A Raisin in the Sun & the American Dream

The American dream in the ’50s was close to materialism. The ownership of consumer goods was believed to bring joy into a family’s life. This stereotypical view governs the dream of one of the main characters in Lorraine Hansberry’s play.The title of the play is based on â€Å"Harlem† by Langston Hughes, a poem that raises a question about a dream that is deferred. â€Å"Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? †¦ Or does it explode?† (Rampersad, 1995, pg. 426) There are three main characters and all three of them of have dreams that have been prolonged for too long. A Raisin in the Sun is about the rocky journey they go through to acquire their dreams.  The Younger’s family has just received a $10,000 dollar check for their dead father’s life insurance policy. They live in a two bedroom apartment on the black side of town in Chicago. Racial prejudices against blacks in that era and a low income are the root of conflict in the f amily.Mama, deceased Mr. Youngers widow wishes to buy a house and fulfill the dream she once saw with her husband. Beneatha, Mama’s daughter, hopes to find her identity through looking towards true African heritage. Walter, Mama’s son, wishes to one day become rich. He wants to replenish his marriage and provide his son with all the opportunities he never had growing up.Walter wants to invest money in the liquor business with a few of his friends. Although the idea appalls Mama at first, she trusts and supports her son with his decision. The night before making the investment Walter tells his son about the business transaction he about to make while tucking him into bed. He tells the little boy that their lives will change soon and paints an elaborate and vivid picture of the future. He tells his son that when he’s seventeen years old he’ll come home and park the Chrysler in the driveway.The gardener will greet him and when he’s inside the house he ’ll kiss his wife and come up to his sons room to see him browsing through brochures of the best colleges in America. He then tells his son that he will give him whatever he wants. Although Walter is somewhat materialistic in what he wants at the core he just wants a happy family and a son who should have all the chances he never had.During this time Mama buys a house to fulfill the dream she saw with her husband; the only one she can afford is in a white suburban neighborhood. Mr. Lindner a man from the neighborhood comes to the Younger house trying to convince them to not destroy the white community. He offers a lot of money in exchange for their acceptance.Meanwhile Walter looses all the money he has invested in the liquor store because I friend has run away with it. When he looses the majority of their financial resources the entire family falls into a deeper level of depression. At this time, Walter decides to take the money the white man has to offer. The thought of sel ling away their right vexes Mama, Walter’s sister and his wife. They detest Walter for dealing with his dead fathers money so easily and feel that he has lost his soul when he days we wants to be bought out by the white Mr. Lindner.Ultimately, loosing everything they have unites them because at the last moment Walter changes his mind about taking money from Mr. Lindner. Walter tells him that they have moved into the house because their father earned it for them. He continues by saying that they don’t want to disturb the neighborhood peace or protest for bigger causes, and that they’d be nice neighbors.He tells Mr. Lindner that he doesn’t want the money. At this moment the entire family’s spirits are lifted and they are proud of the decision Walter has made. This act of standing by your family to achieve the American dream of succeeding no matter who you are and where you come from unites them. They learn to support each other and put their families before their own. By owning a house, having a high morale, and the support of their family, each of them is on their way to fulfill their American dream.ReferencesFoulis, Rhona (2005, March, 14). A Raisin in the Sun. Retrieved March 8, 2008, from Culture Wars Web site: http://www.culturewars.org.uk/2005-01/raisin.htmPotter , G and Struss, Joe. (2002, April, 02). Iowa State University. Retrieved March 8, 2008, from ISU Play Concordances Web site: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~spires/concord.htmlRampersad, A (Ed.). (1995). The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc..   

Environmental science Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Environmental science - Research Paper Example On the other hand, the quality of water is compromised in the essence that it is polluted on a number of occasions. In many regions, the availability of water in both quantity and quality is affected by climate variability and climate change, with more or less precipitation in different regions and more extreme weather events. Sanitation is the collection of waste safely, storing, treating of waste, and disposing it. In a nutshell the managing of waste presence in water is of importance. This is so that we are able to avert the various diseases as typhoid and cholera and to keep away from toxic substances to bring about economic benefits. In many developing and developed countries the use of piped sewer systems, pit latrines with slab, septic tanks is low. In addition, there are hanging toilets, latrines, most facilities are shared, in some instances there are no facilities, and the people use the bush or field for waste disposal. The use of piped water in dwelling units, boreholes, and methods of rainwater collection that are improved are low while on the contrast unprotected springs and the surface water as rivers, dams, and streams are high in developed and developing countries alike. Since time long ago, food and energy are fundamentals to life. This is because for a growing economy and political goodwill matters of food and energy must be addressed that crop up from generation of power and agriculture. For instance in the United States: 34% of water is used for agriculture, 48% is used for generating power and 18% for others (Forest Practices Board 79). However, in most developing and developed economies, agricultural production takes 70% generally of the water consumed (evaporation and transpiration or other means). Therefore, for irrigation purposes and improved agricultural production, generation of power there has to be a nexus in water, food, and energy (Forest Practices Board 86). There are projections on the rise of the sea level from 18 to 59 cm in 2090 -2099. This extreme event in association with a rise in the sea level will cause serious effects to human beings. With food being the major worry there would be increase in crop production in temperatures below 3 degrees Celsius and a decrease in a couple of areas. More people will be at risk of heart and breathe diseases, malnutrition, diarrhea, and extreme conditions of weather (Starrett 69). There may be contraction in the geographical area malaria will affect and an expansion elsewhere. The freshness of water would also be compromised due to melting, acidification, and increased population. Seasonal transmission periods will also change. To conclude the effects on climate change on human beings would bring more negative implications than benefits (United Nations 45). The lingering concern is for the protection of the environment. This is because climate change will lead to some regions becoming deserts; there would be increased warm intermediate flow beneath and a gradual grounding line movement. This will bring about destabilization in the form of food and energy production and the livelihoods of various citizens would be curtailed. Various economies would be mixed up and globally detrimental effects will be felt by alike. Case

Algoeithm Design, Analysis and Implementation Assignment

Algoeithm Design, Analysis and Implementation - Assignment Example This is done by choosing a comparison element and placing all the elements that are less than the comparison element in the first group and the rest of the elements in the second group. This procedure is repeated recursively until the elements are sorted (a part consist of only one element). T(n) = (n-1) + ?1 ? i ? n ti As 1,2,....k-elements are already sorted, we can say that ti =0, where i = 1,2, 3... k. Then, the contribution of quick sort when early stopping is used can be given by, T(n)=(n+1)( ?k ? i ? n ti + ?(1)) = (n+1)( n lg +?(1)) =2n lg +?(n) Thus, T(n) for quick sort =O(nlg(n/k)). Given that, insertion sort is done on a partially sorted array (unsorted k-elements). In general, running time of insertion sort is O(n2 ), where n is the length of the array (total number of elements). In order to provide a solution to this problem, the total array is divided into subarrays of k-elements each, such that k/2? n ? k, then n = O(k) and the running time of insertion sort is O(k2). The total number of such subarrays (m) would then be n/k ? m ? 2n/k., which implies m = O(n/k). The total time spent on insertion sort would then be O(k2)* O(n/k) = O(nk). T(n) for insertion sort = O(nk). Therefore, the total time for this sorting algorithm is as follows: T(n) = O(nk + nlg(n/k) ). ... Solution: From the above problem (1), we find that quick sort sorts k-elements of an n-element array O(n log(n/k)) time. Quick sort sorts by partitioning the given array A[p...r] into two sub-arrays A[p...q] and A[q+1... r] such that every element in A[p...q] is less than, or equal to, elements in A[q+1... r]. This process is repeated until all the elements are sorted. Algorithm for quick sort is given by: A[P] is the pivot key upon which the comparison is made. P is chosen as the median value of the array at each step. If the element is less than, or equal to, the pivot key value, it is moved left. Otherwise, it is moved right. Assuming the best case scenario where each step produces two equal partitions, then T(n)=T(n/2)+T(n/2)+?(n) =2T(n/2)+ ?(n) By Master’s Theorem case 2, T(n) = O(n lg n) In other words, the depth of recursion is log n and at each level/step, the number of elements to be treated is n. If only k-elements are sorted, then the depth of recursion would be n/k and the number of elements would be n at each level, the time taken by this sorting algorithm is given by T(n) = O(n lg (n/k)). 2.2 Show that we can sort a k-well-sorted array of length n in O(n log k) time. As the array is already sorted for k-elements, the remaining steps required to complete the sort would be k (using the results from 1), then T(n) = O(n lg k). 3. Computing the k-th smallest element in the union of the two lists m and n using O(lg m +lg n) time algorithm: Approach 1: Merge sort can be used in this case. It splits the list into two halves, recursively sorts each half, and then merges the two sorted sub-lists. In the given problem, the lists are already sorted; hence, the

Land law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Land law - Essay Example Over a period of time she gained ascendancy over him. Her action against him was set aside as she failed to disprove this presumption (Re Craig , 1971). In Dunbar Bank plc v. Nadeem, the bank provided a mortgage loan to the couple in their joint names. In the trial court it was held that there had been undue influence brought to bear on the wife, as she had not made any contribution to the purchase, but all the same she was being held jointly liable with her husband. The appellate court set aside this judgment and ruled that she had not suffered any disadvantage and as she had failed to establish undue influence (Dunbar Bank plc v. Nadeem , 1998 ). The courts of equity, in their role of a court of conscience, initiated undue influence as a basis for the obtention of relief. To this end the courts endeavour to determine the underlying reason for entering into a transaction. In all cases, where the cause proves to be objectionable, the transaction will be rescinded. From the perspective of equity, undue influence occurs in the following cases. If there are threats or other overtly improper or intimidating acts and if the relationship between the parties accords to one of them a superior position, which is exploited by that party to the detriment of the other party. In O’Brien, the House of Lords specified the measures to be adopted by a bank, in order to avoid the ill effect of a husband’s undue influence, while granting loans to a couple. The outcome of this decision was that a contract could become unenforceable if one of the parties to the contract had done so as a consequence of a third party’s transgression (Barclays Bank v. OBrien, 1993). In Etridge it was held that it was the duty of the bank to take all such reasonable steps as would ensure that the wife should be properly apprised of the consequences of the transaction that she was about to enter into. To this end an

Biomedical Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Biomedical Ethics - Essay Example Where Mary Anne Warren maintains that legal rights should not be extended to fetuses as doing so would violate women’s rights such as the right to self-determination for one, I concur that it would prove difficult to protect individual persons who share one body. This was evident in the Supreme Court’s decision in the Case of Ms. G (Thomas & Waluchow, 2002). The ruling further supports Warren’s position on the issue. I will conclude the paper stating that a fetus is also a person and thus deserves our moral respect but any right it may have comes only second to a higher right, that of the woman who bears it. This may sound harsh but it will be best to remember, as history has shown us with slavery, apartheid & abortion, that what is legal isn’t always going to be moral. For the subject of this paper, I will be treating a fetus’ moral right separately from its legal right. In discussing why birth, not conception, is morally significant, Mary Ann Warren presented several opposing assumptions. Believers of the intrinsic-properties assumption find that birth does not change any intrinsic properties of a fetus. Both fetuses & newborn infants almost have the same intrinsic properties. According to one believer, only the capacity of sentience, or being responsive, and the degree of such is a valid basis for moral standing. Warren argues other species would have a higher moral standing than infants if proven that these species are highly sentient. She further says that if the sentient criterion is true then all sentient beings should be treated as moral equals. Therefore, killing other sentient beings such as a mouse or a fly should be considered as immoral as killing an infant. Another philosopher claims that unless a being is capable of wanting to exist, it can’t have a right to life. Since neither an infant nor a fetus is self-aware then killing them wouldn’t be inherently

Zeitgeist and architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Zeitgeist and architecture - Essay Example In respect of the building of choice in this paper, Le unite de Habitation du Marseille form Le Corbusier, It is important to underscore the fact that architectonic space is a syntactic language that attempts to transmit concepts through our most basic instincts. Architecture incorporates the reaction in philosophy and the beliefs of a particular time. Such architectural designs have a direct impact on space which also goes in line with time. From time immemorial art has been part of everyday life of people in various cultural settings. This has been the case with the various aspects of the society ranging from structures, interior design of houses, food arrangement patterns and designing of clothes. Various theoretical concepts have been advanced in respect of the philosophical factors that are taken into consideration when designing various buildings. Architecture is one of the oldest sciences that require in-depth understanding of various factors in respect of the desired structur e. A number of modern towns are experiencing increasing demand for housing with a blend of diverse architectural designs (Mitias, 1999). There are various theoretical concepts that are spoken by the structure itself once it is constructed. Architecture captures the space factor which is increasingly becoming scarce in most residential sites. There have been many cases of setting up buildings in a way that they blend with the topography of the site and the cultural affiliation with the immediate society. Various architecture scientists attest to the fact that the contemporary society strives to spare any little space and maximize the allocated site with an expansive interior and relatively slim exterior. It is common to come across a number of features in many cities which still represent the ancient architecture and are mainly taken through renovation with the building technique kept intact. The cultural affiliation of the people is an important factor in designing various architect ural pieces of art. The ancient time is a reflection of the origin of various concepts and socioeconomic and political concepts that dictated a given way of life amongst the members of the community. This explains the diverse architectural features that are found around the world and the cultural association they have with the given community. It is worth to note that the contemporary architecture considers the serenity of the surroundings and the complexity of the social characteristics of the society. This has been brought about by the increasing sensitivity of people towards colors and their blending (Gargiani, Le Corbusier, Rossellini & Piccolo, 2011). It is important to note that any sensitive architectural creation must incorporate the important influence of image to the public when designing a house. Design of a building says more than words about the prevailing culture, and it explains why some of the ancient buildings have kept under the UN conventions on preservation of cu ltural heritage. The contemporary emergence of globalization is driving urban centers towards over population and a beehive of commercial activities. This requires redefinition of planning the town in terms of structures. Space is becoming a great issue and this explains the research on how the architectures and town planners can come up with beautiful and space saving designs. The increasing competition for space is a matter of great concern among various competing demands of an urban center. There is a need for a revised polychromy of architecture. Ultra-modern art has seen most of the houses designed with vibrant colors and attractive interior design with paints that are water resistant for durability (Mitias, 1999). The adoption of

Biomechanics - Body Movements Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biomechanics - Body Movements - Assignment Example The two muscles are antagonistic to each other. The biceps brings about flexion while the triceps is responsible for extension of the upper arm. The upper end of the biceps has its origin from the scapula and its lower end is inserted on the radius bone lying on the medial aspect of the forearm. The muscle is located in the front portion of the forearm. Contraction of biceps brachii in response to nervous stimulation causes flexion i.e. the forearm is raised in an upward movement. The muscle is therefore categorized as a flexor muscle. In response to the flexion, i.e. when the biceps contracts, the antagonistic triceps muscle relaxes simultaneously. The triceps is located in the posterior portion of the upper arm with its origin from the scapula as well as the humerus bones. The point of insertion of triceps is at the olecranon process of the ulna, the long bone in the forearm located on the lateral side. Contraction of the triceps straightens or extends the arm and this is the reaso n for its classification as an extensor muscle. The movement follows the pattern of a lever of the third order, wherein the load is located at the hand, and the fulcrum at the elbow (Peterson & Bronzino, 2008). 2) In no more than 250 words describe the function of the skeleton and its importance in movement. The human skeleton is an integrated framework of 206 bones which supports the soft tissue and protects the vital organs (McKinley & O’Loughlin, 2008). The skeletal system has been classified as the axial skeleton, comprising of the bones lying along the central axis of the body, which includes the skull, the vertebral column and the rib cage; and the appendicular skeleton, comprising the bones of the arms and legs, as well as the pelvic and the pectoral girdles (McKinley & O’Loughlin, 2008). The appendicular skeleton is more pertinent as far as the body movements are concerned although the axial skeleton is by no means non-contributory, as it provides the central a xis or the pivot around which the body movements occur. The mandible is the mobile portion in the skull and the vertebrae too glide to a certain extent to impart flexibility to the vertebral column. The appendicular skeleton however shows a great degree of motility and is responsible for locomotion. The upper and the lower limbs emanate from the pectoral and the pelvic girdle respectively while the ribs form a bony cage to protect the vital organs. The skeleton provides the hard, bony framework for the origin as well as insertion of the skeletal muscles, the contraction and relaxation of which is actually responsible for locomotion. The skeletal muscles are highly specialized and often occur in pairs to produce movement antagonistic to each other. The movement of the joints can vary from simple gliding, rotation, adduction, abduction, flexion and extension. The muscles are firmly attached to the bones through specialized structures called ligaments and tendons and movements occur in the form of levers of the 1st, 2nd and the 3rd order. 3) In no more than 250 words describe and provide examples of each synovial joint. Synovial joints are freely mobile articulations in which the participating bones are separated by a space called joint cavity (McKinley & O’Loughlin, 2008). These joints are freely mobile and are functionally classified as diarthrosis. There are four synovial joints in the human skeleton viz. the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint; the temporomandibular joint; the elbow, and the knee joint (McKinley & O’