We have changed our privacy policy. In addition, we use cookies on our website for various purposes. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You can learn about our practices by reading our privacy policy.

ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos


Themes Videos 230 videos

Utopias Becoming Dystopias
29768 Views

This video defines utopias and dystopias, and investigates how a utopia might become a dystopia. Can a seemingly perfect world actually be a dystop...

Catching Fire (Part 2)
6719 Views

“Happy Hunger Games!” Or not. Katniss’s Hunger Games experiences left a not-so-happy effect on her. This video will prompt you to ponder if...

Invisible Man
41453 Views

You’re one in a million, buddy. Er...actually, more like one meaningless speck in a sea of billions. Makes you feel kind of insignificant, right?...

See All

A Raisin in the Sun 18501 Views


Share It!


Description:

This video summarizes the play A Raisin in the Sun. It discusses the Youngers, members of an African-American family trying to better themselves when they come into some money. It discusses race, family relationships, and money management.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:05

A Raisin in the Sun, a la Shmoop. Misery really loves company. Chances are,

00:08

every time you've spilled your tale of woe to a friend, he or she has countered with

00:09

an even more tragic story of their own.

00:09

We're not sure how it happens, but these conversations inevitably snowball into a polite contest

00:10

of sunburn vs. sinus infections, ailing aunts vs. colicky cousins…

00:10

But no matter how horrific the other person's problems are, we secretly know that ours are

00:10

way worse. The Younger family in Lorraine Hansberry's

00:12

A Raisin in the Sun has plenty to complain about. Hard-working Mama is getting a huge

00:20

insurance check... awesome, right?

00:23

Unfortunately, everybody wants a piece of it.

00:26

Walter grabs the cash for himself, and loses it all, ruining the family's dreams of an

00:33

easier life.

00:35

If you can stand more bad news, that money was Beneatha's<<buh-neath-uh>> best chance

00:39

at paying for med school.

00:40

In fact, all three of these Youngers would feel at home on the cast of Les Mis, singing

00:40

"life has killed the dream I dreamed."

00:41

So who wins the Golden Hankie Award for the biggest sob story? Whose plump juicy dream

00:46

most resembles Langston Hughes'… shriveled raisin?

00:50

Beneatha's our first contender, and she's the obvious choice, here. Her friend calls

00:54

her “Alaiyo” <Ah-lie-yo>, meaning “one for whom bread is not enough.” No, he’s not

01:04

saying she’s not a carb addict. …

01:06

Beneatha’s got a fiery “take no prisoners” attitude, and she’s out to change the world

01:12

using medicine and social justice. She even cuts her hair to get back to her African roots…no

01:15

pun intended.

01:15

Mama was going to put away a nice chunk o’ change to give pay for Beneatha’s tuition,

01:20

which would have given her a leg up on fulfilling her goals.

01:23

When the family learns that Walter’s no-good buddy ran off with her college fund, Beneatha

01:31

feels like an idiot for believing she could make a difference.

01:34

Then there’s Walter, the man with a plan. He’s got a hot tip for a liquor store business

01:40

that’s going to break the Youngers out of poverty, and let him quit his job as a chauffeur

01:44

for a rich white man.

01:46

His optimism blinds him to the flaws in this get-rich-quick scheme, and to the dirty looks

01:47

coming from Mama and Ruth.

01:47

Most of all, Walter wants respect. He dreams of owning a successful business which will

01:48

give him equal standing with “The Man,” and snooty college kids like Beneatha’s

01:50

suitor, George.

01:50

What better way to prove all the haters wrong than with a stack of cold, hard cash?

01:54

But then Walter makes the not-too-smart decision to trust his money to a guy named “Willy.”

01:59

Sure, we all saw that epic fail coming, but Walter didn’t—and now his whole family

02:03

is treating him like he’s slime mold. Good luck with that respect thing, Walt…

02:10

You know that saying, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”?

02:14

With Mama Younger, it’s more the opposite…her contentment depends on the well-being of her

02:19

loved ones.

02:20

She supports Beneatha’s career, even though she doubts she’ll stick with it, and believes

02:22

that Walter is destined to become more than a white man’s employee.

02:26

She’s such a cool mom, she even buys her peeps a house.

02:29

Mama hopes that joining the Homeowners Club will start a legacy of prosperity for the

02:36

entire Younger clan, especially her grandson, Travis.

02:39

Her husband literally died so that this dream could become a reality…it’s his life insurance

02:45

money that’s put the Youngers on Easy Street.

02:47

Too bad her kids are so bratty. Walter sulks about money she spends, and Beneatha pokes

02:53

fun at Mama’s religious beliefs and beloved plant. …

02:53

…When she finally trusts her son to do the right thing, he betrays her. No wonder she

02:54

resorts to physical violence as a parenting method.

02:55

So who’s the winner of the “Dream Deferment” title?

02:56

Do Beneatha’s career goals and social conscience give her the edge?

02:57

Is Walter permanently grounded for losing the money and his shot at being an entrepreneur?

03:01

Or is Mama the most deserving of sympathy, for putting up with her kids and vanishing

03:06

cash? Shmoop amongst yourselves.

Related Videos

Utopias Becoming Dystopias
29768 Views

This video defines utopias and dystopias, and investigates how a utopia might become a dystopia. Can a seemingly perfect world actually be a dystop...

The Importance of Being Earnest Summary
123040 Views

They say that honesty is the best policy, but Jack lies about his identity and still gets the girl. Does that mean we should all lie to get what we...

The Giver Summary
105893 Views

Ever wish you could remember everything that you ever studied? How about everything that everyone has ever studied? Yeah, pretty sure our brains ju...

Invisible Man (Ellison)
1818 Views

Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is an American classic. Hope you're not expecting any exciting shower scenes though. It's not that kind of book.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
1257 Views

Do not go gentle into that good night. In fact, if it's past your curfew, don't go at all into that good night. You just stay in your good bed and...