Sushmit Dutta

English 10
7 October 2015
Mr. Thomas

One Lens Essay: Gender

Intro:
1) Thesis - In the play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, one
extensive theme present is the conflict between mens and womens attitudes
towards their traditional roles in the society and their struggle to obtain their
dream role.
Body 1 (Men - Walter):
1) TS a) Traditional roles (Breadwinners, Superior)
b) Struggles (Earning for family, taking responsibility)
2) Expand a) Makes them think they are leaders (as they earn)
b) Struggles leads to depression - take out on women

3) Examples - Walter (chauvinistic, frustrated, irresponsible)

a) Pg 34 -"This morning, I was lookin' in the mirror and thinking
about it. . . . I'm thirty-five years old; I been married eleven years and I got
a boy who sleeps in the living room."
i)
Struggle showed - His dreams are inaccessible
b) Pg 33 - Man say to women : I got me a dream Your eggs
is getting cold!
i)
Struggle showed - Money, Opportunity
c) Pg 94 - What you need me to say you done right for? You
the head of this family
i)
Mama takes his responsibility - angers Walter
Body 2 (Women - Ruth and Mama):
1) TS -

a) Traditional roles (Follower, Housewifes, Cook, have Kids)

b) Struggles - Follow stereotype, less opportunity, inequality,
sacrifice
2) Expand a) Their roles in society reflect their dependency on men
b) Have to think good about the family but never appreciated
about it
3) Examples (against graft - pg 33) a) Pg 75 - When the world gets ugly enough - a woman will do
anything for her family. The part thats already living
i)
Shows her sacrifice for family - Walter doesnt
appreciate it
b) Pg 75 - Im waiting to hear you say something
i)
Shows how dependent they are
c) Pg 42 - I dont know what it is- but he needs somethingsomething I cant give him anymore. He needs his chance, Lena
i)
Shows dependence and hopelessness
Body 3 (Women - Beneatha)
1) TS
a) The one who goes against the traditional values
b) Struggles - has high dreams but others are deferring her
dreams
2) Expand
a) As langston hughes talks about the deferred dream explodes
b) Important for the society as this mindset leads to equality
3) Examples
a) Pg 37 - 39 - And forgive me for ever wanting to be anything
at all Who the hell told you to be a doctor
i)
Walter deferring her dreams + telling her she
cant
ii)
Shows her

b) Pg 48 - Shallow - what do you mean hes shallow? Hes

rich!

i)

Being forced to follow traditional roles (but she

doesnt)
c) Pg 50 - George for one still thinks thats pretty funny ..
(Kindly) Course you going to be a doctor honey
i)
Society telling her that she doesnt have a
chance (wants to be independent)

Conclusion

1) Do the characters get what they had dreamt?

a) Walter - Realizes that his dream was wrong (was based on
money)
b) Ruth - Gets to move out (but to a white neighborhood)
c) Beneatha - Gets a chance to become a doctor
2) Answer Essential Questions
a) Is the American Dream Accessible?
i)
Future women (CEOs, single mothers)
ii)
Contrast: Ruth vs Hillary Clinton
iii)
Immigration
iv)
Women on the dollar bill