Equality and Opportunity The Ideas of American Dream as the Main Characters’ Motive of Life
Hilgard, 1983: 318. Walter tries to show that the Youngers are competent in living in an area like Clybourne Park since they can afford to buy a house there and they also
believe that they are capable to be a good neighbor. As stated in the following statement,
Walter : … We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no
causes, and we will try to be good neighbors... Hansberry, 1994: 148.
The ideas of Equality and Opportunity can also be seen in Mama’s characteristic. Just like Walter and the other characters, Mama also has a dream for
herself and the family. Mama
: … Looks right dumpy today. But Lord, child, you should know all the dreams I had ‘bout buying that house and
fixing it up and making me a little garden in the back – She waits and stops smiling And didn’t none of it happen.
Hansberry, 1994: 45.
Her dream is to have a place which she can call it house; a place where she can have a little garden in the back. She thinks that it must be an appropriate place for the
family especially, her grandchild, to grow. It shows one of Mama’s characteristic as a wise and loving woman. She really cares about the future of all members of the
family. As a wise woman she knows that there are nothing more which more important than her family.
It seems that the idea of American Dream that Mama has is a hope for a better life through a chance to live in a better place for the family. There is a major
difference between Mama and Walter in seeing what an American Dream is. Walter 59
sees American Dream as a hope or dream of a better life by dealing with business things while mama thinks that black people especially the Youngers are not business
people type but just plain working people as it can be seen in Mama’s statement during the conversation between Mama and Ruth. “We ain’t no business people,
Ruth. We just plain working folks.” Hansberry, 1994: 42. That is why it is hard for Walter to have his idea of business to reach Mama’s mind and agreement. It is true
that later on Mama gives Walter the insurance money to be invested in the liquor store but it does not mean that Mama agrees with Walter’s idea. Mama gives the
money as a form of action from Mama that shows how Mama cares about her son’s dream. Mama knows how important a dream is in somebody’s life, especially her
children. It seems that the idea of American Dreams that Mama has is a hope for a better life by having a happy family. Mama has the concept that a perfect or a happy
family required a relative comfort and better environment for living. As a religious person, Mama sees that everybody is equal especially in the
eyes of God 1994: 51. From this idea also comes the thought that everybody should also have the same opportunity in life. Those two ideas become Mama’s motive
which soon leads her to her goal or motivation of buying a house. It can be seen later on that Mama achieved her goal by buying a house in a Clybourne Park using the
insurance money. Mama
: Putting her finger on his nose for emphasis She went out and she bought you a house The explosion comes from WALTER at
the end of the revelation and he jumps up and turns away from all of them in a fury. MAMA continues, to TRAVIS
You glad 60
about the house? It’s going to be yours when you get to be a man Hansberry, 1994: 91.
She uses Travis as a reason why she bought that house for. She believes that by having Travis as the reason, the idea of buying the house can be accepted by every
members of the family since everybody loves Travis. Mama’s motives of Equality and Opportunity were emphasized more by
looking at the location of the house that she chooses. Maslow in Atkinson, Atkinson, and Hilgard, 1983: 318 in his Hierarchy of Needs stated that people must be struggle
for their food, shelter, and safety. In this part, Mama is struggling to fulfill the physiological needs of shelter. Mama’s strength and strong will has led her into the
big decision of buying a house especially in whites’ area. Mama bought a house in the Four O Six Clybourne Street, Clybourne Park which is a neighborhood of white
people which no single colored people lives there Hansberry, 1994: 93. Mama’s motives of Equality and Opportunity were emphasized more by
looking at her way in fulfilling her belongingness, love, and esteem needs in Atkinson, Atkinson, and Hilgard, 1983: 318. After her physiological needs of having
a shelter can be fulfilled, her psychological needs moves on to another level of needs, Mama thinks by buying the house, Mama can show that they have the same
opportunity with the white people to live in a nice and better place such as Clybourne Park. She also shows that they are equal to the white people who live in the
Clybourne Park, the Youngers have the same rights to live there since they can afford to buy a house there. Mama chooses the Clybourne Park because she sees that a
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family should have a good shelter to live in, a place where they can gather together or a comfortable place for children to grow up and a home for every member of the
family to share love and laugh. As seen in the following statement, Mama
: … It just a plain little old house—but it made good and solid— and it will be ours. Walter Lee—it makes a difference in a man
when he can walk on floors that belong to him… Hansberry, 1994: 92
and in another dialogue between Walter and Mama, Wallter
: So that’s the peace and comfort you went out and bought for us today
Mama : Son—I just tried to find the nicest place for the least
amount of money for my family Hansberry, 1994: 93.
Mama shows that everybody has the same right and the same opportunity in pursuing happiness for their family.
The ideas of American Dream not only influenced Walter and Mama. The idea of Equality and Opportunity has also influenced Bennie’s life. Bennie is a smart
girl who learns that everyone should have equal rights and opportunity. Although she is not a religious woman who believes in God just like her mother but Bennie
believes that everyone has an equal rights, such as the right to have an education or right of a better job. She thinks that everybody can have education as long as they
want and can afford it. Everybody has an equal right to achieve something or to have any kind of jobs according to their talent and ability and it is nothing to do with God.
She thinks that God is just a matter of ideas and nothing to do with what human race achieves in life.
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Beneatha : Mama, you don’t understand. It’s all a matter of ideas, and God
is just one idea I don’t accept. It’s not important. I am not going out and be immoral or commit crimes because I don’t believe
God. I don’t even think about it. It’s just that I get tired of Him getting credit for all the things the human race achieves through
its own stubborn effort. There simply is no blasted God—there is only man and it is he who makes miracles Hansberry, 1994:
51.
Bennie also thinks that everybody has the same opportunity in achieving goals of life. By these ideas of Equality and Opportunity as her motive of life comes the
motivation of becoming a doctor. Bennie believes that she has the same opportunity with the whites and because of that it is fine for her to become a doctor. She also
thinks that colored people are equal to the white people, man is equal with woman, and by that idea she is sure that not only men who can have high education and
become a doctor, not only white people can pursue such a goal of becoming a doctor but also colored people and colored women can have it. It is related with Edwards’
self motives which contribute towards the maintenance of the concept of self or ego which each individual has personally developed 1969: 71. Bennie’s ego can be seen
in the dialogue between Bennie and Walter. Walter
: Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing’ round with sick people—then go be a nurse like
other women—or just get married and be quiet… Beneatha
: Well—you finally got it said…It took you three years but you finally got it said Hansberry, 1994: 38.
Walter thinks that it is not necessary for a woman to have a dream such as becoming a doctor but unfortunately for Bennie it is her chance to not only express herself but
also to show her capabilities and independence in achieving something. She sees that 63
women can be independent as long as they are capable and ready to work hard for it. Bennie’s ego to pursue her dream can also be seen in the conversation between
Bennie and other characters. As stated in the following dialogue between Beneatha, Mama, and Ruth,
Beneatha : Get over it? What are you talking about, Ruth? Listen,
I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet—if I ever get married
Mama and Ruth : If
Mama : Now, Bennie—
Beneatha : Oh, I probably will… but first I’m going to be a doctor,
and George, for one, still thinks that’s pretty funny. I couldn’t be bothered with that. I’m going to be a doctor and
everybody around here better understand that Hansberry, 1994: 50.
It is also related to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs that shows how someone’s motive can be based on esteem needs that consists things such as to achieve, be
competent, and gain approval and recognitions from others in Atkinson, Atkinson, and Hilgard, 1983: 318. Bennie is struggling and studying hard to become a doctor.
She believes that by becoming a doctor she will gain approval and recognitions from others. Bennie knows exactly that every body has the same rights and opportunity to
achieve something or to struggle in gaining approval and recognitions from others through the things they do.
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