English Raisin in the Sun essay

Topic sentence 2

Walters obsession with wealth and white status negatively impacts his relationships, seen in his jealousy of george, a black man with generational wealth.

 “...I’m 35 years old; I've been married 11 years and I got a boy who sleeps in the living room

bc he is neither white nor rich he has nothing of worth to give to his son. By stating the fact that he 35 and married to prove he has failed because he can’t give anything to his son, it shows how he values money more that what he can offer as a father and husband.

and all I got to give him is stories about how rich white people live” (535).

When Walters called how rich white people live stories, he is implying that he thinks they live their life like a fairy tale he can tell Travis. Walters talks about white people like a tale that is fantasy.

 “Man say to his women: I got me a dream. His women say: Eat your eggs” (535) (point #1)

The eggs represent Walter being content with his life, eggs are very simple yet nutritious food, but aren’t very exiting. Ruth wants walter to focus on the things in front of him that he already has, like his eggs, rather than dreaming of a better life.

 “Man say to his women: I got me a dream. His women say: Eat your eggs” (535) (point #2)

Eggs could also represent Walter and Ruth’s relationship because he is focused on his dreams of being rich instead of appreciating what he has, like his relationship with his wife, The eggs are in front of him and good for him but he is neglecting them to focus on his dream.

“Plenty of times” (557). - What does NYC represent?

New York is a very expensive city and is also a very cultural place, so the city represents wealth and also knowledge.

“Plenty of times” (557). - The lie?

Walters impulse to lie demonstrates his jealousy of george and how he wants to seem more accomplished and rich. He we see again how Walter feels like he needs to be someone else in order to be respected.

“I know aint nothing in this world as busy as you collared college boys

Walter says that george is busy, knowing he is not. George didn’t have to work for any of his privileges because he was born into a respected and rich family.

with your fraternity pins and white shoes” (558).  

• The white shoes further prove Georges privilege because they are still clean and white, meaning that he doesn’t have to work in dirty and laborious places.

• The fraternity pins also represent georges status. Fraternities are networks of privileges college boys that give them more opportunities in school and in their social life.