1. Show how two characters from A Raisin in the Sun are searching for a better way of life. Explain what each character is hoping to gain throughout this search and discuss the ways in which each character attempts to bring about a change in his or her life.
"Beneatha Oh, I probably will...but first I'm going to be a doctor, and George, for one, still thinks that's pretty funny. I couldn't be bothered with that. I am going to be a doctor and everyone around here better understand that!" (I.i.50).
Beneatha doesn't want to be like other girls. She wants to pursue a career as a doctor and be intelligent and successful enough to be independent. Beneatha attempts to bring about a change in her life by going to school so that she can get an education. She also attempts to bring a change in her life by talking to Asagi. Asagi believes in change and being individual and he inspires Beneatha to think differently and pursue radical ideas like thinking that there is no God. Walter also is searching for a better way of life. He hopes to be successful and rich and someone that his son can look up to. He attempts to change his life by putting all his money into a liquor store. He feels like starting his own business will make him successful and get out of the career of driving rich people around. Walter thinks that he has what it takes to live a high class life.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
A Raisin in the Sun- Question 11
11. Discuss a character from Raisin who experiences loneliness because of the difference in his/her ideas, feelings, or circumstances.
" Walter(Crossing slowly to his bedroom door and finally turning there and speaking measuredly) What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for? (Bitterly, to hurt her as deeply as he knows its possible) So you butchered up a dream of mine-you-who always talking 'bout your children's dreams..." (II.i.95)
I think Walter feels extremely lonely throughout the play. He has a dream of making money and being successful and he wants to open a liquor store. First, his wife shoots down his dreams and won't show him any support or compassion. Then, his sister wants to use the money for her schooling and doesn't think it's wise for Walter to invest in the liquor store. His own mother doesn't even support his dreams and thinks it's also a bad idea for Walter to get involved in the liquor store. Although the liquor store is a bad idea, I think the reader can sympathize with Walter. Family is supposed to be the people you can always count on to support you and Walter doesn't have any of his family members' support. This causes him to not want to come home and go out and get drunk. He feels alone in this confined apartment because no one understands him and his pursuit of his dream.
" Walter(Crossing slowly to his bedroom door and finally turning there and speaking measuredly) What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for? (Bitterly, to hurt her as deeply as he knows its possible) So you butchered up a dream of mine-you-who always talking 'bout your children's dreams..." (II.i.95)
I think Walter feels extremely lonely throughout the play. He has a dream of making money and being successful and he wants to open a liquor store. First, his wife shoots down his dreams and won't show him any support or compassion. Then, his sister wants to use the money for her schooling and doesn't think it's wise for Walter to invest in the liquor store. His own mother doesn't even support his dreams and thinks it's also a bad idea for Walter to get involved in the liquor store. Although the liquor store is a bad idea, I think the reader can sympathize with Walter. Family is supposed to be the people you can always count on to support you and Walter doesn't have any of his family members' support. This causes him to not want to come home and go out and get drunk. He feels alone in this confined apartment because no one understands him and his pursuit of his dream.
A Raisin in the Sun- Question 2
2. Discuss the ways in which the setting of Raisin has a profound effect upon two of the characters.
"Ruth(Turning and going to Mama fast- the words pouring out with urgency and desperation) Lena- I'll work...I'll work twenty hours a day in all the kitchens in Chicago...I'll strap my baby on my back if I have to and scrub all the floors in America and wash all the sheets in America if I have to-but we got to MOVE! We got to get OUT OF HERE!!" (III.i.140).
I think the setting has a lasting effect on Ruth and Walter. Judging from the above quote, Ruth was obviously very unhappy with the apartment and wanted desperately to move. I think she felt like living in there, there was no way out. She didn't listen to Walter and his dreams because she felt like they could never happen. She realized that her entire family was stuck in this small apartment and she didn't see a hopeful possibility that they would get out. When the chance of moving comes about, we see Ruth come to life. She actually becomes excited about something because she sees moving as a chance to start over and have some value in her life. The setting also affects Walter. I think the confinement of the apartment affects him the most. He feels trapped in this tiny apartment with his mom, wife and sister constantly nagging at him. He has big dreams but he can't accomplish those dreams because none of his family members believe in him and support him. Like Ruth, moving would be a chance to start over and a big house would mean less confinement and more freedom.
"Ruth(Turning and going to Mama fast- the words pouring out with urgency and desperation) Lena- I'll work...I'll work twenty hours a day in all the kitchens in Chicago...I'll strap my baby on my back if I have to and scrub all the floors in America and wash all the sheets in America if I have to-but we got to MOVE! We got to get OUT OF HERE!!" (III.i.140).
I think the setting has a lasting effect on Ruth and Walter. Judging from the above quote, Ruth was obviously very unhappy with the apartment and wanted desperately to move. I think she felt like living in there, there was no way out. She didn't listen to Walter and his dreams because she felt like they could never happen. She realized that her entire family was stuck in this small apartment and she didn't see a hopeful possibility that they would get out. When the chance of moving comes about, we see Ruth come to life. She actually becomes excited about something because she sees moving as a chance to start over and have some value in her life. The setting also affects Walter. I think the confinement of the apartment affects him the most. He feels trapped in this tiny apartment with his mom, wife and sister constantly nagging at him. He has big dreams but he can't accomplish those dreams because none of his family members believe in him and support him. Like Ruth, moving would be a chance to start over and a big house would mean less confinement and more freedom.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
The Glass Menagerie- Character Relationships
"Tom: House, house! Who pays rent on it, who makes a slave of himself to-
Amanda: Don't you DARE to-
Tom: No, no, I musn't say things. I've got to just-
Amanda: Let me tell you-
Tom: I don't want to hear any more!"
(Scene 3, page 1246)
Tom and Amanda's relationship is very different. Tom and Laura both make mistakes but Amanda reacts differently to both. Every time Tom goes to the movies, Amanda freaks out. I think Tom was trying to show that Amanda was controlling. However, if you look at it from Amanda's point of view, she is just scared of losing him. If Tom leaves, Amanda and Laura are going to have an extremely hard time getting by since Tom is the only source of income. Also, the emotional part of Tom leaving would not be easy on her or Laura, especially since their father left too. When Laura stopped going to business school, Amanda was furious as well. However, she didn't treat Laura as badly as she treated Tom. Laura sincerely apologized to her mother unlike Tom. I think Laura and Amanda have a closer relationship because they really do care about each other and they do the best they can to make the other one happy. Tom is more self-centered; therefore, his relationships with other people are very one dimensional.
Amanda: Don't you DARE to-
Tom: No, no, I musn't say things. I've got to just-
Amanda: Let me tell you-
Tom: I don't want to hear any more!"
(Scene 3, page 1246)
Tom and Amanda's relationship is very different. Tom and Laura both make mistakes but Amanda reacts differently to both. Every time Tom goes to the movies, Amanda freaks out. I think Tom was trying to show that Amanda was controlling. However, if you look at it from Amanda's point of view, she is just scared of losing him. If Tom leaves, Amanda and Laura are going to have an extremely hard time getting by since Tom is the only source of income. Also, the emotional part of Tom leaving would not be easy on her or Laura, especially since their father left too. When Laura stopped going to business school, Amanda was furious as well. However, she didn't treat Laura as badly as she treated Tom. Laura sincerely apologized to her mother unlike Tom. I think Laura and Amanda have a closer relationship because they really do care about each other and they do the best they can to make the other one happy. Tom is more self-centered; therefore, his relationships with other people are very one dimensional.
The Glass Menagerie- Symbol
"Jim: Unicorns, aren't they extinct in the modern world?
Laura: I know!
Jim: Poor little fellow, he must feel sort of lonesome."
(Scene 7, page 1281)
I think the glass menagerie is a symbol for Laura. These glass figures live a sheltered life, they never move or make progress, just stay in one place. Laura is the same way. She doesn't leave her house or try to make something of herself. The unicorn especially represents Laura. Laura views herself has an outcast because she has a physical defect. When the unicorn breaks and becomes "accepted" by the other horses, it's like Laura become accepted too. Jim shows her that she shouldn't be self conscious and that she is just as great as everyone else. Laura doesn't get mad at Jim when he breaks the glass because Jim is truly sorry for doing it and really wants to help Laura step out of her shell. Tom on the other hand hasn't really attempted to help Laura make something of herself and Laura thinks that Tom hates her and their mother because he is always leaving. I think Laura gives Jim the unicorn because she wants him to hold on to part of her. Jim represents the modern world and what's going on outside of the house. I think Laura wants to be a part of that world.
Laura: I know!
Jim: Poor little fellow, he must feel sort of lonesome."
(Scene 7, page 1281)
I think the glass menagerie is a symbol for Laura. These glass figures live a sheltered life, they never move or make progress, just stay in one place. Laura is the same way. She doesn't leave her house or try to make something of herself. The unicorn especially represents Laura. Laura views herself has an outcast because she has a physical defect. When the unicorn breaks and becomes "accepted" by the other horses, it's like Laura become accepted too. Jim shows her that she shouldn't be self conscious and that she is just as great as everyone else. Laura doesn't get mad at Jim when he breaks the glass because Jim is truly sorry for doing it and really wants to help Laura step out of her shell. Tom on the other hand hasn't really attempted to help Laura make something of herself and Laura thinks that Tom hates her and their mother because he is always leaving. I think Laura gives Jim the unicorn because she wants him to hold on to part of her. Jim represents the modern world and what's going on outside of the house. I think Laura wants to be a part of that world.
The Glass Menagerie- Unrealistic
"Now that we cannot hear the mother's speech, her silliness is gone and she has dignity and tragic beatuy." (Scene 7, page 1288)
Because The Glass Menagerie is Tom's memory, the characters' words and actions are exaggerated to the way that Tome remembers them. Throughout the play, Amanda is characterized as an overbearing mother who is constantly nagging Tom. The readers, especially teenage readers, first sympathize with Tom because his mother is constantly telling him he isn't good enough and that he can't do anything right. For example, when Mr. O'Connor is over, Amanda says, "I guess the fuse has burnt out. Mr. O'Connor, can you tell a burnt-out fuse? I know I can't and Tom is a total loss when it comes to mechanics" (Scene 7, page 1272). However, because Tom is retelling the memory, Amanda's portrayal is unrealistic. Yes she very well could have been a nagging mother, but she wanted the best for her children. Tom wanted to leave, he hated his life there because he had no adventure and no excitement. Tom is telling the story the way he is because he wants to show the readers how poorly his mother treated him. He is kind of saying to the readers, "see how she talks to me, you would want to leave to". I think it's hard to remember that because the play is a memory, the words and actions of the characters are unrealistic because it isn't exactly what happened, it is one person's account of what happened.
Because The Glass Menagerie is Tom's memory, the characters' words and actions are exaggerated to the way that Tome remembers them. Throughout the play, Amanda is characterized as an overbearing mother who is constantly nagging Tom. The readers, especially teenage readers, first sympathize with Tom because his mother is constantly telling him he isn't good enough and that he can't do anything right. For example, when Mr. O'Connor is over, Amanda says, "I guess the fuse has burnt out. Mr. O'Connor, can you tell a burnt-out fuse? I know I can't and Tom is a total loss when it comes to mechanics" (Scene 7, page 1272). However, because Tom is retelling the memory, Amanda's portrayal is unrealistic. Yes she very well could have been a nagging mother, but she wanted the best for her children. Tom wanted to leave, he hated his life there because he had no adventure and no excitement. Tom is telling the story the way he is because he wants to show the readers how poorly his mother treated him. He is kind of saying to the readers, "see how she talks to me, you would want to leave to". I think it's hard to remember that because the play is a memory, the words and actions of the characters are unrealistic because it isn't exactly what happened, it is one person's account of what happened.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
As You Like It- She's the Man
"Sil: And so am I for Phebe
Phe: And I for Ganymede.
Orl: And I for Rosalind.
Ros: And I for no woman." (V.ii.71).
I know this play is not the one that the movie She's the Man is based off of but some of the plot reminds me a lot of She's the Man. The fact that so many characters love a character who actually loves someone else. Silvius loves Phebe who loves Ganymede who is actually Rosalind who thinks she loves Orlando who loves Rosalind but doesn't know Ganymede is Rosalind. In She's the Man, Duke loves Olivia who loves Sebastian who is really Viola who loves Duke but Duke doesn't know Sebastian is Viola. Also, She's the Man is a comedy and As You Like It is a comedy. Viola pretending to be Sebastian is the main aspect of the movie and Rosalind pretending to be Ganymede is a huge portion of the play. Rosalind becoming Ganymede become problematic when Phebe falls in love with her and when Oliver almost discovers she is a woman. Viola has many problems in the play with people almost discovering she is a girl and Olivia falling in love with her. I think both of these works of fiction satirize the idea of love at first sight and falling for someone you don't really know.
Phe: And I for Ganymede.
Orl: And I for Rosalind.
Ros: And I for no woman." (V.ii.71).
I know this play is not the one that the movie She's the Man is based off of but some of the plot reminds me a lot of She's the Man. The fact that so many characters love a character who actually loves someone else. Silvius loves Phebe who loves Ganymede who is actually Rosalind who thinks she loves Orlando who loves Rosalind but doesn't know Ganymede is Rosalind. In She's the Man, Duke loves Olivia who loves Sebastian who is really Viola who loves Duke but Duke doesn't know Sebastian is Viola. Also, She's the Man is a comedy and As You Like It is a comedy. Viola pretending to be Sebastian is the main aspect of the movie and Rosalind pretending to be Ganymede is a huge portion of the play. Rosalind becoming Ganymede become problematic when Phebe falls in love with her and when Oliver almost discovers she is a woman. Viola has many problems in the play with people almost discovering she is a girl and Olivia falling in love with her. I think both of these works of fiction satirize the idea of love at first sight and falling for someone you don't really know.
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