ARITS full notes

houseofballoons A RAISIN IN THE SUN ACT 1 Scene 1: Legend: PURPLE → characterisation YELLOW → general BLUE → insights GREEN → themes THE APARTMENT: ● The Youngers family have limited resources → Walter has a blue collar job. (white collar → people working comfortable jobs, another word for the pay white collar jobs is remuneration. It’s called blue collar jobs because they wear blue overalls.) Walter is the only one working in the family → solo breadwinner → Because of Walter’s limited education (because of his race), he had to settle with a low wage job [THEMES: MONEY, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION) ● The Youngers family have a very positive, optimistic attitude even though the apartment is very run down ● “Indestructible contradictions” → refer to things they can’t change about the layout because of their limited resources PERSONIFICATION: ● “Now the once loved pattern of the couch upholstery has to fight to show itself from under acres of crocheted doilies” (pg 23) ● “the carpet has fought back by showing its weariness” (pg 23) ● “Once loved” (pg 23) → shows how they used to have a lot of hope when they were first living in the house, furniture represents their hope. over time, as blemishes begin to form on the furniture, the same is done to the hopes of the family members→ hopes wearing down/fading/diminishing (THEMES: HOPES & DREAMS) SYMBOLISM: ● “The single window that has been provided for these ‘two’ rooms is located in the kitchen area”(page 24) this shows a lock of light in not only the apartment, but also in the lives of the Youngers.

houseofballoons ● Light symbolises hope, and the limited light that supports the entire apartment might mean their current situation isn’t that ideal. the light could also represent the awaiting cheque (the family’s only hope), which could better their lives and fulfil their dreams ● The family is divided, with everyone wanting to pursue different ambitions using the cheque money. - Walter wants to use it to open a liquor store, - Beneatha needs it for her medical school tuition, which is very costly - while Lena wants to buy them a new house in Clybourne Park (a neighbourhood predominantly white) with the money, as she wants to secure a better standard of living for the family as the house is very cramped & run down. Getting a house in Clybourne Park is also breaking away from the stereotype that the Blacks can’t live with the whites, and it offers more opportunities as it is a neighbourhood of richer people → better facilities & resources because it’s a neighbourhood meant for the whites [THEMES: RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, ASSIMILATION, DREAMS] ● “Weariness has in fact, won in this room” (pg 23) - This symbolises the feelings of the Youngers in the story. With many of the character's feelings being so tremendous that it seeps into the room, the room is stripped down of all its atmosphere, leaving only the bare minimum for living in the house →