NON-AFRICAN DRAMA
LORRAINE HANSBERRY: A Raisin in the Sun
5. Consider the role of Mrs Johnson in the development of the plot.
6. Account for Walter’s expectations in the play.
Explanation
Question 5
(1) Relation to theme: (i)) Racial discrimination and how it affects the lives of African Americans. (ii) Poverty and the aspiration of a young African American family to improve their lot.
(2) Definition of plot: The unfolding of events and actions in relation to the theme. In this regard, Mrs. Johnson plays a minor but significant role.
(3) Character identification: Mrs Johnson is an African American woman, a neighbour of the Youngers and sharing an apartment with them in Southside, Chicago (i) Competes with the Youngers for the use of a common bathroom. (ii) Exchange pleasantries with the Youngers.
(4) The visit: (i) As she visits, she brings along a magazine featuring as banner headline. NEGROES INVADE THE CLYBOURNE PARK' and they have been bombed. (ii) She teases the family for wanting to move on up a little higher' when they should know their place as Negros as she does. (iii) She is full of envy tinged with admiration of the Youngers' upbringing and determination to succeed.
5) Her relevance to the plot: (i) She provides some humour, especially when she's given pie, then coffee while protesting she has stayed too long. (ii) She appears at the stage where the Youngers are packing to move to Clybourne Park. The news from the newspaper and her own narrative is intended to discourage the Youngers from moving on. (iii) Beneatha concludes about her visit. ".. If there are two things, we as a people, have got to overcome, one is the Klu Klux Klan, the other is Mrs Johnson".
(6) Significance (i) Mrs. Johnson's visit raises doubt in the Youngers about moving out to Clybourne Park. (ii) Subsequent events, such as Walter's loss of the rest of the insurance money and Mr. Karl Lindner's appearance to buy the family out of the contract do not help matters. (iii) Mrs. Johnson represents those coloured people who would do nothing to improve their lot and discourage others from doing so. She illustrates the negative side of the African American attempt to break the barriers of social class and race.
Question 6
(1) Relation to theme: (i) Racial discrimination and how it affects the lives of African Americans (ii) Poverty and the aspiration of a young African American family to improve their lot.
(2) Definition of plot: ()) Walter is Walter Lee Younger, Mama's son, Ruth's husband, Travis' father and not yet the head of the house. (ii) He is a lean and ambitious young man ready to blame others for his own flaws. (iii) Does not like driving for another person
(3) His desire to improve his lot and that of his family: (i) Unhappy with the family's depraved condition. (ii) It leads him to drink a lot. (iii) He expects to make a breakthrough with the arrival of the insurance money (iv) He wants the best for Travis but is shocked by the boy's expectation to be a driver.
(4) Walter's choice of business: () He invests in the liquor business, much to the opposition of his mother and sister. (ii) He is duped by his friend, Willy Harris (ii) He feels disappointed and betrayed. He says of Willy Harris. "man . trust you ... man I put my Life in your hands man ... that money is made out of my father's flesh"
(5) Walter's admiration of success: (i) Regards George Murchison's family as having achieved the success he aspires to. (ii) Disappointed when Beneatha chooses Asagai instead of George. (iii) He reconciles with his family's determination to relocate to Clybourne Park which, to them, signifies success.