The Great Gatsby and A Raisin in the Sun

The American dream is a key theme in both the novels "The Great Gatsby" and in "A Raisin in the Sun." In both of these novels the American dream is perceived by their achievements and personal success, and expressed through the characters' experiences. In the Great Gatsby the American dream revolved around doing your best to be accepted into wealth and high class, their dream was more materialistic. On the other hand, in A Raisin in the Sun, the characters also want to be accepted into wealth and high class but their dream was focused more around pride in the family. The only one who didn’t agree to begin with was Walter Lee. Walter Lee was stubborn about becoming rich off of a liquor store, and didn’t mind investing all his and his sister's money. Once Walter Lee lost all the money, he finally realized his true riches and the importance of family. This is shown when he rejects Lindner's offer of not moving into the neighborhood. The move was a resemblance of their success and being able to beat society's expectations of them, and also being able to achieve and surpass their ancestor's levels of success. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby portrays the American dream with wealth as being success. He is influenced by Dan Cody, and believes that Dan Cody is living the American dream by being wealthy and having luxuries. Gatsby is soon willing to do whatever it takes to gain status, wealth and love which define his success in the American dream. Despite Gatsby's luxurious parties and crowds of "friends" he is missing a little piece of his American dream, Daisy. Represented by the green light, Gatsby is reaching for what he can’t have, what completes his American dream, his true love. The American dream in A Raisin in the Sun is demonstrated with family values and moral standards. Meanwhile, in the Great Gatsby the American dream revolves around wealth and false realities. In both novels, people are trying to achieve the American dream by gaining success but in the Great Gatsby it is more materialistic and superficial. In the beginning characters in A Raisin in the Sun were following Gatsby's footsteps but soon learned that money is not everything and that family comes first. Gatsby believes that money can solve anything and that it defines success. However he soon learns that no matter how many England t-shirts he could own, his true love could never be his. Both novels begin with a similar approach and soon learn what is really important in trying to conquer the American dream. Not only do both the novel's characters fantasize about what they want but they are also very persistent. Once Gatsby decided he wanted to be wealthy, there was nothing to get in his way. He did anything in his power to get what he wanted but this blinded him from what he actually wanted which was Daisy. Gatsby couldn’t let go of his past and grasped it like it was his present. He achieved his American dream in becoming a well to do man but didn’t gain his love back. As for mama, she is also very persistent. Once she knew what she wanted for her family she was not going to back down which was a safe and nice neighborhood; a neighborhood in which her children and grandchildren could enjoy and experience what she wasn’t able to as a child. In the end, he dream was achieved as well as they became the first African Americans to move into an all white neighborhood.

word count: 598

Protest Song - Say it loud ( I'm black and I'm proud)

This song is addressing the social injustice of racism. James Brown took and approach to this song as encouragement for African Americans. In this song, he says to say “I’m black, and I’m proud” encouraging African Americans to be proud of who they are and where they come from. Brown then continues the song with everything they have gone through. Here he is continuing to encourage them in the sense they have gone through so much that they have to keep trying until they get what they want.  This was demonstrated in the line saying “but I say we won't quit moving until we get what we deserve.”  Brown then describes how they have been treated due to racism and how they are referred to as “just bones.” He also mentions in the song that they have been working hard, but only for another man. This song coming out during the time of racism gave encouragement and confidence. Another issue during this time period was voting rights, which leads to the symbolism he has in his song. The line "we'd rather die on our feet, than be living on our knees," refers to a new realization that voting rights alone wouldn't create true equality when so many African Americans would continues to live in poverty. Another interpretation is that they would rather die standing, as in strong than die working for someone else. I say this because when he says we would rather die on our feet I interpret it as we would rather die when they’re still standing, meaning healthy. When he continues to say “than be living on our knees” I see it as in living miserably, and having to be on their knees begging. This suggests for African Americans to become more economically self sufficient. I chose this song because it is such a strong and big issue in America. Racism continues to exist to a certain extent. It is not as obvious anymore in America but it still exists, for example, stereotypes. One assumes many things based on a person’s race, when in reality a person is very different on this inside that what they may seem on the outside, racism continues affecting many in America today.

word count: 371