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 61 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. 62 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. 64

3. Liberty or Freedom

Liberty in The New Oxford American Dictionary means the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life McKean, 2005: 976. This is another interesting idea of American Dream that can be seen in Bennie’s character and it is Liberty or Freedom. As a smart student, Bennie loves to study, she learns almost anything. Her curiosity has made her into a person who is curious to have challenges. Bennie wants to have as many experiences as she can in her lifetime. Bennie believes that everybody has the rights of freedom. Freedoms where she can explore her talent or express herself or even become what she wants to become. She questioned Mama and Ruth when they mentioned about things that she does such as learning to play guitar. Beneatha : Sharply I just want to learn to play guitar. Is there anything wrong with that? Hansberry, 1994: 47. According to Bennie, there is nothing wrong when she wants to learn how to play guitar or anything that she wants to. She sees that people have to express themselves one way or another. In this case Bennie wants to express herself by exploring and learning new things. Bennie also does not expect other people to understand it. Beneatha : I don’t flit I – I experiment with different forms of expression… Ruth : Like Riding a horse? Beneatha : – People have to express themselves one way or another. Mama : What is it you want to express? 65 Beneatha : Angrily Me MAMA and RUTH look at each other and burst into raucous laughter Don’t worry – I don’t expect you to understand Hansberry, 1994: 48. Bennie is in the state of fulfilling her cognitive needs Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Atkinson, Atkinson, and Hilgard, 1983: 318 where she wants to be free to know and understand lots of things that she want, she wants to be free to explore not only herself but also the world. She believes that it is free for her to express her self as one of the ways in finding her identity, free to learn or to understand things that she want such as know how to play guitar, riding a horse, etc and free to explore the world. Bennie knows that a person is free to decide what shehe wants to be in the future. For her, somebody’s goal is something that is nothing to do with ones sex or skin color but more to what they have and do. Bennie understands that American Dream brings freedom toward her, free from things like gender, segregation and racism. 66

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION

In the last part of this thesis, the writer will draw the conclusion of what is discussed in Chapter IV of this study. After analyzing the play A Raisin in the Sun, the writer can conclude that the objective of the study is achieved as the writer get the answers for the problem formulations stated in chapter one. First is about answering the description of the main characters’ characterization. Second is about answering the ideas of American Dream that are revealed as the main characters’ motive of life. There are several main characters that can be found in the first part of the analysis. They are Mama, Walter, Beneatha, and Ruth. Mama is one of the central characters. Mama’s appearance is described as a beautiful woman in her early sixties, full-bodied and strong. Her dark-brown face is surrounded by the total whiteness of her hair; her face is full of strength. She is a strong woman who has to manage the family by herself after the death of her husband. She has the authority to rule the family. Mama is also characterized as a wise and loving woman. She really cares with the dream of the other members of the family. She always tries to do her best for the family. As a religious woman, her life is really close with God. Mama explains that she does not want her children to be involved in something which is not religious. As we can see in the analysis, Walter is also one of the central characters. Physically characterized, he is a lean, intense young man in his middle thirties. He is characterized as uneducated man who works as a chauffeur and always deals with the 67 rich people, especially whites since there is a limitation of job type for the colored people. Walter is also found as an ambitious and money oriented person. Just like another black Afro-American who comes from the oppressed society, Walter grows up as a dreamer. He likes to imagine that someday he becomes a rich man that owns lots of money from his business. Beneatha is also central character. She is called Bennie by the members of the family. She is about twenty years old. She is a smart, independent, and curious girl. She always expresses herself in doing lots of things, just to find her identity. Another central character is Ruth. She is a hard working woman who is really patient and loves her family. She sacrifices herself only for the family. From the analysis of the main characters, it is found that the ideas of American Dream are revealed as the main characters’ motive of life in the Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. The idea of prosperity and equality become the basic concept of Walter’s motive of life. He wants to fulfill his ambition of opening a liquor store in order to be successful in material terms. He also thinks that by having his own business, he will be rich and he looks equal with the whites around him. While, it is different from Ruth’s motive of prosperity, she sees prosperity as a need to fulfill the family’s needs. She is a hard working woman who will work twenty hours a day or wash all the sheets in America just to achieve happiness which in this case is to fulfill all the family’s physiological needs and to move into a better place. She knows exactly that a dream will cost a hard work in achieving it. 68