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Friday, October 1, 2010

Periods 1 & 2, Post 3: Walter as Prometheus

Hi, guys. So here's what I want to talk about this week:

In Act 2, Scene 1 of A Raisin in the Sun, we read about how George Murchison compared Walter Younger to Prometheus, the man who was punished for stealing fire from the gods in Greek mythology. Like Prometheus, Walter struggles against the ruling class, white society, for the opportunity to achieve his American dream. In many ways, this reminds me of being an adolescent: teenagers struggle with the established authority (parents) for more power and more freedom.

My question is this: why is Walter unhappy? Try to put yourself in his shoes. Why has he chosen a liquor store as a means to realize his goal? What other choices could he have made, that might have achieved the same things? When have you gone against your parents' wishes, only to realize that you made the wrong choice?

This will count as a homework assignment for this marking period.

13 comments:

  1. Walter Lee Younger is unhappy because he yearns to be what he's not: the man of the house, he breadwinner. He want to be able to fulfill his family's needs but right now he is unable to. When I put myself in Walter's shoes, I think he chose the liquor store because that is the place he goes to for comfort when he feels its just him against the world. Liquor is what he turns to when his problems get unbearable so he wants to invest in that. Not only because thats what HE can turn to, but he knows thats what alot of other people turn to when problems start to hit, just like they tumble down on him. He drinks alot because he has lot of problems and he knows that there's alot of people out there too with problems that will drink alot too, and make his business thrive. Other choices that Walter could've made are: putting the money in a bank account and keep saving on it, even making his mom pay down fully on the house so they woudn't have to wory about that. Atleast they wouldnt worry about rent anymore. He could've opened a restaurant and his Mama and Ruth could work there. Something, other than liquor. I have gone against my parents' wishes sometimes, to notice that i am wrong; but I dont regret it because atleast I know for myself what the outcome is, and I know better to not make the same mistake again.

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  2. Johann Apreza
    Walter is unhappy because as a man he can't maintain his family wealthy. Everybody in his family works which makes him feel that he's not man enough. I think he chosed the liquor store because he wanted to make money fast. But he didn't realize that having a liquor store is not the best for his family. Another thing that makes walter feel bad is that he doesn't like his job. He's a chofer that has to listen to same people of his age planning great bussiness.

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  3. LESLIE DURAN;
    Walter is unhappy because he feels he can't provide for his family, he feels useless. He has a son sleeping on the living room couch, and he's awaiting another child. HE thinks about the future his children are going to have. I mean the game Travis plays for fun is catching n killing rats, what would happen with another child. Walter is not able to keep a stable and healthy environment, and for that he feels as if he has failed his family. Investing in a liquor store is actually good business when u really think about it, there are many people who have issues,or feel lonely and have relationship problems, so they drink out of distress and anger. It's the same thing Walter does when he feels he needs to get away, he doesn't face his problems he just drinks them away. And yet you can profit from other peoples problems. He also could have just saved the money, put it in to a bank account. It takes time but easily the money could have doubled and the Younger could of had enough money for the liquor store and Bennie's career. I have gone against my parents wishes many times, and I have learned the good and bad out comes of it, the bad out come is that you'd be punished, and the good out comes was that I learned that your parents aren't always right even if they deny it.

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  4. Jonathan Roman Says .....

    Walter is unhappy because he can't get his liquor store business started. Walter has chosen a liquor store to achieve his goal to make easy and fast money knowing what type of environment is his neighborhood and to get all the free liquor he wants . Another way he can achieve his goal the same way would be to open a candy store. Everyone goes to the candy store and not everyone goes to the liquor store so a candy store would be better. One time I went against my mothers wish to take me to Sesame Street Amusement Park, but I always thought I was too old for that place. But when I went it was a lot of fun and that made me realize that I've made the wrong decision not going before.

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  5. Walter is unhappy because he's the man of the house and cant really support his family the way he really wants to. Walter choosen a liquor store to relieze his goal beacuase he drinks when he's stress and other people may to so its easy for them to just go to is store and release their stress.Some other choices he could of made is to invest in the check that his mom was getting and save the money for something better on in his family life.I went aganist my parents wishes alot of time and realize i should of listen to them instead,but its better that you learn from your mistake.
    Annalysa cole

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  6. Walter lee Younger is unhappy because he feels he doesn't support his family like a man should do. He thinks that since everyone works for money to get what they want he's not doing his job as a husband, father, brother and son. When i put my shoes in Walter shoes, I think he chooses the liquor store as his career because he thinks it's a faster way to bring money. I don't blame him because every man wants the good for their family. He thinks his idea is so bulletproof because when he have a problem his solution is drinking. The beer comfromts him when he doesn't no what to do in life. As if in any man. When they face a problem there first solution is drinking. Another choice he could have made is investing the money and continue saving on it so they could have more than enough. In life some of my decision wasn't so smart, sometimes i have to go against me parents wishes. But at the end of the day, i realise my mistake and there's nothing better than learning from your mistake.
    Deorannie Nagamootoo

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  7. Walter Lee is unhappy, because he cant support his family and watch everyone else he worked able to do it. So he chose liquro store in hope make money support family so dont have watch everyone in entire family go out and work. If he other choice would save it in bank get more money or get another house and work harder. I when against my parent wishes alot but i know im doing so i was ready anything i made think was wrong to do it like time I stay up late playing game the sound would wake up nieghor i lower volume and dont move much and they got there sleep so my parent nothing went wrong but Walter idea is little too much gamble

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  8. Walter lee younger is un happy because he cant support his family ,and he watches people support his family. he should save up money to help his family and not bow it off so quick.Achoice i made that wasnt good going agaisnt my Parents was not going shopping with her cause she sed at the end she was gunna buy me something

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  9. Jasmin here, Walter is unhappy because he's not the head of the family like he's father was. Now thats he's father has died, Mama is the new head and supports her family. Walter chose the liquior store because the last time his friend came to him with buisness partnership and passed up the offer and it turned out that he's made over 100,000 dollars as a profit, so this offer he isn't going to pass up but intsead he is going to be apart of it. Instead of being apart of the problem he should be apart of the soultion. He shouldn't ever did anything but keep working at his job and tring to support his family as much as possible. I remember when i took 5 bucks from my mom when she needed for the laundry and then i got grounded for it . I felt stupid.

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  10. Walter Lee is upset because he can't do what he wants to do for his family like help them out and move them out that apartment that they are cramped up in. Like his son sleeping on the sofa it hurts him and Walter wants to do something so he's mad cause he can't. Investing in a liquor store is what he feels is going to help them out cause people like to drink he thinks that business can help him make money.

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  11. Waltor Lee is unhappy because in his mind , he feels as if him as the man of the household , should be able to suport the whole family . With everything thats going on , and the little money he makes , he cant accomplish this . He choosen the liquor store because his thought is ... Nobody can stop getting liquor . The same thing as nobody can stop going to the doctor . Its understandable . He wants to invest in something that he knows for a fact , will still be giving him a high income a few years from now . He couldve tried to look for a job that payed a little more and start saving up but Waltor is the impatient type . I never really went against what my mother said . Only other then like dishes and stuff . I then got in trouble for not doing what she said . I learned just to do what she says and just get it done and over with .

    --Aida Cales

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  12. Walter Lee is upset because he cant support or help his family out, and to see how they living and what they going through is hard for him because before his dad died he was the leader of the house, Now Mama is the one thats supporting the family. Walter feels like investing in a liquor store is going to help him and his family, Also to get money and try to upgrade there living style.

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  13. Megan Rampersad said,

    My reasoning for Walters unhappiness is that he feels like he cannot provide for his family. He feels like he cannot support them and he wants to try and move them out of the roach infested and cramped up apartment that they all live in. I understand that Walter feels the need to provide for his family being a man in the house, but his decision of how to do so isnt very wise. He feels like he should own a liquor store to help support his family,which isnt very wise when he could something else with the money like save the in the bank to help for more important things that might come there way in the future. There was alot of times when i ave went aagainst my parents wishes and trying to prove them wrong was always difficult beacause they were always right. As parents they always know more than the kids do but we just choose to think that they dont.

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