A Raisin in the Sun - 3

"Once upon a time freedom used to be life--now it's money." pg. 74

One of the motifs of this play seems to be differences in generations. In Mama's generation, black people's main priority was freedom. That was what life was about. To them, nothing else mattered. With Walter's generation, they never had to deal with the issue of freedom. They just had it, and took it for granted. Now people wanted money; it was the main priority. Those from Mama's generation cannot see and understand how the people from Walter's generation don't appreciate their freedom. They don't realize that a life of freedom is all they know. This generation misunderstanding still applies today when it comes to technology. People today take their efficient lifestyles for granted because they have never had to experience what it would be like to not use technology. Then those who are from pre-technology generations often refuse to accept the change because they are misunderstanding the purpose of the new technology.

A Raisin in the Sun - 2

"Listen, I'm going to be a doctor." pg. 50

For this blog, I am going to be answering the first study question. Two characters that search for a better way of life are Beneatha and Walter. They both go about attaining this dream in different ways. Walter dreams of making money. He wants to own his own business. He uses Mama's money for a down payment for the liquor store. Walter ends up getting scammed by the man he plans on going into business with. Beneatha dreams of becoming a doctor. To make this happen, she goes to college and doesn't let anyone stand in her way. Both Walter and Beneatha want a better life.

A Raisin in the Sun - 1

"I don't 'low no yellin' in this house, Walter Lee and you know it--And there ain't going to be no investing in no liquor stores." pg. 70

The vernacular of the Younger family displays their education levels. Mama, who is the oldest in the family, has the worst grammar when speaking. She grew up when blacks were in the midst of gaining freedom. It was very rare for women at that period of time to receive proper education. Walter and Ruth, who are younger than Mama, have slightly better grammar. Travis, Walter and Ruth's son, has much better grammar than anyone, other than Beneatha. Travis is 11 and is in school. As time progresses, the blacks get better and better education because they are more excepted into society. Beneatha is very well spoken because she is in college.

The Glass Menagerie- 3

"The play is a memory." 1236

Compared to the Shakespeare plays we have read recently, this play was enjoyable to read. I am a very realistic person, so the fact that everything was explicitly stated made this much easier to understand. The realism was very apperent through the dialouge. It wasn't written in proper sentences, let alone iamic pentameter, like Othello and As You Like It. Throughout this play, I noticed each family member had a complex relationship with eachother. Tom and Amanda often didn't see eye to eye. They refused to see eachothers point of view on many things. Amanda worried that Tom was going to turn out like his father, and he did. The ironic thing about that is, Amanda tried to prevent this from happening, but that is what caused him to leave. By pushing and criticizing Tom, Amanda drove him away just as she drove away her ex-husband.

The Glass Menagerie- 2

Amanda. "Overcome selfishness! Self, self, self is all that you think of!"

Tom struggles with an internal conflict when we here the story in retrospect. Tom tells us of his memory of his life with his mother and sister. Tom had to decide if he wanted to leave like his father, hurting his family, or sacrifice his freedom to support his ungrateful family. If Tom leaves, he will suffer from the guilt of leaving his helpless family. He will realize that he did exactly what his father did to him. However, Tom had to worry about his own sanity. If he stayed with his family, he would be doing the honorable thing. But, staying would mean Tom would be sacrificing his life to take care of his selfish mother. Either decision Tom made would be hard. He is facing a life of misery or a life of guilt.

The Glass Menagerie- 1

Amanda. "You can't put in a day's work on an empty stomach." pg. 1251

In my opinion, Amanda is a terrible mother. In one sense she is completely dependent on her son for financial support. But, she still thinks she has room to criticize him. I find this to be very ironic. I don't see how Amanda can yell at and lecture Tom when he basically gives up his hopes and ambitions to support her and Laura. She complains that he is selfish and doesn't work hard enough. I can't even fathom how she has the nerve to do that. If she feels like calling someone selfish she should look in the mirror. She does nothing to support her children. She is so superficial and fake that she thinks finding a husband for her daughter is more important than supporting her family. She is so lazy and selfish that she is unaware of how much tom sacrifices for her.

As You Like It- 3

"Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good life; but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, it is naught." pg 35

Throughout Shakespeare's As You Like It, there is constant comparison between country and city life. This motif is ironic in the way that each one lends itself to the characteristics of the other. In a normal realm of thinking, the city would be thought of as hardworking and peaceful and the country as lazy and savage. However, in this play, the city is portrayed as a combative and lazy place. There are brawls in the streets, and there is entitlement in positions. In the country, people are hardworking and respectful if each other. For people that live in the city, city life is ideal, and for those that live in the country, country life is ideal. Those that prefer the city feel that country life is dirty, lonely, and improper. But, what these city people fail to realize is that the customs of the city do not fit in with the country lifestyle, and vice verse.