Conflicts Within Three Literary Elements
While reading Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”, Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”, and Langston Hughes’s “Theme for English B”, I was struck by the common conflicts in all three works. The characters and the reader are taken through various emotions as some conflicts arise and are resolved. The following paper will discuss their conflicts and the lessons learned from them.
“A Raisin in the Sun”, by Hansberry is about an African American family who has just lost a father and is awaiting an insurance check from his death. The younger family is composed of Mama (Lena), her son (Walter Lee), his wife (Ruth), their son (Travis), and lastly Walter’s sister (Beneatha). Everyone has their eyes on the money which creates conflict. Walter would like to invest the money in a liquor store but this is a problem as Mama, a Christian woman who does not believe in that kind of business. “Mama: Well- whether they drinks it or not aint none of my business. But whether I go into business selling it is, and I do not want that on my ledger this late in life”. This is a conflict between Walter, Ruth, the supportive wife and Mama. It is a conflict of moral character, Mama does not feel it is right to sale people liquor, but Walter and his wife are more about making money. “Ruth: Well-like Walter say- I spec people going to always be drinking themselves some liquor”. They are not worried about morals or how it would affect the community or how they would look in the eyes of God.
With God being the foundation of the Younger family, also created conflict. This was between Mama and Beneatha, the daughter. Beneatha was an independent and outspoken young lady. She felt as though she owed nothing to the world especially not to God. Beneatha wanted to become a doctor and Mama was going to use the money to help. Mama, however, gave God glory for all the things that he did or will happen and Beneatha had a problem with that. “Mama: Course you going to be a doctor, honey God willing.” “Beneatha:...
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