Themes

Theme

Explanation

2-3 examples from The Wave AND A Raisin in the Sun 

(be able to explain on exam)

DREAMS: 

The importance of dreams and the frustration of dreams deferred

Relates to the idea that having an ideal goal in life, or a dream, is valuable, but it becomes very difficult when those dreams cannot be achieved (or achieved right away), for a variety of reasons

• 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

Relates to characters being forced into accepting a way of being/living that does not align with their own values, dreams, ideals, etc…

• Brian tried to force Laurie to salute to sit with her friends.

• 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”.

• Mama, Ruth, and George coercing Beneatha to be “normal”. 

IDEALISM VS. REALISM

Relates to the challenge between having big goals in life and being optimistic about achieving them vs. the reality that sometimes those goals and dreams are not achievable (because of poverty, racism, etc)

• 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

Relates to the idea that, even if it is not immediately obvious, racism can remain a challenge under the surface.

• 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 

Relates to the idea that there are shared values and ideals within groups (social, familial, etc); Ask What is community? And should individuals put aside their own needs/dreams for the sake of the group/family? 

• 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.