Themes

Dreams

The importance of dreams and the frustration of dreams deferred; relates to the value of having goals in life, and the difficulties when those dreams cannot be achieved.

Robert wanted to be respected. David wanted his football team to be united. Mr. Ross wanted them to understand the significance of the Holocaust. Walters dream was to have enough money to provide for his family. Beneatha wanted to be a doctor.

Coercion

The act of forcing characters to accept ways of living that conflict with their values and dreams.

• Amy, David, and Robert coerce Laurie not to say anything bad about The Wave.  

• Mr. Lindor is trying to coerce the family to stay in the black neighbourhood. It goes against their values of pride etc. 

• Black people are coerced into living lives they don't want to live. White people say black people need to work for whites, black people always need to have the least, and need to stay with “their kind”.

Idealism vs. Realism

The tension between having optimistic goals and the harsh realities that make those goals difficult to achieve.

Mr. Ross is an Idealist (he kept pushing for his students to understand the reasoning behind the wave), and his wife was a realist (she knew it was not going to end well).  David was an idealist, thinking that The Wave would fix the football team. Walter was an idealist, thinking the liquor store would work out. Ruth is a realist, she knew nothing would work. She knew the baby was a bad idea.

The Challenge of Racism

The underlying struggle against racism that persists even when not immediately obvious.

Harassing Laurie (not racism), by writing on her locker etc. Wave members beating up the Jewish boy. They used The Wave as an excuse but Laurie's dad knew it was an excuse to beat him up for his religion.  Mr. Linder asked them to stay in their neighborhood and tried to pay them. Walter being racist towards black women (calling them lazy, unsupportive etc.) The Youngers (Beneatha) being racist towards rich blacks, because they don't belong there. The way American blacks thought of African blacks (no culture, no education).

Community

A sense of shared values and ideals within groups, questioning whether individuals should sacrifice personal needs for the group.

Location Based (neighborhood, city, online etc.): ARITS: Black Belt Southside (“black” neighborhood), Clybourne Park (“white” neighborhood) The Wave: Gordon High (School) A group you trust (family, friends) The Wave: Saunders home (safe space for Laurie), Gordon High Staff, “concept” of football team, The Grapevine staff. ARITS: The Youngers family, Walters business partners.  Support community (shared experience, shared understanding) ARITS: Clybourne Park, Black Belt The Wave: The Grapevine staff (Laurie, Alex, and Carl) Share some beliefs/values/ideas: The Wave: Movement, Grapevine staff (anti-Wave) ARITS: “Idealist” - Asagai and Mama, Youngers (all wanted a better life), “Realist” - Ruth, Beneatha (act 3). Mr Ross didn't care about others beliefs, it was what he said. Mrs Johnson didn't care about The Youngers goals because why could they leave and she couldn’t.

Walter's Dream

Walter wants to have enough money to provide for his family.

Beneatha's Dream

Beneatha aspires to be a doctor.

Mr. Ross as an Idealist

Mr. Ross pushes for his students to understand the reasoning behind The Wave.

Ruth as a Realist

Ruth recognizes that many dreams, including having a baby, may not work out.

Mr. Linder's Coercion

Mr. Linder attempts to persuade the Youngers to stay in their black neighborhood, contradicting their values.

David's Idealism

David believes that The Wave will unite the football team.

The Youngers' Community

The Youngers family represents a community with shared dreams of a better life.

Racism in The Wave

The Wave members utilize their movement as an excuse for violent actions against a Jewish boy.

Location-Based Community in ARITS

The Black Belt Southside represents their 'black' neighborhood, contrasting with Clybourne Park as the 'white' neighborhood.

Support Community in The Wave

Laurie finds support among her friends at The Grapevine and the Gordon High staff.

Roberts dream

• Robert wanted to be respected