Comparison Between "The Glass Menagerie" and "A Raisin in the Sun" Essay

Introduction

In both plays, women come to the point of recognition of things they did not know. In the "The Glass Menagerie", Amanda is the woman who discovers about her daughter's secret of dropping out of college. Amanda realizes that her daughter, Laura has not been attending her college classes for over six weeks (Williams 28). Amanda learns about the information from Rubican Business College typing instructor after deciding to inquire about Laura's performance when going for her DAR meeting (Williams 28). Amanda realizes that Laura Wingfield is not a recognized student in the college. Amanda was disappointed by the news.

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Amanda's Recognition in "The Glass Menagerie"

Amanda postpones her DAR meeting and goes home to confront her daughter. Laura agrees that she has been lying to Amanda for six weeks that she has been going to college. The realization of the truth causes anger, disappointment, hopelessness, and mistrust between Amanda and Laura.

Ruth's Awakening in "A Raisin in the Sun"

Similarly, in "A Raisin in the Sun" Ruth acquires the knowledge about the success of Charlie Atkins from Walter her husband. Ruth did not know that Atkins would succeed in life as she used to refer to him as a "good for nothing loudmouth" (Hansberry 90). Ruth has been ignorant for a long time for referring to Walter's friends as good for nothing without considering how well they are doing compared to Walter. He also informs Ruth that Charles earns a hundred thousand dollars annually. Ruth also comes to the realization that Walter has been uncomfortable with his current financial situation and the life they are living. Through the conversation, Ruth also learns that Walter supports bribery in order to get licenses and other important documents processed faster. The recognition point in this scene, leaves Walter confused, angry, frustrated and stressed as his wife and sister are not willing to support his ideas.

The Motivation for Anagnorisis: Desire for Success and Security

Walter and Amanda's need to succeed in the future cause the anagnorisis in both plays. Amanda learns about Laura's secret because she wanted to know whether she was getting good grades in college, which will enable her to get a job that would secure their future (Williams 28). Similarly, Walter confronts his wife with the truth about Charlie Atkins to convince her to support his decision of opening a liquor store. He pleads with her to convince Mama to give them starting capital. Walter believes by doing this, he will raise the living standards of his life and his family.

Another point of anagnorisis in "A Raisin in the Sun" occurs when Mama informs Ruth about the dream they had with her husband, Big Walter of purchasing a house in Morgan Park (Hansberry 97). Mama had even planned to have a small garden but their ambition did not happen. Mama also informs Ruth about how she lost one of his sons, little Claud. She tells Ruth how Big Walter mourned Claude's death because of the love he felt for his children. This recognition strengthens the bond between Mama and Ruth. The recognition also makes Ruth sympathize with mama for her loss.

In "The Glass Menagerie", Amanda informs her children Tom and Laura the way she missed a chance of marrying rich and successful suitors and chose to marry their father. Amanda regrets why he turned all the seventeen gentlemen callers that wanted to marry her and ended up marrying a drunkard. Amanda says, "all my suitors were gentlemen" (22). As she reveals the news to Tom and Laura, she demonstrates that she did not enjoy her life with her husband who abandoned her with all the responsibilities of raising Tom and Laura. The recognition makes Amanda sad and her children angry and disappointed with their father.

Hubris

In the play "A Raisin in the Sun", Walter Lee demonstrates hubris by being over ambitious and determined to end his financial problems by starting a business. He is adamant to open an alcohol-selling store and become successful like his friends (Hansberry 91). This tragic weakness makes Walter selfish and only thinks of his bad day when Ruth wants to inform him about her pregnancy. Walters hubris raises her mother's disappointment in him as she is worried that Walter is following the steps of Big Walter.

In the play "The Glass Menagerie", Amanda demonstrates hubris by the way she is treating her grown-up children. She watches how Tom eats and advises him on the right way to eat as if he was a small boy (William 21). Amanda is also unrealistic in her ambitions about Laura getting married to Jim. She is confident that Jim will automatically like Laura and ask her hand in marriage. Amanda's hubris results in her daughter's disappointments and heartbreak when Jim informs her about his engagement to another woman.

Peripeteia

In the "The Glass Menagerie" play, Laura's affection and love for Jim turn into a disappointment and heartbreak when he informs her about his engagement (William 67). In "A Raisin in the Sun" play, Walter's decision to ask Ruth to convince Mama to give him money to start a liquor business fails to materialize as it ends with Beneatha irritating him and calling him names. Lack of money makes Walter become selfish and ignore his wife.

Works Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. "A Raisin in the Sun. 1959." New York: Vintage (1994).

Williams, Tennessee. The glass menagerie. New Directions Publishing, 2011.