Summary:
When reading A Raisin in the Sun, I formed my own view on how each character looked, sounded, and moved. It was somewhat of a shock to what the movie based on the play I had just read mainly because a lot of what I had imagined was now being shown to me in a different way.
A Raisin in the Sun Play to Movie
When reading A Raisin in the Sun, I formed my own view on how each character looked, sounded, and moved. It was somewhat of a shock to what the movie based on the play I had just read mainly because a lot of what I had imagined was now being shown to me in a different way. What my mind had envisioned these characters as was now having to go back and relearn their feelings and intentions just because of the way the actors were now saying the lines and expressing the feelings.
I always saw Beneatha's character being somewhat of a naïve school girl who went to school everyday and then returned home trying to parade the knowledge she possessed around in front of her family. After watching the movie, I see her more now as an individual searching for herself. She tries so many things in the movie, from her guitar lessons to horse back riding instructions, just to find out what it is she can accomplish. This is actually more helpful when reviewing the play because this kind of character isn't as immature and ignorant as I took her to be in the play. She actually views education as a way to better herself instead of just looking better to others.
Travis' character was innocent and oblivious throughout the play in my eyes. I read him as a young child who was somewhat slow and really had a hard life. When reading about him having to sleep on the couch, I actually envisioned a smaller room with no lights and basically no heat. In the play he seemed to be the character with the most hardships. In the movie, however, I found him to very manipulative himself. The way he would get money from his father by using his father's pride and honor. He could basically go to his grandmother for anything and she was constantly seen going around behind him doing things he had left half done. I found him to be much more like his father in the movie then I did in the play again just because I saw him as a more innocent character.
I found the play a very good piece of literature, but I can honestly say that this is one of the few times I've seen a play or book made into a movie and have a better understanding of what is taking place. I really had to rethink my views on a few of the characters, Bennie and Travis in particular, but my view of Mama and Ruth were just reinforced throughout the movie. If ever given the chance, I would like to go see a theatre production of A Raisin in the Sun, just so I can again look at the characters and perhaps, as I did with the movie, get a better understanding of what the author was trying to portray.
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