A Raisin in the Sun vs. Julius Caesar Essay

In William Shakespeares Julius Caesar and Lorr aine Hansberrys A Raisin in the sun themes, symbols, and characters nookie be compared. Both A Raisin in the Sun and Julius Caesar were written for the stage therefore their characters become more obvious and more thoroughly portrayed than in a book, for example. Even though, these feats were written by far different authors and in different centuries their similarities and differences are evident. In some(prenominal) A Raisin in the Sun and Julius Caesar themes, symbols, and character development are consistent. Comparing character development in Julius Caesar and A Raisin in the Sun is beneficial in learning more nigh each and every character. One of the major characters in A Raisin in the Sun is Mama a character she can be compared to in Julius Caesar is Calpurnia. in spite of Mama has a bigger role in Hansberrys work and Calpurnias role in Shakespeares work is not as efficacious as Mama, similarities are still evident.One way they are similar is in their authority over one person or a hardly a(prenominal) people in general, their families to be more specific. In A Raisin in the Sun, Mama has a strong opinion regarding her beliefs. She stands up for them and stresses respect. Mama is also the whirl of the Younger residencehold. She reminds everyone who is living with her the difference between right and wrong. However, Mama seems to be a bit more concerned with what Walter is perpetually doing. Walter is her eldest son. In the equal way, Calpurnia stresses what she believes in. Similar to how Mama watches pop for her son Walter, Calpurnia tries to warn her husband, Julius Caesar, against barbarous and something awful that has a potential of happening. Mama visual aspects her authority over Walter when she gives him the responsibility of putting away(p) a share of the money, Listen to me, son. I say I been wrong, son. That I been doing to you what the rest of the world been doing to you. (She turn s of the radio) Walter(She stops and he looks up slowly at her and she meets his eye pleadingly)What you aint never understood is that I aint got nothing, dont own nothing aint never in reality wanted nothing that wasnt for you. There aint nothing as precious to meThere aint nothing worth prop onto, money, dreams, nothing elseif it meansif it means its going to destroy my boy. (She use ups an envelope out of her handbag and puts it in front of him and he watches her without speaking or moving) I paid the man thirty-five hundred down on the house. That leaves sixty-five hundred dollars. Monday morning I want you to take this money and take three thousand and put it in a savings account for Beneathas medical schooling. The rest you put in a takeing accountwith your prepare on it. And from now on any penny that come out of it or go in it is for you to look after. For you to decide. (She drops her hands a little helplessly) It aint much, but its all I got in the world and Im puttin g it in your hands.Im telling you to be the head of this family from now on like you supposed to be (Hansberry 106-107). In a similar way Calpurnia takes authority over Julius Caesar, Alas my lord, your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth to-day call it my fear that keeps you in the house, and not your own. Well send Mark Antony to the senate-house and he shall say you are not intimately to-day let me, upon my knee, prevail in this (Shakespeare 2.2). Both Calpurnia and Mama take authority over someone. Due to the fact that both tasks were not taken seriously both Walter and Caesar run into turmoil later in the literary work. In Walters case, he doesnt do as Mama says and loses his and Beneathas money as well as peoples trust in him (Hansberry 127-128). In Caesars case, him not staying home and returning to the senate against his wifes will, Caesar is greeted with his death (Shakespeare 3.1). In both works of literature, symbolism is commonly used.Some of the symbols u sed in A Raisin in the Sun are Mamas plant, Beneathas blur, and the check Mama receives after her husband dies. In Raisin in the Sun, Mamas plant represents her dreams and the rest of her familys dreams. A result of this would be Mama always making sure to take extra care of her plant and to nourish it well. On the other hand, Mamas check represents all of the hard work that her husband achieved and how hard he had to work to actually obtain that amount of money. Beneathas sensory hair symbolizes the assimilationist beliefs of the time and how people become inferior to the dominant race. When Beneatha returns her hair to its natural state it symbolizes that she is against common assimilation beliefs. The symbolism of her hair is evident in a conversation between her and Asagai, (Coming to her at the mirror)I shall have to determine you how to drape it properly. (He flings the materialabout her for the moment and stands back to look at her) AhOh-pay-gay-day, oh-gaha-mu-shay. (A Yo ruba exclamation for admiration) You wear it wellvery wellmutilated hair and all. (Turning suddenly) My hairwhats wrong with my hair? (Shrugging) Were you born with it like that? (Reaching up to touch it) Noof course not. (She looks back to the mirror, disturbed) (Smiling) How then? You know perfectly well howas crinkly as yoursthats how (Hansberry 61-62). The symbols used in Julius Caesar are omens, pain, and the conspirators bathing in Caesars blood. In Julius Caesar, omens symbolize evil and warn people against evil and bad things that could happen, possibly fatal things.By the conspirators bathing or washing their hands in Caesars blood they are symbolizing that they are winning responsibility for ridding Rome of its terrible leader. Portia, Brutuss wife, uses the symbol of pain to show how much she loves Brutus, that she is loyal to him, and he can trust her. Portia harshly kills herself by swallowing gamy coals because Brutus refuses to share anything with her, No man bears sorrow better. That tidings came. With this she fell distract and, her attendants absent, swallod fire (Shakespeare 4.3 147, 155-156). By using symbolism Hansberry and Shakespeare made their readers and audience conceive with depth and understanding. In A Raisin in the Sun, several themes are covered throughout the play the same goes for Julius Caesar. Even though there are more themes in these works of literature there are two that stand out and can be compared. The themes that are similar between A Raisin in the Sun and Julius Caesar are pride and the role of men and women in society and the house. In A Raisin in the Sun pride is theme because the Younger family doesnt have much but they have their pride.Throughout the play their pride is tested but they never hesitate to speak their minds. When Mama buys a house in a white neighborhood they are a bit hesitant at first but are happy in the end. They show their pride concerning this situation when a representative from Clybourne Park comes and asks them to sell the house back but in the end they dont and kick Linder out of their house. Pride is very evident in the conversation between Walter, Linder, and Ruth, (Putting on his glasses and drawing a form out of the briefcase) Our association is prepared, through the corporate effort of our people, to buy the house from you at a financial gain to your family.Lord have mercy, aint this the living gall All right, you through? Well, I want to giveyou the exact terms of the financial arrangement We dont want to hear no exact terms of no arrangements. I want to know if you got any more to tell us bout getting together? (Taking off his glasses) WellI dont suppose that you feel Never mind how I feelyou got any more to say bout how people ought to sit down and talk to each other? Get out of my house, man. (He turns his back and walks to the door) (Hansberry 118-119). Even though pride is a similar theme between Julius Caesar and A Raisin in the Sun, the pride in Ju lius Caesar is different than that in A Raisin in the sun.Works CitedHansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York Vintage, 1994. Print. Julius Caesar Theme of Pride. Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. A Raisin in the Sun Theme of Pride. Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. Play ScriptJulius Caesar. spacious Text / Script of the Play Julius Caesar Act I by William Shakespeare. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.