Comparing The American Dream In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

Throughout the ages the concepts of dreams have been explored. Dreams have not necessarily contained the same substances but gradually changed according to the environment, beliefs, and social understandings. When America first originated, the dream of religion was brought from Europe. Puritans were the first landowning Americans to come and live in North America (Indians were the original owners). Puritans came to America to escape religious persecution; they dreamed to have religious, economic, and social freedoms. During the colonial era people were known to be pure and no evil was ever seen, heard, or said about. It was a community of peaceful ways and religious aspects. Puritans began accomplishing these dreams but the same mistakes (killing
It post-modernism we see that the dream is not restricted amongst certain groups but it is universally explored. The dream is based on variables such as race, gender, social class, economics, and political interests. The dream was drastically changed and it opened its doors to a public of different races and genders. Women were now able to succeed and become part of a man's world. Women like Beneatha (who happens to be both from a different culture and gender) started to set her own dream by studying in a University and becoming more liberal (Hansberry, 1959). In Raisin in the Sun a rich African American was also introduced, George Murchison who occupied all of the variables of this redefined dream (Hansberry, 1959). Murchison was studying in a University and working towards an enriching profession. He had class and a very good education. This story was a perfect illustration on the uplifts of the African American trying to approach the new redefined dream. Economically people began to leave the depression and began to work in order to survive. Society did not spend their money the way they did back in the 1920's but started saving in fear that another depression would come. Many people were interested in political issues because they too feared an economic down fall. People changed their way of life's as well as the American
Willy commits suicide, because he believes that the insurance money will make the family content (Miller, 1949). Willy has another reason to commit suicide, he believes that a lot of people will show up to his funeral and this will prove to Bif that he was popular. Unfortunately, no one shows up to his funeral, just family and his neighbors (Miller, 1949). Happy Loman, Willy's son never got recognition for his hard effort but was just Bif's shadow; suffered a spiritual death (Miller, 1949). Bif was the son who was liberated from Willy's lost dream. Bif said that "his father was a great man but had the wrong dreams...he didn't know he was" (Miller, 1949). Happy who just lost his spirit, defends his father saying "don't say that [Bif]" (Miller, 1949). Happy then says that "He had a good dream...I'm going to win it for him" (Miller, 1949). Happy only sets himself into a state of despair and forgets his identity. Ben decides to follow his own dream now that he is liberated and knows who he is. The generation is repeating itself Happy becomes Willy and Bif becomes