Summary:
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a focus on the characters and their respective identities - or lack thereof.
Identity by definition means "The collective aspect of the set of characteristics by which a thing is definitively recognizable or known." One thinks they know their true identity or what their life means, what they want to do with their life, or even what is true to them. By human nature influence is a very powerful tool. When someone uses influence or charm in order to receive love or receive something desirable to them it can affect the other person in the sense that they will change into what people will recognize to be "not them." In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry the characters are relatively real in emotion and thought. Change is seen a lot through out the book where a character would change their minds and views on an aspect of a problem to come to a resolution. A specific character in particular is seen to have no identity or not know their true self because they live their life with an idea of what their future looks like but other characters influence this character to change their ways thus confusing their identity. Not knowing their own identity can be very dangerous to their minds and soul, when what you want is the last thing you think about.
A specific character in A Raisin in the Sun seems to have their future planned out and thinks they know their identity. Confused by others that Beneatha's mind is very accelerated and always thinking one step ahead or thinking about how she can better her self in learning new things and studying new ideas. At the beginning of the play Beneatha is with George. George is a very subtle character not that much personality seems to be very sophisticated "college boy." Walter ends up having a little argument/discussion with him later in the play, where he insults Walter with the use of his knowledge. In the article "The Habit of Identity" by Dr. Sam Vaknin identity is explained in a way of comfort and knowing one's true meaning through what they like or feel best for them. In A Raisin in the Sun Beneatha changes her ways when a boy Asagai a person of African descendents overpowers the family or rather Beneatha with his culture or their culture and the importance of how much it should be taken into consideration of knowing. He makes fun of Beneatha's ways of "too American." The mocking in a way might have drove Beneatha to a point were she felt uncomfortable that she did not know enough about her culture, therefore lead her to cutting her hair and dressing up in a Nigerian costume to perform a ritual.
A lot of Beneatha's ways changed under the influence of many people. Most importantly at the end of the play she realizes that she was going the in the right path all the time. Now she will embrace her African culture and study to be a doctor, both having to do with something she likes and something influenced to her.
Identity is very important in one's life. If one does not discover their own Identity then how will they ever accomplish their dreams, hopes and wishes? The most important thing in ones life is knowing that bad influence can cause your dreams and wishes to all go away.
This is the complete article, containing 555 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
