A Raisin in the Sun #3

"We don't want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors. And that's all we got to say about that. We don't want your money." 

Although not evident in the beginning scenes, I think that Walter could be considered the protagonist of the story. At the beginning of the story, Walter is completely focused on his dream of owning a liquor store and using Mama's insurance money. Walter believes that money will solve all of their families problems. However, later on in the play, Walter begins to listen to Mama and Ruth. Mama and Ruth desire to buy a house for their family as a whole. Once Walter sees this, he begins to understand that buying a house for the family is better than becoming rich off of his store. In doing so, he turns down the money that Mr. Linder offers the family. To me, this was the point in the play in which Walter changed and proved to be the protagonist of the story.

A Raisin in the Sun #2

Beneatha: "I mean it! I'm just tired of hearing about God all the time. What does He got to do with anything? Does he pay tuition."

Mama: "You 'bout to get your fresh little jaw slapped!"

One apparent difference that I noticed throughout the book was between Beneatha and Mama. Beneatha is a strong, independent woman focused on her dream to become a doctor. Money, family, and love does not stand in the way of her dreams. Also, she does not believe that God has played a role in how she got to where she is today. In contrast to this, Mama is strong in her belief in God. Mama shows empathy and love towards everyone in her family and acts according to that love. Beneatha has a dream and aspires to be someone and acts according to her aspirations. In this way, it makes it hard for Mama to understand Beneatha and her reasoning for things. I think that Mama and Beneatha could definitely be considered foil characters.

A Raisin in the Sun #1

"Been thinking that we maybe could meet the notes on a little old two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime, if we use part of the insurance for a down payment and everybody kind of pitch in." (page 44)

Every character in "A Raisin in the Sun" are different from each other. Most significantly, they are different in their dreams and desires. Walter dreams of becoming a successful businessman and owning a liquor store. Ruth and Mama only want a better life for their family and dream of owning a beautiful home.  Beaneatha has hopes of finishing medical school and becoming a doctor as an individualistic woman. In a similar way, many people today want these very same things; a house, a family, and education, a prosperous career. I think that Lorraine Hansberry did a really good job of making this play universal in this way. No matter what era, everyone still aspires to have happiness. Whether that is through a home, an education, family, or career, people are always working towards that happiness. In this way, it makes it easier for the audience to connect with the Younger family's dreams and aspirations.

The Glass Menagerie #3

Although there are many different dimensions to this play, I would consider it to be a tragedy in some ways. Amanda, Laura, and Tom all appear to be unhappy with something in their life. Their unhappiness contributes to the conflicts and difficulties that arise throughout the play. Starting with her husband's abandonment, Amanda parents her children in a way to avoid anything traced back to her husband. Tom is unhappy and has to support the family financially despite his hatred towards his work. Laura is held back by her disabilities in her life and cannot overcome her shyness. Tom is held back by his responsibilities to his family and job. As a whole, their lives are pretty pathetic and miserable, thus presenting the play in a very tragic manner.

The unicorn

6. What symbolized by the unicorn?

To me, I feel as if Laura relates to the unicorn. The unicorn is different from a regular horse with the horn sticking out from its head. Just like this, Laura feels different with her physical disability. In scene 7, Jim states, "Unicorns, aren't they extinct in the modern world?". Similar to this, Laura is not really present in the modern world. She prefers to be by herself and has made her own existence extinct in a way. Furthermore, when Jim calls Laura pretty, a new sense of self-worth and confidence is produced within her. Similar to this, the unicorn loses its horn and becomes just like a regular horse. Laura is similar to the glass unicorn in the sense that she has become something new and feels normal for once in her life. However, she has also lost a part of herself just as the unicorn's horn has been shattered. 

The Glass Menagerie

3. Identify the protagonist and antagonist. Are there any foil characters?

Although at times his character acts in peculiar ways, I think that Tom is the best fit for the protagonist in this story. Tom works for the family and helps out Amanda by finding a gentleman caller for Laura. Tom's role as the protagonist is made known through several moments throughout the story. For example, "For sixty-five dollars a month  I give up all that I dream of doing and being ever! And you say self- self's all I ever think of. Why, listen, if self is what I thought of, Mother I'd be where he is- GONE!". Tom gives up a lot in order to provide for his mom and sister. I think the antagonist is two people, Amanda and the father. Amanda drives Tom to not become his father and she pushes Laura to marry someone who is not like her father. Amanda wants her children to act in certain ways due to her own past experiences with her husband. In this way, the father plays a role as the antagonist as well. The only foil characters I can identify in the play are Laura and Amanda. While Amanda is demanding and an extrovert, Laura is very shy and quiet.

As You Like It- #3

"Lay sleeping on his back: about his neck a green and gilded snake had wreathed itself, who with her head nimble in threats approach'd the opening of his mouth." (IV.iii.64)

As a comedy, there is less logic to the plot of the story. In Othello, Shakespeare purposely wrote things to develop the plot and characterize individuals such as Iago and Othello. However, in a comedy, things seem to be really unrealistic and for a completely different purpose. Things like Rosalind and Orlando constantly talking but Orlando not knowing it is Rosalind because she is dressed up like a man seem to be really unrealistic to a reader.  Of course Orlando should recognize the woman he is desperately in love with. Also, the snake and lion attacking Orlando out of the blue seem to have no real logic or point to them. However, it does keep the reader engaged and develop the comedic and satirical tone to the plot.