Comparative English Essay - Martin Luther Speech vs a Raisin in the Sun
14 February 2010
Comparative Essay
“Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” Here is Martin Luther’s futuristic view in his speech titled “I have a dream”. In the 1900’s the world was a chessboard were people drew their discriminating lines of black and white. All over the globe did folks endure the racism that was thrown at them. The Emancipation Proclamation was a huge step to diminishing this appalling behavior as it put an end to the slavery. However, where the Negros really free? Did the Proclamation free them of the daily racism that was launched their way? After reading the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, any reader might notice that their exists many similarities between the message of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech and the themes of “A Raisin in the Sun”. In his speech, it is easy to admire three main focus themes, his alliteration, his determination and the destiny of his fellow people. Dr. King announces repeatedly “I have a dream today” in his speech. He transmits his desire to see the improvement of his people’s situation. He has a dream to see his nation rise to better days and put aside segregation. Lorraine Hansberry introduces the idea of a dream in her play by taking into account the “American dream”. The characters in her play are the symbol of the Afro-American families that coped through this hard period. As the Younger family encounters arduous economic and social problems, their American dream appears to drift away slowly. “She goes to her plant, which has remained on the table, looks at it, picks it up and takes it to the windowsill and sits it outside, and she stands and looks at it a long moment. Then she closes the window, straightens her body with effort and turns around to her children) (3.1.66)”
The Younger family is very small yet very divided. Each member, whether is be Ruth, Walter or Benetha is drowned exclusively in their own troubles. Walter dares to say at the beginning of this play: “Nobody in
Comparative Essay
“Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” Here is Martin Luther’s futuristic view in his speech titled “I have a dream”. In the 1900’s the world was a chessboard were people drew their discriminating lines of black and white. All over the globe did folks endure the racism that was thrown at them. The Emancipation Proclamation was a huge step to diminishing this appalling behavior as it put an end to the slavery. However, where the Negros really free? Did the Proclamation free them of the daily racism that was launched their way? After reading the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, any reader might notice that their exists many similarities between the message of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech and the themes of “A Raisin in the Sun”. In his speech, it is easy to admire three main focus themes, his alliteration, his determination and the destiny of his fellow people. Dr. King announces repeatedly “I have a dream today” in his speech. He transmits his desire to see the improvement of his people’s situation. He has a dream to see his nation rise to better days and put aside segregation. Lorraine Hansberry introduces the idea of a dream in her play by taking into account the “American dream”. The characters in her play are the symbol of the Afro-American families that coped through this hard period. As the Younger family encounters arduous economic and social problems, their American dream appears to drift away slowly. “She goes to her plant, which has remained on the table, looks at it, picks it up and takes it to the windowsill and sits it outside, and she stands and looks at it a long moment. Then she closes the window, straightens her body with effort and turns around to her children) (3.1.66)”
The Younger family is very small yet very divided. Each member, whether is be Ruth, Walter or Benetha is drowned exclusively in their own troubles. Walter dares to say at the beginning of this play: “Nobody in