William Shakespeare s A Raisin Of The Sun - 1683 Words

In an introduction to her collection of her plays, Ntozake Shange criticized black dramatists for â€Å"integrat[ing] the notion that a drama must be words...cuz we all remember too well/the chuckles scoffs† (63).The fear of being laughed at has steered black artists away from embracing humor. This fear stems from the distortion of blackness in minstrel shows and racist tropes . Tragically, black dramatists have overlooked the usage of humor in African traditions. While in the past humor has been often used for ridicule, it has also been utilized as an act of sly resistance. The African trickster still lives on in black narrative. It has evolved from African folk tradition to provide an observation of the African-American experience. However, the subtlety and indirection of tricksterism sometimes causes it to be easily misunderstood. An example of misread humor is found in the praise for Lorraine Hansberry’s drama A Raisin in the Sun. The play was an immediate success among critics and audiences. In speculation of its popularity, many have argued whether this play is specifically black or universal. The play is often dubbed a genuine depiction of life in America. White critics praised Hansberry’s ability to harmoniously unite the black and white experience in one play. This â€Å"compliment† is humorous in itself. It demonstrates just how subtle Hansberry’s humor is. Her dry, witty observations scattered throughout the play require a personal understanding of blackness. ThroughShow MoreRelatedEssay on A Raisin in the Sun vs. The Glass Menagerie745 Words   |  3 PagesA Raisin in the Sun vs. The Glass Menagerie   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  America is known around the world as the land of opportunity, a place where you can follow your dreams. No matter how selfish or farfetched ones dream may be, their goal will always be available. Whether it be the pursuit of the woman of your dreams, like that of Jay Gatsby, or the hunt for something pure and real, like Holden Caulfield. A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, and The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, exhibit the variousRead MoreLove and Marriage Illustrated in Raisin in the Sun, A Dolls House and Is Love an Art960 Words   |  4 Pages1800’s through early 1900’s women and men were did not â€Å"tie the knot† like the women and men do in today’s day. In today’s world, women and men get married because they have many things in common, they are in love with each other, and they choose to get married to one another. In many stories written back then, readers can expect to read about how marriages were ar ranged and how many people were not having the wedded bliss marriage proclaims today. Take a look at Ruth and Walter in â€Å"Raisin of theRead MoreRacism, Sexism, By Harper Lee And Kill A Mockingbird 1519 Words   |  7 Pagescomment implies that being a girl is a bad thing, and that Scout is not allowed to play with them if she continues to act scared and â€Å"girly.† Jem believes having feminine qualities is unacceptable, whereas Walter, in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun, believes that it’s okay if women want to be feminine, as long as they remain in their place. He tells his younger sister, Beneatha, â€Å"Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? 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Through the propagandistic writings of explorers like Captain John Smith, who authored a sensational and unsubstantiated account of his dramatic rescue from death at the hands ofRead MoreEssay Art Life of Langston Hughes5893 Words   |  24 Pagesover these attacks from the right can be seen in his poem Un-American Investigators this was published after his death in 1967 in The Panther and the Lash. Career influence-on American culture Throughout the turbulent decades of the 1920s through the 1960s many Black Americans went through difficulty and hardships. Comfort was found only in their dreams, it was during this time Hughes became a voice for blacks, especially for those who lived in the ghettos of Harlem. They would dream aboutRead MoreLiterature Has The Power Of Free2443 Words   |  10 Pagesinspired millions, and continues inspiring. If that does not relate the power of books, the power of writing, the power of literature, then nothing will. Literature also helps people to become independent. In playwright Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, one of the main characters was born into a poor black family, but decided to makes something of herself. She went to university, and although her family disagreed with her ideas most of the time, she was proud of who she had become. This beingRead MoreLiterature Has The Power Of Literature3178 Words   |  13 Pagesinspired millions, and continues inspir ing. If that does not relate the power of books, the power of writing, the power of literature, then nothing will. Literature also helps people to become independent. In playwright Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, one of the main character was born into a poor black family, but decided to makes something of herself. She went to university, and although her family disagreed with her ideas most of the time, she was proud of who she had become. This beingRead MoreHow to Write a Research Paper11497 Words   |  46 Pagespaper topic: The training a meteorologist needs Evaluative paper topic: A contrast of the training a meteorologist needed in l940 to what he/she needs in 2000 Informational paper topic: Benjamin Franklin s political life Evaluative paper topic: The effect of Benjamin Franklin s writing style upon his career 3. Working Bibliography The first step in researching a topic is to compile a working bibliography of potential sources of information, both primary and secondary. The subject