Problems In A Raisin In The Sun

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OUTLINE
* Introduction
* The main determinants of a stable country
* The author of the play
* The economic, social and economic issues are the predominant themes that the family presents throughout the play and describes the difficult situations the family members encounter.
* The common themes portrayed throughout the play
A.Economic issues in the play
1 Poor living standards
* The kind of furniture they use
* The sharing of bathrooms
2 The economic crisis experienced in the family
* The inadequacy to provide for the family.
* The struggle to provide for the family
3 The desperate need for a better financial status
* The fight for insurance money
* The inability to take Beneatha to a good school
* Encouraging Beneatha to marry George for his money.
B. Social issues
1.Good relationships
1 The relationship between neighbors
b. The relationship between Mama and Beneatha
c. The relationship between Walter and Ruth
2.The quality of education
a. A better school for Travis
3. The place of women in the society
a. Gender roles
b. The ability of men to make all decisions
4. Abortion
a. Ruth procures an abortion
5. Racism
a. The odd jobs performed by the blacks
b. The kind of salary the blacks get
C. Political issues
1. The safety of citizens
a. The blast reported
2. Equal rights
a. The whites have better opportunities compared to whites
III.Conclusion
* The role of society in gender roles
1 The distribution of roles
2 The solution.
* Intervention of third parties
The Political, Social and Economic Issues In ‘A Raisin in the Sun’
Introduction
The main determinants of a stable country are reflected in the pillars that hold the country in place; these are the social, economic and political factors. A Raisin in the Sun, a play written by Lorraine Hansberry focuses on the lives of a black family who struggle to ensure that the entire family gets a meal and shelter and that they live in harmony together (Doyle 3). According to Doyle (3), the play exhibits different social, economic and political factors evident in the lives of the family members and the people they interact with on a daily basis. This essay, therefore, provides the examples of the issues faced by the family throughout the play and describes the difficult situations the family members encounter.
Economic Issues
In the first scene, the author describes a state whereby many people lived in a particular house and this was evident from the seats that were worn out over the years of constant use without any form of upgrade (Hansberry 3). In this description one can get the image of a family that was struggling to make in life using the little they had to provide decent accommodation for the family members. From this fact alone, it is clear that there is a level of financial crisis that the main characters in show display. It is unfortunate that they are unable to upgrade to better living standards and are forced to be crammed up in a little congested space with so many occupants and very little to offer. In most cases, it is easy to judge the economic stability of every individual based on the house they live in, the kind of food they eat and their clothes. From the scene description, the family appears to be undergoing a serious economic crisis. The author mentions that the family is forced to move seats in order to cover the worn-out places in the carpet.
Additionally, the people who live in the block share a bathroom with other families and they have to wait in line in order to use the bathroom. A slight delay would mean that one has to wait for a long period of time in order to use the bathroom. Hansberry (5) states that in a stable economic state, only members of a family can share a bathroom. The hygiene issues related to sharing bathrooms are unfathomable yet these families are forced to live with the fact that they have to share bathrooms. For anyone with a stable income, hygiene and good health would be a priority, those with low income, however, have no option other than stay in these conditions.
Another economic issue in the play is displayed by the fact that Walter is unable to adequately provide for the entire family and often complaints about the kind of money he earns. The issue of finances in this family seems to be the beginning of arguments and disagreements. When Walter asks her about the check she is expecting, Ruth out rightly tells him to keep his hands off her money (Hansberry 12). They had to give up all aspects of their marriage and focus on the economic instability experienced in the family, therefore, the issue of finances jeopardized their marriage. I believe that if both Walter and Ruth had enough resources to take care of their family, their marriage would stand the test of time and remain strong despite the various difficulties they might have faced in the relationship.
The reliance of the family on the insurance money is a clear indication of desperation for better financial status. Walter, Ruth and Mama imagined that their lives would be much better if they got the insurance money. All their dreams were centered on the settlement; Walter would be able to fulfill his dream of establishing his own business and Leah would finally get the chance to buy her own house. Walter longed for a time when he would be able to comfortably provide for his family without worrying about the insufficient amount of money he earns from his job. Both Ruth and Walter despised each other based on their inability to comfortably provide for the needs of the family, which clearly depicts the need for financial freedom in the family.
Based on Walter’s words, the family cannot afford to take Beneatha to school to pursue the course she really desires. Walter asks her why she could not opt for a much cheaper course that the family can afford without straining. In a normal family setup, siblings have no reason arguing about the economic status of their family if their family is stable enough. The arguments only happen if the financial situations are terrible and that the choice of channeling resources depends on survival of the fittest. In this case, Walter imagines that investing in his business would save the family a lot of financial trouble instead of taking his sister to school.
Additionally, Beneatha is encouraged to marry George mainly because of his financial status. George is a rich and affluent person, but is not well educated. When Beneatha disagrees to marry him, Ruth believes that she is stupid enough to let go of such an opportunity of riches and prosperity. From this scenario, it is clear that the family is willing to anything to ensure that they achieve financial freedom, even if it means Beneatha ...