A Raisin in the Sun By: Tan Ly

Essay by viethelldragonHigh School, 11th gradeA+, April 2004

download word file, 7 pages 5.0

Which phrase can express the meaning of "a real life journey"through a story "A Raisin in the Sun"? A real life journey is referred as "use of space". It is divided into three elements: city, wild, and place. City is a symbolic city, which represents something else rather than the city. Wild is the place where people learn their life lessons. Rural is the final settlement for their life. What is the main message from these three elements?

City is a symbolic city. It is temporary and artificial. The Younger's family lives in a poor condition, three generations in a small apartment. They do not want to stay in this poor living condition. It is too crowded for their family. They are tired of the small apartment because "They have clearly had to accommodate the living of too many people for too many years- and they are tired" (Madden 286).

They share bathroom with another family on the same floor. Hansberry writes that "The child, a sturdy, handsome little boy [...] goes out to the bathroom, which is in an outside hall and which is shared by another family or families on the same floor" (287). Can one big check change this poor condition? The check represents big Walter's life and belongs to mother, Lena. Although they know that the check will come on Saturday, somehow, Younger's family becomes very exciting. In the early Friday morning, Walter asks Ruth that "Check coming today?" (Madden 288). Ruth replies to him, "They said Saturday and this is just Friday and I hope to God you ain't going to get up here first thing this morning" (Madden 288). Even little boy Travis asks his mother on Friday morning, "Mama, this is Friday. (Gleefully.) Check coming tomorrow, huh?" (Madden 289). The family...