A Raisin in the Sun: A Response

 Foremost, I think that the message of Daniel Petrie’s 1961, A Raisin in the Sun, focuses on the American dream and all the problems that come with having an American dream. I also think the film focuses on a representation of women in film during the 1960s. One part of the film that truly shows women's stance in the 1960s is when Asagai tells Beneatha, “It's how you can tell that the world's most liberated woman isn't liberated at all. You all talk about it too much.” I think that Asagai is trying to make the point that women were not as persistent with women's rights as they talked about to one another. I think that Asagai is stating that women may seem liberated but are not at all. More so, the tone and respect that Walter gives Ruth and Lena show the lack of respect a woman is given. At one point in the film, Walter gets into a fight with Ruth and Lena over what they will do with the money they have gotten, all while his tone is nasty, to say the least, showing the lack of respect men have for women and, more indefinitely their wives. During the fight, Walter states, “My whole future, a big blank empty space of nothing”, further noting the idea of the American dream. Walter wants to invest the money into buying a liquor store, while Lena wants to buy the family a house. During the movie, Walter feels that his dreams have never come true and that he has never made anything of himself.  I think the movie shows that the American dream is much more than just wanting money to buy everything life offers and that the American dream is about making something out of nothing. I think that in today’s society, everyone is after the next best thing and buying whatever is needed to stay updated on the latest trends. Albeit Walter claims that he can be successful with the money, Lena sees his investment as risky and not responsible, being that he has a family to provide for. I think that this idea of taking risks is a part of the American dream; I further think that Lena is correct in her stance on Walter not investing in a liquor store. The American dream has made Walter feel inadequate and like he is not doing his part as a husband and father. At one point, Lena tells Walter that at one point in her life, she thought freedom was what life was about, but now all life is about is money. I think this is a valid point for the 1960s because, during that time, people realized that money controls many things and that more money would help anyone achieve the American dream. Lena states at 51:03 to Walter, “Once upon a time, freedom used to be life, but now it’s money.” I think the point Lena is trying to make is disheartening, to say the least because she is motioning the claim that money is what people look for at that point in time, not the simple things in life. I further think that the film showcases the American dream and what it can do to people who become obsessed with it.