In Act II of “A Raisin in the Sun’, Hansberry explores the differences between social classes. In addition, you are to read 3 articles that deal with social class from a political standpoint, a mobility standpoint, and from a psychological standpoint. What aspects of social class differences does Hansberry raise in Act II? Make sure to include at least 3 direct quotes from Act II, and use at least 2 references from the articles that you read. Things to consider: What do the characters represent? What is the purpose of Hansberry inserting this conflict into the play? Make sure to use MLA citation in your response.
41 Comments
Tony Colucci
3/27/2015 04:00:03 am
Hansberry does an excellent job at showing the represtentative characters to depict the social statuses we all carry in life. Walter would represent the typecof people who want to become more in life by saying things such as "Invest big, gamble big, hell, lose big if you have to, you know what I mean (Hansberry, 84)." George represents the wealthy man with his 5 step plan; "You read books-to learn facts-to get grades-to pass the course-to get a degree. That's all-and it has nothing to do with thoughts (Hansberry, 97)." Finally, Beneatha is the one who will achieve her goals regardless of improvement or social placement; "How can something that's natural be eccentric (Hansberry, 80)?" The setting takes place in 1951, so naturally, these conflicts the characters take place in deal a lot with mobility and psychological mindsets. You are the only person who can push you forward. People may judge books by their cover, but its their fault for missing out. I think that's Hansberry's main message here and reason for including these characters.
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Zeta Barrie
3/29/2015 08:52:54 am
In this book- A Raisin in the Sun-, there are actually many social class differences. There are differences in races, and also social differences among the same races. Like for instance, Walter Younger and George Murchison. They are both African American but make different amounts of money.
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Kylie Cutlip
3/31/2015 05:50:04 am
In the second act of “A Raisin in the Sun”, the many differences between the social classes are explored. As readers, we are exposed to the three main different views and how they affect people. These three viewpoints that Hansberry presents to us show the political, mobile, and psychological stand points.
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Nicholas Powers
3/31/2015 06:36:25 am
The book, "A Raisin In The Sun", portrays social classes and how it effects daily life and different goals that the lower class want to achieve compared to higher class people. For example, Walter, Walter is shown to be so strongly attached to his goals. Throughout the book that's almost the only thing he talks about. Mama in the book is supposed to be kind a "Peace Barrier" if that's what you want to call it. If Walter ever gets fueled or angry about something Mama is always there to support him, yet he fails to understand that all she cares about is her children's goals. Walter believes that the only thing colored men can live for his to have children and wishes. Walter did many things to achieve his goal. Walter wanted to own a liquor store only to get the money and he said he didn't care about what he was selling, as long as he got the money. Walter hates his current job as being a chauffeur. Walter never seemed to be peaceful and the only thing on his mind was achieving those goals. Walter always picked fights with Beneatha. Yet he would complain about someone only asking him if he wants food. George also talked about how a man only wanted a education so he could get a digree. Being that this story took place a long time ago, political stands weren't as big as they were today. In fact getting somewhere to the point where Walter considered himself to be able to change Chicago upside down. Coming from someone today, you wouldn't have any faith or even think they could do something as to change a state completely, i think his dreams were just to hard to achieve and he was just thinking to easily about what he could achieve. Walter wanted to do something that mostly higher class would achieve, yet even though he is in the lower class, he still had faith that he could change Chicago completely. And i think that Hansberry does an amazing job representing the difference in social classes. Showing what high class is and what low class is without saying a word about it.
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Alyssa Ziemianski
3/31/2015 07:05:00 am
There are many social class differences in Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and each of the characters in the book help to represent these differences. Throughout the story we deal with many differences between characters. Walter is one of the main characters that we see this happen with. In the book, Walter and George deal with social class differences. Walter wants very badly to be like George’s father, but when Walter says to George about his dad, “Me and you ought to sit down and talk sometimes, man. Man, I got me some ideas (Hansberry, 45),” George gives him a sarcastic and rude answer. This part of the story relates to one of the articles we read in class, “Mobility, measured.” This article is about how people in lower social classes wish to increase their status, just like how Walter wishes to increase his.
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Jason Kudwa
3/31/2015 07:32:58 am
In act 2 of “Raisin in the Sun,” Hansberry brings up social aspects of the African American community back in the 1950’s, and portrays how some families suffered during these times. Throughout the beginning of act 2, and some parts along the way, visually, and verbally describe the social differences of certain families. George is a wealthy man from a wealthy family, and as Walter strives to be like that for his own good, as well as for his family, he also goes along to mock the wealthy. “Why all you college boys wear them faggoty-looking white shoes?” (Hansberry 83). Walter is describing the look of what wealthy individuals wear as a disagreement in his mind. “Cause we all tied up in a race of people that don't know how to do nothing but moan, pray and have babies!” (Hansberry 86). Walter feels as if African American women in his life, and others, keep the men down from succeeding. Walter has addressed this before, and is a rhythm with Walter’s character. “You hear some of these Negroes round here talking 'bout how they don't go where they ain't wanted and all that—but not me, honey!” (Hansberry 95). Ms. Johnson implies as a joke that all the African Americans in the Southside area of Chicago are perfectly fine where they are now, and wouldn’t want to move. Ms. Johnson is reacting towards the new information that she found out about the family moving. The article of psychological differences of wealth, in my opinion, portrays what this play really reflects on. The article states that, “People who come from a lower-class background have to depend more on other people.” (Psychological). This theory really describes how this family interacts with one another. While all of them fight each other during harsh times, they need to rely on each other to stay afloat. In the same article, it describes the wealthy as the opposite, and that they rely on themselves more than family. George can easily show this idea that rather him caring about Beneatha, he cares more about his well-being. He has the thought of book smarts is the key to success, while Beneatha believes more of a spiritual level.
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Esmeralda Celaj
3/31/2015 07:36:36 am
The aspects of social class differences Hansberry raises in Act 2 is races, and other stuff. Hansberry does a great job representing her characters in different ways. There are a lot of characters in the play that represent something.
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Daevon Morgan
3/31/2015 08:10:44 am
" A Raisin in The Sun" is a book that took place during the 1960's, which was a time that displayed an obvious division in social classes, not only in relation to wealth, but in relation to race as well. In this story, it is obvious that there is a war with poverty that the Younger's are facing, and they are anxiously anticipating a check that could possibly pull them out of their financial struggles. They plan on moving into a neighborhood that is generally not a place that they would be accepted into at that time, and that shows the racial division that is shown throughout the the story.
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Lauren Barczak
3/31/2015 08:51:35 am
Hansberry wrote about social class differences and conflicts in “A Raisin in the Sun,” because she wanted the audience to understand the struggle between the classes back in the 1950s and to compare them to today’s society. Back in the 1950s African Americans had a hard time moving up the class structure and in the play you see that with the Youngers. In the article “Class America: Mobility, measured,” the upper class and lower class of today’s society has a big gap between them.
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Justin Lenard
3/31/2015 08:53:09 am
In the reading of Act II of A Raisin in the Son, Hansberry provided many different examples of social classes. Act II relates to a few articles about social classes and how they have developed and changed over time. One article states that, "People who come from a lower-class have to depend more on other people." (www.psychologicalscience.org) An example from the text is when Walter is speaking to George and says, "I got some plans that could turn this city
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jalen McGimpsey
3/31/2015 09:01:38 am
In this book A Raisin In The Sun took place in the 1950's in the south side of Chicago. During this period in time there was much social class discrimination and still much black vs white discrimination.In the movie she shows many ways of how the social class is discriminated by. When mama said that all of the houses that were built for blacks were about 2 times the price of a white persons house it was outrageous(Hansbery Pg.89).Mama just could not pay that much for a house that was nearly up to date as the white house and cheaper.
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Jessica Bozick
3/31/2015 09:52:05 am
In the book the raisin in the sun Hansberry shows the social classes in many different ways. In the articles i read i says that social classes have many gaps in them and it is very hard to from one social class to another. Hansberry shows this in her book a lot with Walter. Walter wants so badly to be rich he says "Ive got big plans that will turn this city upside down" (hansberr44) Walter is saying here that he wants to be something big to get rich and move to another social class. In this book Benetha represents the type of people who are always trying different things and trying to find themselves in this world. Ruth and mama i believe represent the working people who don't care as much about the money. They care about family more and just want to provide. In the book Hansberry shows not only problem between different races but also with the same race. She shows how George thinks that he is better then them just because he has more money. Beneatha says in the book "i know hes rich but he knows hes rich too" (hansberry21) Beneatha is stating here that George acts like hes better just because of his money. Hansberry inserts this conflict to show that social classes are a big thing even between races. I feel she just did a really good job at showing how hard it is to go from one social class to another. In the article i read it says that you're stuck in the social class you're born into basically. Hansberry includes this in the book with how Walter and Ruth are poor and so were mother and Walters father. both mama and Ruth said " we always talked about not living here for long buying ourselves a real home" (Hansberry 25) this book shows many different forms of social class and in very good ways too.
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Brandon Manardo
3/31/2015 09:52:55 am
In Act II of “Raisin in the Sun” conflicts and arguments start to occur between the characters about social class and the role each class plays on society. For example Walter is a lower class individual who mocks the wealthy, but is trying to pursue his dreams to become part of the wealthy community. Later on Walter has a long conversation with George. George is a wealthy individual who believes that money gives you a higher status in society, and that the only way to becoming successful is through education and a degree, George says, “you read books-to learn facts-to get grades-to pass the course-to get a degree (Hansberry 97).” When Walter first sits down he mocks George’s status by saying, “Why all you college boys wear those-faggoty looking white shoes?”(Hansberry 83). Walter goes on to relate himself to George’s father saying that he was a business man just like him. Walter claims to George that he has big plans he tells George, “we should sit down and talk sometime, man”(Hansberry , 84) in an attempt to talk about the investment in the liquor store. After the statement George looks at Walter with a puzzled look and sarcastically says sometimes s if he doesn’t believe that Walter can truly be successful. Beneatha is a character that isn’t thinking about anything else besides here goal of being a doctor. She says I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried who I’m going to marry yet-if I ever get married”(Hansberry, Act II).
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Raquel Jackson
3/31/2015 10:26:22 am
This book has many different point of views on the different classes and the way they handle their lives. Beneatha, in my opinion, is one of the most important people in the play that talks and understands the differences in social classes. Hansberrry had a very interesting take on the way she planned out her play to prove her point. For example, Walter wants to move up in his social status, but is not realizing how difficult that truly is. Walter is talking to George, a very wealthy young man because of his father, about his "ideas" , "Man i got me some ideas." (Hanberry, 45). Walter is trying to be like George's father, he wants the wealth and the lifestyle of his father.
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Amanda Bruce
3/31/2015 11:04:51 am
In the book "A Raisin In The Sun", there are a lot of different types of social classes. In the Youngers family they all have there own differences. Walter wants to become more successful in life rather than living the life he is living right now. He says that he wants to open a liquor store with his friends so he can make more money than what he does right now. Beneatha wants to achieve a lot of things in life which I think she will. She wants to be a nurse and be independent in life. George is a successful man who graduated from college and has a lot of money. He doesn't really like Beneatha for who she is. He cares more about the looks than the personality. Mama has always been supportive of her children and would do almost anything for them. When she got her money, she gave it to Ruth because she knows that Ruth needs the money sense she is having a baby. She was going to give some of the money to Beneatha to help pay for medical school but she realized that Ruth needs the money more than anyone in the house. Sense this was based on the 1950s, a lot of things like what happens in the Youngers life happened a lot back in the 1950s. The whites were separated from the colored and it was always like that. Money was also an issue too.
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Liz Offer
3/31/2015 11:52:59 am
In act II of “Raisin in the Sun” Hansberry showed many different examples of social classes and roles played in this society. Hansberry shows this with Walter a lot. Walter doesn’t want to be poor anymore and wants to become rich. He thinks by owning a liquor store he can accomplish that goal. Everyone is against it even his own mother. Walter says “ No! ‘Cause ain't nobody with me! Not even my own mother!”(Hansberry44). Then there also is Ruth who is a hard working mother that cares about her family very much. I feel that she could care less about the money and more about having her families back no matter what. She always trying to do what ever she can to help her family even when there mean to her like Walter. Ruth says,” What else can I give you, Walter Lee Younger?” (Hansberry47). Hansberry also shows the relation between the parents Ruth and Walter. They show the struggle of what poor people had In the 1950s. Walter says, “ Who’s fighting you! Who even cares about you!“ (Hansberry46). Beneatha the daughter has problems with George. She feels that she only likes him for his money. Not him as a person or his personality. Each social class was very different from each other. She did a great job of showing the differences. In the article I read it talked about how lower-class people were more helpful and caring toward each other. The rich class was more on there own and never asked for help with anything. They never relied on anyone. It’s also hard for the lower-class people to get into college because they don’t have the many for it. Rich people do have the money, which makes it easier for them to get into collage and get better jobs. Hansberry includes this in the book when mama said, “ She went out and bought you a house”(Hnasberry48). Mama is helping the family out by buying them a house. Which helps them live a better and happier life. It’s better than being in an old and gross apartment. This book did a great job of showing the different social classes. And roles played in this society.
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Taylor graczyk
3/31/2015 09:47:31 pm
The second act of " a raisin in the sun" , there are many differences between the social classes. Social classes makeup the community. Walter and his family are obviously in the lower class and other people like George are upper classmen. George doesn't look at Walter as an equal man as him . When George says " Me and you ought to sit down and talk sometimes, man. Man, I got me some ideas (Hansberry 45). George reply a with a sarcastic tone like he thinks Walter is not smart enough to talk to. The relationship between George and beneatha is not good because of views on women . George doesn't think she should go be a doctor . Women weren't expected to become doctors or other serious jobs . She is mad at George because he never wants to talk about her dreams about her job. "... You're a nice looking girl... All over. That's all you need, honey , forget the atmosphere(Hansberry 100). That statement says that women are just for looks and he just wants her to not be smart about things . " social class has culture " talks about how different classes think differently . Also, " mobility measured" represents that how Walter wants to be successful an have a lot of money.
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Hunter T
3/31/2015 11:14:02 pm
In "A Raisin In The Sun" Hansberry showed the differences between social classes. From the poor to the wealthy, you can clearly see the differences between their behavior and personality. In act ll, Walter comes home drunk and has quite the confrontation with George. Walter is in the lower part of social classes, but is trying to save his family from poverty by opening up a business. He says to George they should "sit down and talk sometime, man (Hansberry, 84)", George replies kind of sarcastically saying that they will but he doesn't mean it. He is on the higher end of the social classes so he thinks his ideas are far superior to Walters, and doesn't even give hearing his ideas a second thought. Walter asks George "why all you college boys wear them faggity lookin white shoes? (Hansberry, 83)". I think Walter is bitter that George has the money to buy those shoes. George is a wealthy man that likes to flaunt his money and Walter is very jealous because he wants to open a liquor store but his income is not so giving. "Invest big, gamble big, hell, lose big if you have to, you know what I mean (Hansberry, 84)". Walter said this as he was talking to George. He is so set on opening up a business and making money that he doesn't see anything else but only because he wants to save his family from debt. Many have called America "the land of opportunity" but I think Walter would disagree. African Americans were treated very differently which is he is having a hard time getting out of the lower social class. I think as time goes on people will be more accepting which will allow Walter to go after his big business gamble.
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Raymond Hale
4/1/2015 12:19:33 am
In the book A Raisin In The Sun, Hansberry shows many social differences in all the races. Hansberry puts George as a rich man who doesn't seem to care about beneatha's heritage. The fact that George doesn't see how beneatha wants to learn about where she is from. Another example would be when Walter and George talk; when Walter is extremely drunk though. Walter says that George should tell his dad about him and how Walter has some very good business ideas. Then George just laughs and walks away or stops talking. Another social class example would be how the youngers use the money to get a new home. It shows that people back then were not welcome because of there skin color or how they talked.
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Gjergj Markaj
4/1/2015 03:03:02 am
In the articles it shows that politicians really are not to be trusted really. Its like we already dont trust politicians to be honest and now that Ive read that my trust for them that was already non existent wouldve gone down if i had any. In Act II Hansberry really shows what each character represents. Walter represent how some people are stuck and have no upwards mobility in the economy. Beneatha is trying to become a doctor and when or if she does she will be very mobile. Walter shows the frustration by describing his job in which he thinks its a dead end really and it makes him very deppressed. In one of the articles about mobility it shows how young adults dont really work for their dream but expect it just to happen when in reality you have to work hard and build up to your dream. The conflict is to show how characters represent how people feek in reality during that time period.
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Kara Gerniski
4/1/2015 04:19:44 am
In Act II of "A Raisin in the Sun", there are many social class differences. One of these differences in the play is racism. Racism plays a big role in the play especially when the Younger family decides to move to a white neighborhood. When Mama tells Ruth that the house is in Clybourne Park, the stage directions say that "Ruth is trying to recover from the shock."(Hansberry, 93) Most black folks don't go and live in white neighborhoods. Later on throughout Act II Mrs. Johnson comes over and starts to congratulate the family on getting out of there and moving. She says to Mama " You guys ain't read 'bout them colored people that was bombed out their place out there?" (Hansberry,100) Which makes Ruth very concerned if Mama picked the right place to move and if her family is going to be safe. However, Ruth trusts that Mama made the right choice because like the article "Social Class as Culture", lower class people like her think of the world differently and and she would do anything to keep her family safe and happy. Also, when Mr. Lindner comes over from the welcoming committee he doesn't make them feel welcomed in the neighborhood at all. He basically threatens them and try's to make them an offer to stay out of Clybourne Park. Also, Walter and George deal with social class differences. Walter is a poor African American and George is a wealthy African American. All Walter wants to do its to be wealthy like George's father. Walter tells George "Me and you ought to sit down and talk sometimes, man."(Hansberry,84). He wants to talk about his ideas and how George's father can help him so he can earn money. Walter is like the article we read in class "Mobility Measured" because he's a lower class man wanting to become wealthy and part of the upper class. I think Hansberry put social class differences into the play because this was after slavery just happened and there was a lot of discrimination still going on.
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Cody W.
4/1/2015 06:12:56 am
In the second act of “A Raisin in the Sun”, Hansberry showed many different examples between the social class and the roles being played in society. Walter wants to become something bigger and something more successful in life rather than living a hard difficult life he is currently facing. Walter dreams of being something like George, when Walter spoke to George he says, “Me and you ought to sit down and talk sometimes, man. I got me some ideas (Hansberry 45). Walter is telling George that he wants to be successful. I believe that this section of the story greatly relate to the article “Mobility Measured”. A major example of social class differences is when George expressed his view on education. “You read books to learn facts to get grades to pass the course to get a degree. That's all and it has nothing to do with thoughts (Hansberry, 97).” Although Beneatha has a different idea on the education system, she believes school is to think critically. Another article that is able to relate to this is “Social Class as a Culture”. This article states that wealthier people have a much harder time reading emotions. The reason why Walter wants to own a liquor store is to strike it rich, which won’t happen overnight. Something that coincides with this is when Walter says “I’ve got big plans that’ll turn this city upside down” (Hansberry 44).
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kyle wychuyse
4/1/2015 07:50:26 am
In the book "A Raisin in The Sun" it takes place in the south area of Chicago during the 1950s. There are many different social classes that were brought through out the entire book. Hansberry portrayed this by giving all of the characters a different aspect on life and the different social classes that surrounded them and influence their lives. for example Walter is a character in the book who wants to fulfill his dream but nobody seems to support him. he is sick and tired of being a poor black man surrounded by a bunch of rich white people. not even his family is supporting him , Walter even says, “ No! ‘Cause ain't nobody with me! Not even my own mother!”(Hansberry44). then there is the other character George who seems to have a bit more money the Walter. eventually Walter and George meet and Walter says,"Why all you college boys wear them faggoty looking white shoes?"(Hansberry,p.83). when Walter says this it showed that just by what people wear it can effect your life standard to other people, weather it be low or high. This can be related to the third article were it talks about how the clothes you were can effect what social class you seem to belong to. mama is another character in the book who has been poor all her life. and she wants what was best for Walter but he never really got that, she also wanted his life to be better then hers. In conclusion the were many examples of social classes being recognized and it showed how different each one can be portrayed.
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Nicole Killinger
4/1/2015 09:55:51 am
In the book a raisin in the sun there are so many race differences. For example there is rich and poor and blacks and whites. Walter and George are great examples between rich and poor. Even though they are the same race, George gets way more money than Walter does, They don't get along very well. George thinks he is more mature. Walter has to work harder for money and spend it responsibly. The differences between whites and blacks in this book is also tremendous. For example the whites don't want them to move into the white neighborhood. Mr. Linder says "He talked Brotherhood. He said everybody ought to learn how to sit down and hate each other with good Christian fellowship." (Hansberry 107) also in the articles we read it tells us the struggles with differences. For example it says that people with less depend on other people more. I don't really think this is true because if you have less you would work harder. In The and of raisin in the sun, it shows Walter and his family not caring about the difference between races. At first they were about to give in "Sometimes you just got to know when to give up some things...and hold on to what you got." (Hansberry 130). But then Walter realize that it shouldn't matter what color you are they deserve just as much as others. In the end of the book mama is proud of Walter. "He finally come into his manhood today, didn't he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain..." ( Hansberry 141) another example in the book is difference between male and female. In a raisin in the sun, Beneatha wants to become a doctor. People including Walter, her brother, give her a very hard time. But she doesn't let that bother her. She thinks about college differently then George does. And that relates to another article we read in class called Social class as culture. In this article it tells us that rich and poor people think differently and specially with college and education. Overall I think that both a raisin in the sun and the articles we read show and teach many differences between people and their culture.
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Jonathan Harris
4/1/2015 10:21:04 am
During Act II of "A Raisin in the Sun", the author, Hansberry, makes many references to the social classes of society and these references have strong connections to the plot. Walter Younger represents the lower class. He works a dead-end job and struggles to pay his bills (even though he does waste a lot of money on his booze). The article "Social Class as Culture" states that "People who come from a lower-class have to depend more on other people" which in this scenario is very true. With the help of Mama, Ruth, and most importantly HIS FATHER'S INSURANCE MONEY, Walter has a stable platform for which he can better himself and his entire family by seizing financial opportunity. He blows his chance at bettering his family but this is not a surprise since the article "Mobility, measured" states that a poor person only has a nine percent chance moving up on the ladder of social class. Hansberry also makes references to the struggle between the lower and upper classes. In Act II, on page 102, Johnson makes a reference to criminal activity. Johnson says "You know how our young people gets when they get a little education" - meaning, if your poor and cannot afford an education, you are destined to a life of crime and vice. When Walter and George hold a conversation, tensions run high as well (Keep in mind, George represents the upper class). Walter says "I know ain't nothing in this world as busy as you college boys with your pins and white shoes" (Page 84) and "They only teaching you how to talk proper and read books and wear them faggoty-looking white shoes..." (page 85). Walter is implying that the upper class has it made and is privileged with such easy tasks, while people like him are overworked and are picking up the tab for people who refuse to do "real" work.
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Carter Petty
4/1/2015 10:23:24 am
"A Rasin in the Sun" explains the life of African Americans in the 1950's of the South side of Chicago. This book explores the difference between the social class such as rich and poor. Walter Lee in this is described as a drunk poor father figure. The characters in this story all resemble life at the time and their role in society being African American they feelthat he is at a disadvantage in his social class. Hansberry inserts conflict in this story to show real world connections and feelings. Social classes can be a huge X factor in ones life. It describes where one comes from and some individuals don't exactly accept where they come from. Walter Younger in this play is ashamed of where he is in life. Walter wishes to be more successful like his sister Beaneatha's friend. (Hansberry, page 84) Walter sits with George Murchinson envying his fathers work ethic and money. Walter says "we should sit down and talk sometime, man" this shows Walters want to be more like the Murchinson family. Evidence shows in the articles on the social class and political views of them that ones social standard does mean a lot in the world today.
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Kanai Dozier
4/1/2015 10:45:03 am
In Act II, Hansberry displays the difference between social classes multiple times as George, Beneatha, and Walter interact. In the altercation between George and Walter, Hansberry uses jealousy and a lack of respect of Walter's character upon George's. Walter continuously insults George's white shoes by saying things like, "...They teaching you how to run a rubber plantation or a steel mill? Naw—just to talk proper and read books and wear them fagotty-looking white shoes..." (p.45). Another way Hansberry distinguishes the discrepancy between social classes is how George is reacting overall to Walter's bold behavior. With George being in the higher class, he reacts smarter, as if he's noble, and he "looks at Walter with distaste, a little above it all" and he ignored some of Walter's remarks, as stated in the stage directions, which shows George's self control and discipline (p. 44-45). Hansberry also uses Beneatha a little to display a slight difference in social classes due to who Beneatha pays mind to. Beneatha repeatedly flaunts her intellect, but it is especially admirable when she explains assimilation as "[s]omeone who is willing to give up his own culture and submerge completely in the dominant, and in this case oppressive culture!", which shows the difference between her and her family because of the influence of Asagai. In article three, it states how studies have shown that a rise in class creates less empathetic people. George is an example of that statement because he does not care for Beneatha's mind or what truly interests her; her appearance just pleases him. George does not show sympathy toward the Younger family's situation, he just watches it and gets what he wants out of it, due to his lack of understanding. Article two explains peoples' views on social immobility, which reminds me of Walter. Walter was the first character to come to mind because he is constantly talking about how black people can move on up if they truly work to pursue their dreams. Walter represents not only the struggle, but the future because he uses his struggle's experiences and outcomes to map his future and how he wants to live it; he symbolizes hope and opportunity for the black people who do not quite understand opportunity yet. Beneatha represents the restrictions on females because it was assumed that they could not do a "man's job". Mama represents a leader, who watches over her followers to see and know what they can and cannot handle. Ruth is a symbol of support in comfort through hard times, support on the way to pursuing your dreams.
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marissa michels
4/1/2015 10:48:25 am
The book "A Raisin In The Sun" portrays many examples of "social classes" of the 1960's. A example that Hansberry use in Act two is when George comes over and Walter says "Me and you ought to sit down and talk sometimes, man. Man I got me some ideas (Hansberry, 45)". George so ignorantly gives Walter a rude & disrespectful answer as if he is lower than him socially. Walter feels as if everyone is against him and his idea for the liquor store. Benethea and Walter both want to work hard at achieving their dream and plan on doing what they can to succeed to their best abilities. Also mama buying the new house makes ruth think there going up in life, like as if there going up in social class. Going from a old, rickety, apartment building in the city of Chicago to a all white neighborhood out of the city thats very nice. Hansberry has many more examples of "Social classes" in act two, she has done a nice job in the development of portraying the differences in each class. I think you should define social class rather then it who defines who, classes shouldn't be based on money but on who you are as a person.
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Abby Wiezorkowski
4/1/2015 11:09:52 am
In Act II of "A Raisin in the Sun," Hansberry demonstrates major and minor differences between the different social classes. In this Act, Walter tries to talk to George, Beneatha's date, about his father. Walter says that George's dad and himself should go in business together and talk to each other sometime. George gives Walter a very sarcastic response. "Yeah- sometimes we'll have to do that Walter," George says out of boredom (Hansberry, 84). George's response is one that you would interpret as "Yeah right, like my father would work with a bum like you." It is implied that George does not want anything to do with Walter because of the obvious differences between George's families social class and Walter's. Several studies point to widening gaps between rich and poor in the kinds of factors you would expect to influence mobility, such as the quality of schools or parents’ investment of time and money in their children (www.economist.com).
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David Goralczyk
4/1/2015 11:30:34 am
Hansberry makes a lot of noticeable social statements in Act II. One of the most noticeable was the class of Beneatha. She was a type that was very against all ideas of conformity, in this case being her "boyfriend" George. Walter also shows his opposition to this by saying " Why you college boys always wearin' those faggoty white shoes?" (Hansberry p. 83). Now the reason that Walter and Beneatha do not get along is because Walter wants to only follow his dreams and nothing else,he doesn't are how he gets there but as long as he does it doesn't matter. He also says "Cause we all tied up in a race of people that don't know how to do nothing but moan, pray and have babies!”(Hansberry 86). He is basically saying that the only thing holding him back is the women that love and care for him in his life. Showing that he does not care the way he gets his dream once again. Overall these different social classes are the main factor being presented in this story. The reason Hansberry adds these conflicts into the story is to show how her life was lived, not through people but the experiences she had in life basically not being accepted as a woman.
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William Page
4/1/2015 11:50:03 am
In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, there are prevalent social distinctions- those of race and those of wealth. The former is exampled with Mr. Lindler and Walter, the latter with George Murchison and Walter. This is proven when instead of giving Walter the respect of a rebuttal when Walter says “Why all you college boys wear them faggoty looking white shoes?” (Hansberry 83), he just ignores him.
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Trenton Higgins
4/1/2015 11:59:08 am
In the book "A Rasin In The Sun" they're a lot of social class differences. In the book when George is irritated at Walter because he keeps talking about business to him (Hansberry, 45). George is like this because he doesn't think that Walter and his dad are the same when it comes to business because if they are then they would both be wealthy. Another example of the social class differences is when Mr. Lindner says (Hansberry, 75) "You guys should stay in your own communities." He's saying this because he doesn't want them to live there in the in their communities because they think they are better than the Youngers. The Youngers moving from a small apartment to a new house is also changing there social class because they will be in a different community instead of where everyone lives in apartments. In the new house they would've had to keep up with code and nobody would have been playing with rats like Travis was (Hansberry, 34)
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Chris henckel
4/1/2015 12:05:03 pm
In the book, "A Raisin in the Sun," the main characters, (especially Walter,) all expierienced situations because of conflicting social classes. On page 83, George gets into a confrontation with Walter, while hes drunk. Walter says, "why all you college boys like wearing those faggity white shoes." George rises above by not responding or escalating the situation. This conflict represents clashing social classes because Walter is bashing George over his wealth and shoes, yet thats what Walter aspires to one day have. As Walter states many times throughout the book, all he wants is to be rich. This relates to the articles because in the article about social mobility, it states that many young adults want wealth, but dont put in the effort to achieve it. This relates to Walter very well, as Walter is always looking for the quickest way to gain wealth. This is shown as he wants to open a liquor store with Willy. Walter thinks of it as a way to get easy money, but he dosent think of all the work it will take to become successful. Walter dosen't think of the bills, liquor license, or employees that he would need to take care of. Walter is very similar to many of todays population. Overall, The Raisin in the sun has many conflicts over social class and wealth, and relates to the articles very well.
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Justin Sochko
4/1/2015 12:26:47 pm
In Act II of “A Raisin in the Sun’, Hansberry explores the differences between social classes, and those differences are made very bold. For example, Walter is very stuck on his dream of opening up a liquor store, and is relying on the money that the family inherited from their Fathers life insurance policy. This is very different than someone who works to make their dreams possible. The difference in social class has much to do with those dreams becoming possible. Being low on the list of social classes, also means being low on the list of jobs. Walter says, “Mama, a job? I open and close car doors all day long. . . . Mama, that ain’t no kind of job . . . that ain’t nothing at all.” In The American Spectator article it states "Always, in America as elsewhere, some people have been wealthier and more powerful than others." Putting them on a higher social class. Another example of a social class difference is between Walter and George. George is very uptight and likes to flaunt his money around, he is attending school, and his dreams seem to be made easy, where as Walter comes from a more poor family, and Walter also thinks you do not need to go to school. Walter says to George “What the hell you learning over there? Filling up your heads—with sociology and psychology—but they teaching you how to be a man? How to take over and run the world?” The difference between these two classes shows that education can put you at a higher class than others. Education does not need to teach you to become a man, it makes you a better one. According to Association of Psychological Science, the articles says that "People who come from a lower-class background have to depend more on other people. " This is very true considering Walter is trying to make his dream come true off of money that is not his. Walter also says to George “Me and you ought to sit down and talk sometimes, man. Man, I got me some ideas" Walter wants to be like George, in a higher social class and he is willing to go behind Mamas back, break that trust, and spend the rest of the money Mama gave him. All to make that dream come true, in hope to be in a better social class.
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Brodey Altamirano
4/1/2015 12:30:00 pm
The play "A Raisin In the Sun" explores many topics of controversy, some of which are from a racial aspect and another from a wealth aspect. The Younger family is a lower-class African American family who experience the hardships of trying to change social status first hand. It is shown very well when George comes to the apartment and is waiting for Beneatha, Walter asks George “Why all you college boys wear them faggoty looking white shoes?” (Hansberry 83). When George is asked the question he does not even acknowledge Walter as if he is to low to even deserve a reply.
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Brooklynn Schmanski
4/1/2015 12:32:21 pm
In "A Raisin in the Sun" Hansberry distinctly displayed the differences between the social classes. Walter and his family represent the average middle class, and George represents the wealthy class. These two men represent a social class difference; one is financially capable of achieving his dream and the other is not. Walter is part of the population who want to be above the average Joe and thinks it possible. In the article, "Class in America" ( on economist.com), it says that the amount of people like Wlater has decreased about thirty percent from 1998. Walter talks to George and tells him that he has "...plans that could turn this city upside down..." (Act II Scene I). Walter thinks more outside the box than the average middle class man. Walter believes that he has the ability to make himself wealthy and a business man.
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Brooklynn Schmanski
4/1/2015 12:41:02 pm
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21595437-america-no-less-socially-mobile-it-was-generation-ago-mobility-measured
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Jade Harrison
4/1/2015 12:48:01 pm
In Act II of “A Raisin in the Sun’, Hansberry explains differences between social classes, and makes those differences known. For example Walter and George come from two completely different social classes. Walter depends on his fathers life insurance, does not believe in getting a good education, and wants to be in a higher social class. Walter on the other hand has money to flaunt, depends on himself, and is in the process of getting an education. George is at a higher social class than Walter is. Walter says to George “Me and you ought to sit down and talk sometimes, man. Man, I got me some ideas." Walter wants to be higher in social class. The article Association of Psychological Science says that "Wealthier people don’t have to rely on each other as much." Which is very true, considering George relies on himself, and Walter is relying on money that is not his. Also, in the article about social mobility, it states that "many young adults want wealth, but dont put in the effort to achieve it." Walter is not doing anything to achieve his goal except relying on the check. You have to work and have a good job to make your dreams possible. Walter is unhappy with his job and goes off and "drives for miles" instead of trying to make a difference. There are Higher social classes being George, and what Walter wants to be, and there are the lower classes what Walter is in displayed in the play.
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Shayna Suit
4/1/2015 02:01:08 pm
In Act II of “A Raisin in the Sun”, Hansberry shows many aspects of differences in social classes. She shows not only how hard it is to live in lower classes, but also how difficult it is to move up in class. As the research shows in the article “Class in America: Mobility, Measured”, most people in America are unable to move up in class, and many do not even believe that they have that possibility. A majority of people in this country tend to make about the same amount of money that their parents did. Hansberry shows this immobility through the countless failures of the Youngers’ dreams. Walter explains his dreams of success like “…there’s going to be offices—a whole lot of offices…”; however, this dream does not come true(Hansberry, 547). As it says in the article “Social Class as Culture”, “People from lower-class backgrounds are better at reading other people’s emotions.” This is shown through the differences in personalities of George Murchison, who is rich, and Asagai, who is not. Asagai is, for the most part, supportive of Beneatha’s ways, while George is not, and tries to make her the way that he wants her to be. Hansberry shows these conflicts in order to show how messed up our society and social structure is.
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Brandon Gann
4/4/2015 01:47:56 am
Throughout Act two of A Raisin in the Sun. Hansberry explores the differences in social classes at the time of the play's creation. Tension is social classes can be seen when Walter attempts to reach out to George and his father for the possibility of opening a business and not being paid any attention to by George to the point where Beneatha and George disagree about the importance of school and college. The act, as well as the rest of the book is filled with social class differences.
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Jazmine W
4/16/2015 11:04:25 am
In the book “A Raisin in the Sun”, Hansberry writes many different hardships the Younger's, along with the rest of African Americans, had to face during this time of discrimination. To understand what a colored person may feel, you have to be in there shoes. Hansberry depicts the feelings and conflicts they have gone through.The Younger’s are not rich nor have a big home while Bennie’s friend, George Murchison, is very rich in this time. Both of these families are black, but Murchison has the benefit of the doubt. Walter picks on Murchison’s wealth and social class when he said “Why all you college boys wear them faggoty looking white shoes?” (Hansberry, 83). Murchison doesn't even react as if Walter was lower than him. Another point of how classes change perspective, Bennie values education and her thoughts, Murchison thinks women should just be there for a man’s need and shut up. Murchison is already more privileged because of the wealth so, i don't think he sees education as such a big deal. Beneatha has to work fro education, it is not handed to her like Murchison’s would be.This point may also be said in the Article “The Economist”. This article says that people born in a certain social class will have an advantage, where people from a lower class may have to work a lot harder for the same goal.
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