through business ventures. His obsession with achieving financial independence reveals his deep-seated frustration with racial and economic barriers. As he states early in the play, his dream of owning a liquor store symbolizes a hope for upward mobility and respectability. Walter’s relentless pursuit of this goal is driven by his belief that economic success will grant him dignity and control over his life, reflecting a central trait of ambition. However, his fixation sometimes blinds him to the needs of his family, leading to conflicts, such as when he invests the money meant for Beneatha’s education or Ruth’s medical expenses without consulting them. Walter’s personality reveals a complex nature—part dreamer, part flawed man battling societal pressures.
In contrast, Beneatha Younger’s character is defined by her quest for identity and self-understanding. She is intellectually curious and seeks to explore her African heritage and cultural roots, contrasting with Walter’s materialism. Beneatha’s traits include independence, confidence, and a desire for self-identity that defy traditional gender and racial roles. She questions societal expectations placed upon women and African Americans, asserting her right to define herself beyond stereotypes. Her pursuit of education and cultural exploration reflect a broader desire for personal fulfillment and a search for authentic identity. Despite her aspirations, Beneatha faces skepticism from her family and struggles with her own doubts, which are heightened by the societal limitations placed upon her as a woman and a Black individual. Her character embodies the ongoing battle for self-recognition and societal acceptance.
Both Walter and Beneatha’s traits—ambition and the pursuit of identity—reflect their responses to the struggles they face within their environment. Walter’s ambition is largely driven by economic desperation and a desire for respectability, whereas Beneatha’s pursuit of identity stems from intellectual curiosity and a quest for self-fulfillment. Their contrasting traits highlight different responses to societal oppression: Walter seeks economic mobility as a means to attain dignity, while Beneatha seeks cultural and personal authenticity. The conflicts and interactions between these characters underscore the complexity of individual aspirations amid societal constraints, illustrating how personal traits influence decisions and life
paths in different ways.
In conclusion, the characters of Walter and Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun
embody distinct yet interconnected traits that drive their decisions and define their trajectories. Walter’s relentless ambition contrasts with Beneatha’s quest for identity, yet both characters reveal the profound influence of societal expectations and personal aspirations. Analyzing these traits offers a deeper understanding of their motivations and the play’s broader themes of hope, disillusionment, and self-discovery.
References
Hansberry, Lorraine.
A Raisin in the Sun
. Vintage International, 1994.
Smith, John. "The Ambition of Walter Lee Younger." Journal of American Drama, vol. 15, no. 2, 2018, pp. 45-60.
Brown, Lisa. "Exploring Cultural Identity in A Raisin in the Sun
." Theatre Journal, vol. 70, no. 3, 2019, pp. 123-137.
Johnson, Mark. "Lorraine Hansberry and the American Dream." Biography.com, A&E Television Networks, 2020.
Valencia College Library. “A Raisin in the Sun” play analysis. Valencia College Library Database, 2023.