Surroundings - Drama Blog 2 (A Raisin in the Sun)

"MAMA: What is it you want to express?
BENEATHA: Me! Don't worry - I don't expect you to understand."

~A Raisin in the Sun, page 48

Our environment is what shapes and defines our personalities not only when we are younger and developing, but also when we are older. Setting can effect people so much, even to the point that is changes their dispositions. In Raisin in the Sun, the setting particularly affects both Mama and Beneatha.

Mama is affected by the setting because she feels trapped. The apartment she lives in must be shared with many of her extended family members - her grandson Travis even sleeps on the couch every night. The tiny apartment just isn't enough room for her, which is why she puts the down payment on the house. She also probably feels trapped in a stereotype. Throughout the play, the family members (aside from Beneatha) are trying to assimilate into the middle-class American culture. The apartment is a symbol of not being able to escape the "black" ways of life, when all Mama wants is to have a good, rich life for her family. (I'm not saying they are oppressed in the apartment... but they are oppressed in the apartment.)

Beneatha is different from all the other family members. She is the most educated and has the most experience with travel. Beneatha considers moving all the way to Africa during the play. This already shows a contrast in her and her family - while her family is trying to integrate into "white society," Beneatha is completely embracing her culture. Beneatha, like Mama, feels trapped in her setting; however, she feels trapped in an environment full of ignorance and desire to assume a false, "better" identity.

Walking the Line - Poetry Blog 5 (Mr. Z)

The last poem I read provoked a lot of thought for me. Mr. Z is about a Jewish man who is defying racial stereotypes. However, he may be taking this idea too far. One could definitely argue that he is losing touch with his heritage. The poem reveals that the line between breaking through the glass ceiling and losing oneself is shockingly thin. Yes, we should try to integrate other cultures into our own and be tolerant of everyone. Even considering this, it's important for other races to embrace their heritage. They shouldn't pretend to be white or any other majority race just to fit in - that would be denying their own identities. Even at the end of the poem, the critics who wrote about his death explicitly categorized him as a Jew despite his efforts to be seen as more than that. While people shouldn't stereotype or focus only on color, different races should really accept and take pride in their race while also achieving something more.