1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.
In the 1950s many African Americans choose to assimilate into white culture. However some African Americans choose to embrace their African heritage. In Lorraine Hansberry's play "A raisin in the Sun" she explores how that choice affected the dynamics of an African American family. For many African Americans their choose to either embrace the white society around them or embrace their Family heritage affected their family's life style and affected their own life.
In Lorraine Hansberry's " A raisin in the Sun" the Young family lives in a small New York apartment. Because they were black they often faced racial segregation. They lived in an all black neighborhood, which was the worst part of town. For many of the characters it was hard to get a good education and a good education was almost not needed and certainly the white community around them did not want them to have a good education. Many African Americans, in the 1950s, were beginning to assimilate into white culture.
However for one character Bennetha Young, she wanted to get enough education to become a doctor. She disregarded the standards for African Americans at that time. She wore her hair in a more traditional way, she dressed in a more traditional way and she dreamed of going to Nigeria. This caused stress in her family because the rest of her family wanted her to assimilate into white culture. They did not understand her need to understand her own heritage. Her surroundings affected her in a way that maid her more independent. She did not agree with her family and she did not agree with the whites in her community. She did not want to be the perfect daughter for her mother. And she did not want to be the perfect African American for the whites in her community.
Lorraine Hansberry took an almost sarcastic tone with assimilation into white culture. The characters that wanted to assimilate were less educated and almost stupider then the characters that did not want to assimilate. She was trying to show that African Americans should not assimilate. African Americans should however be proud to be black.
In conclusion Lorraine Hansberry believed that African Americans should not assimilate into American or white culture. She does this by having the most educated and most driven character be the one charecter that refuses to assimilate.
In conclusion Lorraine Hansberry believed that African Americans should not assimilate into American or white culture. She does this by having the most educated and most driven character be the one charecter that refuses to assimilate.
Your paragraphs lack evidence and support. I strongly recommend doing an outline, and understanding these concepts before you write an essay! You can always look at past work other students have done to understand what "supporting an argument" is and how it is designed. I will admit, I struggled so much with supporting my claim. It took me half a year to properly understand what it meant. You stated your thesis, you just didn't answer the "so what" question. Always keep that in mind.
ReplyDeleteTo me, this sounds more like a book review and report than an AP Lit essay. I would try to first create a thesis which addresses techniques, meaning, and effects, then find quotes to support your thesis. What is the meaning behind the piece and why is it significant? Try to create a unique idea that could be argued, don't just state facts that could be discovered simply by reading the book. Look deeper than surface level, perhaps by examining symbols or allusions in the text.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to echo those two other people that have commented on your blog and say that this does much more summarizing the play than take into the consideration the meaning or effects of the play.Along with that, you lack any real substance to prove your thesis which is lost somewhere in the summarizing. Plus, don't forget to capitalize! Its "A Raisin in the Sun".
ReplyDelete