MAMA. Son—how come you talk so much 'bout money?
WALTER. Because it is life, Mama!
MAMA. Oh—now it's life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it's money. I guess the world really do change...
WALTER. No—it was always about money, Mama. We just didn't know about it. (74)
Money. Freedom. We can't away from these two subjects in this class. I didn't necessarily plan it that way, and I know damn sure that Scott Fitzgerald did not have a talk with Arthur Miller, David Mamet, John Jay Osborn Jr., nor Lorraine Hansberry about money and freedom and the American Dream. How can one talk about American without talking about money and freedom?
1. Let's keep this simple. Everybody respond to this question: looking at this exchange above and the response that Mama gives to Walter, and then Walter's anguished "You just don't understand, Mama, you just don't understand," who do you think is right—Lena or Walter? You've been saying for days that Americans are predisposed to be selfish and self-serving, driven by the desire for more money—that's just the way it is—yet here is Lena running a different narrative. And Hansberry refuses to answer the debate. So go ahead and do so.
2. Period Two: Would you comment on Joseph Asagai or the rat scene with Travis? What is its purpose, in your mind, in the play? And your response to the particular scene? Please don't simply repeat or agree with what others say—try to bring a new perspective or add to the conversation being made.
2. Period Five: Would you comment on Lena's reaction to the check finally coming or on Ruth's visit to the woman and putting a five-dollar down payment on an abortion? What is its purpose, in your mind, in the play? And your response to the
particular scene? Please don't simply repeat or agree with what others
say—try to bring a new perspective or add to the conversation being made.
Okay, guys. I hope you're enjoying the play. I've read it several times and still find it strikingly moving and complex. We'll look at Danny Glover as Walter tomorrow (and maybe in the coming days P-Diddy as Walter—he's not bad). See you tomorrow.
1. I think Mama is right. Life is about freedom. This is really cliche, but money can't buy happiness. Money won't buy Walter's happiness or his American Dream. I think Walter's hidden dream is freedom. I think that's what Walter wants. I think he feels trapped and suffocated. He wants to explore and be free. It's just like in the Great Gatsby, Gatsby was rich and wealthy, but at times he felt trapped and still wanted more. Walter wants to be on his own and provide for his family and not serve another white family. Walter wants to do what he desires to do. I think Walter thinks money is what his family and he desires or needs, but they truly desire freedom. Life isn't about money. Life is about freedom and happiness.
ReplyDelete2. I think Lena's reaction to the check coming was very "Mama-like". She was very calm and humble. She said, "I spec if it wasn't for you all... I would just put that money away or give it to the church or something." Mama didn't seem that enthusiastic about it. I think the scene when Ruth, Walter, and Mama are discussing Ruth's baby and abortion really shows Ruth's, Walter's, and Mama's priorities and perspectives. Walter seems like he doesn't care about Ruth and the baby. The first thing on his mind is the money and the liquor store. He was frustrated and didn't feel like discussing with Ruth about their baby, therefore he walks out on her. Mama clearly cares abut her family and her values. But I think Ruth believes it will be best for her and Walter, the family, and herself if she doesn't have the baby.
Personally, I think that Mama is correct. I think that life is more about freedom, but personally I think that is beside the point. The most important part about what Mama says, the part that makes her correct, is "I guess the world really do change..." She is correct in saying this because she, unlike Walter, understands that life and life's goals and the American Dream are things that change over time and with the generations. In the next part of the dialogue Mama talks about how back in her day it was about freedom and overcoming the hardships that the color of their skin created. And I think that is absolutely correct, and overcoming that was the dream at the time. But now, in this day and age as Walter proposes, the dream and the focus in life is money, and he is also not wrong in saying this. But Walter says, "It was always about money" and this is where I feel he does not understand in the way Mama does. Mama realizes that they have different dreams and different views on what is important in life, but she acknowledges that the focus on freedom really has shifted to money, and Walter thinks that it has always been about money and disregards his mother's valid dream and focus on freedom. So, I say that it is Walter who, "just don't understand".
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the scene with the rat, I found it kind of funny. I found it rather cute how Travis, just a young, naive boy, didn't know any better than to play with a rat. I didn't exactly understand why Ruth gets so upset by this. But then I read it again, and I found the scene a lot more serious and I understood why Ruth is so upset about it. I think that this whole thing is put in the play to really show how far into poverty they have fallen. So far that Travis is playing with rats to entertain himself, and more importantly, so far that Travis finds it normal to do so. His mom sees this and understands how it really shows the state they are living in financially, and it upsets her that her son is stuck living like this because they simply don't have money to change it. Any mother or father would be upset if they could not provide for their kid to the extent that they have to play with rats to entertain themselves and to the extent that they don't think twice about it.
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ReplyDelete1. I agree with Erin and Sam in saying that Mama is right. I think there are plenty of people in this world that don’t have money but are still happy and can find some joy in their situation. I do think that Americans have a predisposed want for money and a luxurious lifestyle because that’s what the American society defines as success but I think that’s the structure of America, not the world. Also I think Lena thinks differently from Walter because, as she said, she grew up in a time where the only thing she worried about was making sure she made it up North with a pinch of dignity and without getting lynched. The time that Walter lives in is a society where business is about to hit its peak and America is blossoming and Walter isn’t getting a share in the economic jackpot. From understanding the time that Walter is living in, I can see why he thinks that money is everything, however I think Lena is right because you don’t always need money to define yourself as a success. Lena didn’t have money and she seems to think she was successful in raising Walter and Beneatha and keeping them out of trouble, in that case, money didn’t have anything to do with her achieving that.
ReplyDelete2. Lena’s reaction was just pure shock I think. I don’t think it ever hit her that there was an actual check for $10,000 coming in the mail; she just let herself think about it like a dream. I think her reaction was very, as Erin said, “Mama-like” because she immediately thought about the people around her and what they should do with the money, not what she wants. She only thought about getting a house, but not a house for herself, a house for the family and she hasn’t been selfish with it. I think Mama is one of those characters that will continue to protect and care for her family until the day she dies. As for Ruth, I think she is also very similar to Mama in the sense that she is only doing what she thinks is right for the family because she knows her family cannot raise another child. I think what she’s doing is very unselfish too because she has to go against Mama’s beliefs on abortion, she didn’t talk to Walter about it, she’s dealing with it all internally and trying to keep the family afloat. I think Ruth is just trying to figure out what the right thing to do is and how she can make it easier for her family.
1. I think that Walter is right. I wish to believe that life is about freedom and reaching equality but in my opinion, life is about survival. I think that what drives many people is the desire or need for money. Freedom is great but after one achieves it, life continues and the importance of money is vital. I believe that we live in a society where economic wealth is necessary in order to be part of society itself. Otherwise, one would struggle to be able to do somethings that others with more money are capable of doing. In a sense, having money is a freedom that not everybody posses.
ReplyDelete2. I think that Mama was not prepare for what the money meant. It appears that she has lived her life with little money and having such an amount of money startled her. I think this is the same case as people who win money and do not know what to do with it. Many wish to be rich but few people know how to handle that amount. Also it can be that she realizes that this money can tear her family apart because it seems that all of them need the money. Most of the members of the family believe the check could save them, but it might be that it destroys them.
1. I think there's something to be said for each side. None of us here at Paideia can argue that money has no meaning in our lives. Money isn't everything, but it sure does help. We always talk about how we are automatically in a better position because of Paideia and what that means and in turn that allows us to do whatever makes us happy. I do believe that one can achieve happiness without going to prep school and without coming from a wealthy family but I also believe that it can be much harder to do so. In a lot of ways I have a much easier life than many other people. I get to go to a private school which will help me go to college which my dad is paying for. People with money often have more freedom to "express" themselves. On the other hand, this does not mean that all wealthy people are happy. We all know that. There are things that money simply can't offer like we saw in Great Gatsby, but I understand the pressure to live a wealthy life and how that can be assumed to make all other problems go away.
ReplyDelete2. The scene with the rat is really sad. Travis, a young boy, is just trying to have fun. However Ruth, pregnant with another child, is watching her son play with a rat because she and Walter can't offer him anything more. I feel really bad for Ruth because they're already struggling to make ends meet and now she has to figure out what to do with another child and how that will factor in. This scene sets up the issue from the parents' side: how do we provide enough for our son? This also sets up the issue of the money: who deserves it most?
1. I definitely agree with Amanda here. I can’t say for sure that either one is right, because yes, while I’d love to argue that life is not money and that you can truly live without money, money really does help pave the way to happiness though “you can’t buy happiness.” It’s very hard for anyone who attends Paideia to argue that money isn’t a big part of our life. It’s not the sole purpose, but it’s definitely a help. We each have our own thing that gives us happiness and helps direct us towards what we think is life, or living to the fullest maybe. Being honest, money probably plays a large role into that one thing, whether it’s cooking or playing soccer or playing music or not even a flitting hobby like that, but something much bigger like being a doctor.
ReplyDelete2. 2. The scene with the rat really shows Travis’ innocence and childishness and how much he is a kid. He’s trying to get out of this house and just have fun but the only means to do so are with a rat. He’s oblivious to the problems between his mom and dad for the most part, but he does see the struggle in their family for money. While he is really trying to enjoy himself and his childhood, or maybe distract himself from the problems at home, his mother just put a $5 down payment on an abortion, which currently costs “at health centers…from about $300 to $950 for abortion in the first trimester.” (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/abortion/in-clinic-abortion-procedures-4359.asp) This really shows just the juxtaposition of both Travis’ naïve and innocent view of his world and his mothers view on the world, as well as the difference between this family’s situation and our situations, which we’ve discussed in class before.
1. I think Walter is right. The time that the play takes place in is all about consumerism and the concept of buying stuff to achieve the American Dream is starting to become more and more popular. The world does seem to revolve around money and the power it brings. Money is controlling everything, including the Younger family's freedom. They are all restrained by their financial situation. They have to work and can not do anything they choose to do for fear of not being able to put food on the table or not being able to keep their apartment. Today we criticized Beneatha for her "fliting" and for the fact that she is hurting her family by pursuing her freedom by not choosing to get married and by deciding to get an education and by trying new things like guitar lessons and horseback riding. She's hurting the family by wasting their resources to express herself. I think that life is money, especially for this family where it is scarce, and not about freedom because in this case, Beneatha's displays of freedom lead to reprimand because they are viewed as carless and flitty.
ReplyDelete2. Ruth's decision to seek out an abortion was not completely surprising to me. I think Ruth cares so much for her family and by having a baby, while it would be a terrific addition to the family, it would hurt their situation because Ruth would have to stop working for a period of time and then the baby would be another mouth to feed. I think a possible reason she's so upset when she gets home after the doctor is that she wants the baby but she knows it would put an enormous strain on the family and Ruth is all about providing stability for her family, and a costly new baby would jeopardize that.
1. I think that Walter is definitely right. His family has no money and is living in the ghettos. Of COURSE its all about money because that will get him and his family out. This family is already so oppressed and supposedly "inferior" to others that having money really would get them ahead. This would give them the freedom and independence that Lena is speaking of. I think that she is simply older and has a different mind set than Walter. She experience so many things that Walter did not. I think that Lena is really damaging the family by refusing to put this money to good use. However, I do agree with her in that putting the money into Walter's idea is not a good move, but she does need to realize that the money needs to be invested in someway.
ReplyDelete2. I can definitely understand why Ruth would put a down payment on an abortion. She and her family are already struggling so much to cope and get by with their limited amount of money, so why would she bring in another life to make it that much harder to get by? She would also be providing her child with a life that she already regrets that Travis has to live through. This is a really sad but extremely important decision that she has to make. However, I am not sure while Ruth still wants an abortion even though her family is getting $10,000.
1. I agree with Amanda and Molly. I want to make it simple and say that money doesn't make happiness, but I'm not sure that's true. I think for Lena life was freedom. But just as freedom was the most important thing that she had to overcome in her life, money is what Walter finds the most important. Walter has a point; his life does revolve around money. I don't have to think about money the same way Walter does, but it is still hugely important in my life. On the other hand, I would still have family and friends even if I was poor. And Walter has these things, but I think his finances put a heavy strain on those relationships. I think the most important thing is how an individual handles and views money. A millionaire isn't necessarily happier than the Youngers are. I think money easily better a life, but it does not define one.
ReplyDelete2. I think Ruth putting down the money for an abortion really accentuates just how poor they are. In my opinion, it seemed that Ruth sees an abortion as the only option, because there is no way they can afford another child. The scene was especially powerful combined with the Travis-rat scene. In their neighborhood, the kids play by killing rats. Ruth and the other women clearly find this very upsetting. I think in some ways Ruth agrees with Lena that a sibling would be great for Travis, but Ruth thinks it would be cruel to bring a child into their world.
1. I think that Walter is right. Freedom is key to life, but freedom is not possible without money. Money is essential to happiness. People love to say that all you really need is love, and money is not important. In fact, a popular, old band wrote a song on that very subject—I forget their name. But the people in this family have love. They have each other. They’re a strong family. They support each other and they take care of each other, but I don’t get the sense that any of them are really happy (save Travis, who is still to young to have become unhappy). Ruth has lost all motivation to make any sort of improvement in her life. She just seems defeated. She’s completely justified in that as well. Walter is clinging to scraps of a dream that he knows, will never really come true. He feels like a complete failure. Mama is the head of a household that has never led a comfortable life. She’s seen her dreams disappear before her eyes. Her husband actually died from working himself too hard. Beneatha is restless. She needs to escape their impoverished little life and start a life of her own. She has the potential to be happy because she’s in college and will (hopefully) move on to medical school. She’ll have the opportunity to be happy, because she will have money. Doctors tend to have a pretty nice salary. She may make less than her white, male counterparts, but she’ll make a hell of a lot more than Walter and Ruth have. There’s a reason they all get so excited in the days leading up to the arrival of that check. That money is freedom. They can do something to try and better their tired lives with it. They can start looking for a new place to live, or invest in Beneatha’s future. They all have the love thing down. If they had money, all of their major problems would be solved. Maybe if they had money, they would be excited about the prospect of having a new baby instead of discussing a possible abortion. It’s probably what they need to do, but I can only imagine the psychological toll it will take on all of them. It applies to my family as well. We’re not rich, and we’re not poor. We live comfortably, and I’ll get to go to college. I’m happy. But I’m not going to pretend like winning the lottery tomorrow wouldn’t be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the rat scene shows just how innocent Travis is. Ruth is upset because she sees that poverty is truly all Travis knows. The fact that he’s happy playing with a rat means that she hasn’t been able to give him enough for him to even want anything more. She’d rather he feel that playing with rats is below him. She sees that, despite all of her hard work, her son still plays with animals that live in the sewers.
1) I don't believe that either Walter or Mama are wrong. I believe that Walter agrees with Mama, but knows that she can't understand where he's coming from. Mama is wrong in that times have changed. The goal of freedom hasn't changed, the path to freedom has. Walter understands that fact and knows that money is needed to start down the path to success. Walter and Mama share the goal of freedom. Because Mama grew up with the intention of overcoming oppression, she feels that freedom should be behind every motive of Walter's. Walter wants success for his family that will open the gates to freedom. Like Amanda said, I'd be lying if I said money wasn't a huge help on the path to happiness. Walter must not let wealth blind him from his quest for freedom. It will be interesting to see Walter on his attempt at happiness.
ReplyDelete2) Lena's reaction to the check was an indicator of the wisdom she brings to the family. She believes that the family should not revolve around money, and the check should not dominate their thoughts and lives. Walter, Beneatha and Ruth all have different ideas on how to spend the money. Lena's wisdom shows in her patience and depth of thought over the check. Her selflessness is evident as well, she doesn't even consider spending it on herself (like her family members are), she instantly considers the options for her family. Lena is a great mother figure.
1. I agree with Amanda, Molly, and Zoe. I can't say that Mama is right or Walter is right. I think that money and freedom go hand in hand. To have freedom money is necessary, but to get money a certain amount of freedom is needed. You can't have one without the other. The Younger family lacks most of both because they are not in a position where they can get the jobs that pay a lot of money and they don't have the money to move upwards in society. The Younger family has a certain amount of freedom and money but not enough to do a lot of good. Beneatha's doctor dreams and Walter's liquor store are two ways to break out of the system of monotonous domestic jobs and flat income that only gets the family by a day at a time. They are both right, but both freedom and money are necessary to get anywhere near the American dream.
ReplyDelete2. I understand why Ruth wants to get an abortion. Even with the check her family is not in a good place for another child. She is doing everything possible for her family. Mama tries to explain this to Walter, "When the world gets ugly enough- a woman will do anything for her family" (75). Ruth is doing this for Travis and for a better future. She does not know how the family could support another child in this ugly world. The family can barely support the members that are alive already. Ruth lives in the real world while Walter is stuck in a dream world where everything works out and he can support his new son or daughter. He banks everything on the liquor store, while Ruth can understand that the $10,000 check is Mama's. Ruth loves Walter, but she wants him to wake up in the world they live in.
I agree with Erin in that I also think that Walter’s true dream is freedom. He wants to free himself and his family from the kind of exhausting work which killed his father. Walter wants to free himself and have a job he is happy to work at, not one which society expects for a man like him in a neighborhood like his to have. He wants to free his family from the crammed apartment and lifestyle and make a change, move up, have more independence, and make it so that Travis can grow up and have even more opportunities. However, I think that Walter falsely thinks that money is life, because money can lead to more freedom in the sense that it offers more and different opportunities for people. All the craziness about the check and what is to be done with the money has made Walter forget that unlike business, family will always be loyal and loving and freedom is crucial if one wants to advance and make his own decisions in the world.
ReplyDeleteIn the scene with Asagai we see Beneatha’s 20 year old characteristics brought out even more. She is not sure of what she wants; she likes Asagai, but does not want to settle down yet. Beneatha clearly still has all the energy and hope of a young girl…it seems Ruth instead has lost this. I also think the scene with Asagai addresses the fact that Beneatha snobby remarks, demonstrating intellectual superiority towards Mama, are not needed for Mama and Asagai to get along; simply Mama’s polite manners (invitation to have a meal with them) is enough for a pleasant greeting.
1. That is a difficult question. But I have to agree with Walter here. The name of it escapes me, but I remember watching a movie starring Denzel Washington, where he takes a group of strangers hostage in a hospital to demand ransom to pay for his sons heart surgery. The movie wasnt exremely memorable, but one line stuck with me that I think really captures this play here too, and Walter's mentality. As Denzel was talking to his son for what he thought would be the last time, (can't give away the ending), he said to him, "Everything is easier with money, son". I cannot help but agree with him. Freedom is life, but in this day and age, at many times freedom is not possible without money. Social class and status can in some ways determine one's social freedom. I think Walter, in some ways, takes on Denzel Washington's mentality that the only way to truly get what he wants, is with money." His freedom is already given to him, and just as Americans do, he reaches higher. More. He wants more, and to get more he needs Money.
ReplyDelete2. Joseph Asagai I believe represents A foreign figure for the Younger family. He says he is from Nigeria, and through the gifts he gives Benethea and the talk of his travel to canada, It is safe to say he is wealthy. When he leaves, Mama begins mocking Benethea, talking about how handsome he is and such, but I think in a way he is an out for the family, just like the other men that fight for Benethea's affections. He represents a kind of door to social transcendence. Maybe.
1. At first I agreed with Mama-- of course life is about freedom and equality, but now I've come to realize (more like finally made myself accept) that money is needed for this equality now. Obviously money cannot buy happiness, but it gives you the opportunity to live life however you choose. To experience life in fuller ways, and not to be bogged down with financial burden. Having money levels the playing field in terms of race and gender as well. Class is a huge divider, and to me it seems like we avoid confronting this fact. The fact that The Youngers are stuck, and Lena is trying to make Walter be happy and accept how he is living in the ghetto. To be happy with the way life is because she doesn't see their lives changing any time soon. Ruth and Mama have come to accept their financial oppression.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with Christine and Jenny. I completely understand Ruth's decision in putting a down payment for an abortion. It's a horrible decision, and I think that abortion should be completely last resort, of course, but Ruth sees how her child would live if she did decide to keep it. I agree with Zoe that the author uses this to show the absolute desperation of the Younger family, but also to put into question: is life money? When Walter finally finds out about Ruth's situation, we already know he NOW believes life is all about money. The baby is just another hurdle is his way to the goal. I don't think that Walter completely disregards the importance of a baby's life, but I do believe he is thinking of his family's best interest as well. Accepting the baby would mean giving up his dream. This scene shoves everyone's values to the forefront as these characters grapple with who they are, what they need, and what they desire.
1. In my opinion, there are two uses of money in this world. Money to get what you want, and money to get what you need. Walter doesn't want the money because he needs it. He wants the money because he wants to be rich. Walter buys into the idea that to be successful and happy you have to be affluent. Walter is upset because he can't realize his dream of being rich. In all honesty, I think Walter should be more focused on his wife than on starting up a liquor store, but he is so enraptured in the idea of the liquor store that he doesn't pay attention to her. In some ways Walter has the characteristics to a gambling addict. No matter how much money he makes, he will always be drawn back to the dream of making more money. Although he thinks that a new house will make him happy, within a year he'll be dreaming of an even bigger house. It's an ideology in life that is very unfortunate to have, because satisfaction is impossible. In this argument, I think that I'm going to have to side with Lena. To me this seems to be a question of personal beliefs, and I believe that money is not nearly as important as freedom. I definitely don't think that, as Walter says, "money is life".
ReplyDelete2. To me, Asagai is the voice of sanity in a world where everyone is going crazy. He is the only one who realizes how ridiculous life has become in America. He exposes Benethea to all of the bullshit that she believes is true. He remarks upon her hair and how it is unnatural. He remarks on how women in America are extremely oppressed. In a way he represents exactly what Benethea wishes she was. He is African, cultured, and intelligent, and all of the things that Benethea covets. He is almost like a dream, a hallucination of what life could be like for the Younger's.
1. I think they are both right, in a way, yet Walter more so. Lena is right in that nowadays people are so predisposed to judging social standing, happiness and success solely based on income. We grow more and more money-based as a society every day. Walter, however, does have a point. When looking back through history, no matter how much we try to say that decisions used to be made for the sake of freedom, the underlying reason was always money. It is the driving force in our society, it always has been and always will be. Most people tend to be in agreement on this one. We all hope for a world where freedom prevails, we like to look at history through biased glasses pretending that every decision was made for the well-being of all mankind. This, however, is extremely naive and, unfortunately, quite inaccurate.
ReplyDelete2. I think this scene with Travis just shows how much the poverty is integrated into his life. The older generations in this play seem so taken aback by all of it. They see the ways out, they hold onto the hope that life will be better. While Travis isn't pessimistic at all, he simply cannot see any alternative. In a way this bit reminded me of Room by Emma Donahue. Jack, the small boy in the novel who was born into an 11x11 square foot room and has never left it, knows nothing of the world besides room. Travis knows only the world of poverty. Like Jack, he has to make due with the small amount he is given. He thrives on the small amount, however, because he does not know, unlike Jack's mother or any of the other characters in this play, that there is more to life than the poverty, the rats.
1. Lena and Walter view freedom in their own ways. Walter sees this money as freedom, a way to get out of the lynching South and into the North. Mama, however much I like her, is looking at a new world through old eyes, and that will hold her back. In the situation that these people are in, I agree with Walter, but Mama has the same idea in different terms. Walter needs the money to raise himself and his family out of the ghetto and into a middle class life, and without the money he would not have the freedom to do so. In this America, money is absolutely necessary for any kind of mobility. The check allows for freedom that is unheard of to a chauffeur and a nanny, and Walter’s decision to invest in something, although risky, gives him the once in a lifetime shot to rise above his beginnings.
ReplyDelete2. Lena’s initial reaction to the check is likely the same reaction that many of us would have if we had won the lottery, but the control she demonstrates afterwards, as well as the emotional realization of what the check is replacing, sets her apart from the lot of us. I think that the scene’s purpose is to have us recognize the long, hard life that Lena has lived through with her husband, and the unimportance that a slip of paper holds compared to the life of a loving husband and father. It makes us question what the significance of money is in our lives, and if it can be held on par with our family.
1. I feel like this question as a whole can not be answered in a manner of right or wrong. Honestly it seems like they simply differ in their priorities. While Walter focuses on the monetary aspects of life, Mama focuses on living with what you have. Either is a valid life choice with it's own benefits and downfalls. While someone may be more or less inclined to side with one or the other there's no way anyone can say definitively that one or the other is the right one. It's all a matter of personal opinion. In the same way I think it's ridiculous that Walter would argue that, "it's always been about money" considering the fact that he's basing this entirely on his own life experiences and not taken into consideration what the experiences of another person may be, and how those experiences might shape their opinion on this topic.
ReplyDelete2. As many have said before me, Ruth's decision to have an abortion is honestly understandable on many levels. the fact that she is two months in puts it within todays relatively national abortion laws, and it would put both Ruth and the family in a much less stressful and strained position in the future. The most interesting aspect of this drama is Walter's decision not to challenge Ruth. I think this may be the first example of common sense coming from Walter, and one of the moments when Mama is putting her belief that life begins at conception is stepping in the way of her common sense. Over all, I support Ruth's decision and think it is an interesting commentary especially for the time period.
1. I agree with Mama here over Walter. I can see both sides of the argument, but I feel that life is more than just money. That Walter needs something more than money. I feel that he is searching for something that isn't there. A past feeling of joy and excitement that was lost. I feel that he will keep searching until he has fallen so far that he won't be able to fix himself. I agree with Mama because I feel that Walter is just obsessed in his little plan of becoming someone he is not. I feel that everyone else can see that Walter would be hurting his family more than helping, but all Walter can think about is changing himself. He is a sad character because he sees himself as a failure and the only way for him to change that in his mind is to have money.
ReplyDelete2. I was shocked by the fact Ruth was having another baby and the concept of abortion arose so quickly. I think the unspoken code or language between the women in this play is very interesting and seems to have deep knowledge unto things not even spoken aloud yet. Mama knew what Ruth was thinking while Walter didn't have the slightest clue. This decision rips the family apart. With Walter storming out on the last page of the reading all hope seems lost. I feel the strongest emotions would come from Ruth. Letting another child be consumed by poverty is something Ruth just can't do and I respect that. I am extremely disappointed along with Mama about Walters behavior in just walking out at the end of the scene and hope he will redeem himself later on in the play.
I think it is interesting to see Lena's perspective on what success is- not having to worry about being lynched and having your own home. Yet I don't think that Walter will ever be satisfied with where he is. He has an innate desire to move up, to better himself and his family. And I think he's afraid that he can't do it, and the task will fall to Beneatha. In a way, neither of them are completely right about what being contented is. They represent two sides of the same coin: Walter the material and Mama the immaterial. Perhaps that's a rather existential way of putting it, but it is somewhat right. I tend to err on the optimistic side of things, believing that self-fufillment comes not only from having money, but from doing things that are important to you. Walter certainly doesn't have this, or even the option to do something he enjoys (he clearly doesn't enjoy his job or the social status it affords him), and this might be one of the reasons he is so restless.
ReplyDeleteThe scene with Travis kind of normalizes what would be a shocking scene in most "normal" households. But in the South Side, it's everyday life, having to deal with these things, including cockroaches likened to famous French dictators. Travis, being raised in such an environment, thinks it perfectly commonplace (and great fun).
1. I, like most other people that I saw, feel that both Walter and Lena are right in their own way. To Lena, freedom is life, and in a sense, it is. Nothing more purely defines your life than being able to do what you want to do, and being able to be yourself without, as Lena says it, being “worried about not being lynched and getting to the north is we could and hot to stay alive and still have a pinch of dignity too. . .” Walter, though, I feel is, “more” correct. Money makes the world go around. It is the driving force of people nowadays. It is, and was back then as well, necessary to sustain life. Without it, you can’t get food, clean water, or anything else. Walter, we can see, is reaching out to get out of this lifestyle. He sees no future for himself, and he knows that he needs money to change that, but would have to bet everything, including a possible steady climb out of their situation (buying a house, Beneatha becoming a doctor).
ReplyDelete2. I feel like the rat scene shows just how far poverty is ingrained into Travis’ lifestyle. He knows of nothing else, and so, playing with a rat, chasing it around with other kids, is no big deal. He even seems excited by it, remarking that it was as big as cat. Plus, he is working on keeping the roaches out, when most of us don’t have to worry about that. I know that if I saw a rat as big as a cat, or a roach, I would freak out. One, because my cat is huge, and two, because I hate roaches. But the younger family has been living in this state since before Walter and Beneatha were born, and so this sense of being in poverty seems normal to one as Travis.
I think both point are valid but it ultimately comes down to the difference in generations and how things are in the current year of the play. Mama is correct when she states that freedom is life, but now life is about money which defines ones success and how their life will turn out. Money is also what gives people their social status and power. So I believe Walter is right when he says "life is money " but not completely when he states "it was always money." Walter feels money and the check is the solution to their problems and will help then overcome some of the stereotypes which oppress them. He feels money will make up for his failure and he will become successful in class and race. He strongly feels money will help him become free of a lot of his problems and help him provide for his family. Mama is trying to show Walter that he does not need money to be free and that he can be a free man even with what he has.
ReplyDeleteMama knows what the check and that amount if money means for every member of the family and she acts like the head of the household that she is and keeps her humble attitude with the arrival of the check. She is surprise at first because of the great sum, but she realizes she has to control that power she has to prevent the money from dividing the family. I agree with Alex and how he says that Mama reflects on the fact that a paper has come in to help out with the passing if her husband. She also realizes that her family has become driven by hopes and dreams.
Freedom and money are one and the same. Lena's generation hasn't seen the need for so much money because they were content with a roof and a home cooked meal. Walter is justified in wanting more, and you need money to do what he dreams of doing. Walter and Beneatha are the driving forces of a new age. They have that innate desire to continuously improve, to get bigger and better. That is part of the American spirit just as much as opportunity. For Lena freedom was the fight she had to win, and she succeeded. He had a home for her family and gave them what she didn't have, but now the children are faced with a new problem; being spoiled in a sense. They did not have to fight for what Lena did, so they are lost. Instead of looking for opportunity, they are faced with a world where they must buy their freedom.
ReplyDeleteGood 'ole Mama, she knows what's important, and money ain't it for her. The happiness of her family is first and foremost. She might be a little disconnected as to what it means to her children, but her decision to not give any of it to Walter is a wise one. He can't be playing around with money like that at his age. There is too much at stake. Beneatha's education is a much safer bet, and it brings joy, whereas the liquor store is just another desperate attempt to get out of Mama's house. If it doesn't pan out, walter won't have a degree or an education or anything of value. The fact that the check is a piece of paper makes it seem so ordinary that Lena can't really get excited. Her life hasn't changed yet with the arrival of this mundane envelope. The only thing she can do is be reasonable for the sake of the sanity of the family, who hasn't seen this sum of money before in on enlace, and who has no idea how fast it can be spent.
1. I think that Walter is right. Money has been and always will be one of the only things that matters and motivates people. Mama seems very innocent about the world around her, and sees her small world inside the walls of her house, and not much more, while I think Walter is exposed to the outside world and sees how it works everyday in his job. He is a chauffeur and drives around rich white men who work in a world where everything is about money. I disagree with Mama only because yes at one point it was about freedom, but at the same time is has always been about money, People wanted freedom so that they could earn a living. To Have a family and have the ability to support their family. Money has always motivated people to change and to protest. Money is a very important cause of a lot of major historical events, including freedom.
ReplyDelete2. I admire Ruth's courage to got to an abortion clinic. I think it shows a side to Ruth we did not see in the first act, she took control of her own life and did what she believed in. I also think this relates to what we were talking about today and how Beneatha should or should not be allowed to be flitty. I think Ruth does this because she cares so much for her family and does not want to put anymore pressure on Lena or Walter. She does not want the rest of her family to suffer so she suffers for them. I think Ruth is one of the most selfless and courageous characters in the play so far i also think that she puts down 5 dollars which is a lot of money is importnat too, because it shows that she is committed to this and shows that she will go through with this, which is the opposite of Beneatha Ideas. She and Lena are a couple of the only people really trying to save the family in a hands on way.
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ReplyDelete1. Today, in class, John pointed out that the generation gaps in the play were there to serve a purpose. I think this exchange really highlights some of the differences between Lena and Walter's generations. Walter was born with many more rights, as a black individual, than Lena would have had for the majority of her life. So, to Lena's generation, the idea of getting rights or freedom may have been more important than attaining money. This scene could serve to make the reader question what our society strives for or holds as important.
ReplyDelete2. I think that one of the roles that Asagai plays in the play is to further Beneatha's role as a strong, modern, independent woman. They casually make jokes about how Asagai thinks that sex is the only thing that matters, and she asserts her independence by saying that "[she] can get that from any man," essentially informing him that he has not proven himself as different than any other man yet. I still can not decide if Asagai's character is criticizing Beneatha's new-found afrocentricity or supporting it. Asagai does poke fun at the how Beneatha takes herself to seriously, though.
1. I don’t think either side is completely correct. Both of their arguments, Mama’s about freedom and Walter’s concerning money, apply. The unfortunate truth is, that in this case, Walter’s view of the world is more applicable than that of Mama’s. Hansberry allows us to see two people’s dreams, two people from different generations with radically different ideas of the American dream. In a few decades, the dream ahs turned from something as idealistic as freedom and equality to something much more concrete and materialistic: money.
ReplyDelete2.
The rat scene with Travis was particularly striking. He was simply finding a way to entertain himself. Ruth is sitting there watching her son play with a rat for entertainment, while expecting another child. On such a money-crunch already, she must determine how they can support yet another child in an apartment that already hosts their entire family.
1. I agree with Amanda, that one could easily make an argument for either side, but I also think that while Mama is nice and smart, Walter is right in this situation. Money is incredibly important in life. The entire world revolves around money. Freedom is equally important, but I think that they need money more than freedom at this point. I also kind of feel like Money equals Freedom, literally. Like Money is Freedom. Walter sees this everyday because he's a chauffeur, but Mama is trapped in her house and therefore can't see anything. I feel like Mama thinks freedom is more important to her while Walter has freedom so the next step is money. I guess this disproves my point on money being more important that freedom, because Walter had freedom before he wanted money. But that means that my original point was the most correct, that money is freedom and freedom is money. With money freedom, but freedom can be achieved separately as well.
ReplyDelete2.I think Lena's reaction to the check seemed very muted. Its sort of like that she doesn't really understand thee check arrived, like a delayed reaction. I feel like she is so shocked that she doesn't really act. But I could be wrong, because like I said before she thinks freedom is more important. Mama also thinks happiness is more important that money which could be why she was so unsure about the check. She disproves of Walter's liquor store idea, but I think she is eventually going to give in and give it to him because she loves him.
1) I agree with both Lena and Walter. I think that Walter is right in the sense that you need money to provide some of the freedom that Lena is speaking of. Maybe Lena is still stuck in a time at which freedom was truly enough, but as time goes on, money becomes more important. Money can definitely help someone along on their path to happiness but I think it is just a catalyst.
ReplyDelete2) I really liked the scene with Joseph because I thought Mama was really precious in it. She was so proud when she said all those intelligent things about Nigeria. I thought it was really sweet and it seemed to me like she was trying to give Beneatha a chance to live the normal life of a 20 year old in college. I think it highlights Lena's attempts to give her family a good life and, when possible, a fairly normal one.
I think Mama makes a point in trying to make Walter reflect what life really is. Because like most people have mentioned, yes you need money to get things you like and need, but after paying for those things, you only have yourself. Mama thinks it is important that one even has the freedom in the first place to enjoy these things. It's not like Walter wants the money to bath in or cook on or sleep with because paper doesn't make people happy. Mama sees how Walter's ambition has grown and naturally excuses it because the change in society from her time to his. I think because Walter is too attached to money that he is blinded from seeing the good things in his life. He can't and doesn't even acknowledge what his wife does for him.
ReplyDeleteThe scene with Asaiga pretty much showed me how ignorant Mama is. She may be wise from her years and experience, but she did exactly what she told Beneatha not to do. She even called those questions "ignorant" herself and still mentioned the Tarzan thing about Africa. It was pretty awkward to read because it was just so "acutely unrelated". I don't agree with Cat at all that it was sweet. I saw it as away of Mama just trying too hard and ultimately failing at trying to seem intellectual. Mama didn't even know the name of the country, yet she was trying to relate to Asaiga in some awkward way. I think Hansberry is simply trying to show us the stereotypical ignorance of the poor. The same person that laughs at her daughter for trying to think outside the tiny box of poverty, is the same person making a fool of herself because she doesn't know anything about Africa.