OH MAMA! She really is
the heart and soul of the Younger’s family. Things were getting out of hand so
she flexed her muscles and showed off her characterized traits of being a
strong woman and the leader of the family.
“I just seen my family
falling apart today… When it gets like that in life –you just got to do
something different, push on out and do something bigger…” (94). Lena bought a
house. She was upset and furious with the cluster at home and wanted to make a
change, just like how a coach will change things up to try and help his losing
team. Mama is just trying to guide her family in a better direction and took charge.
Her purchasing the house without consent of the others shows her authority.
Just like that, she can add a dynamic change to the story and setting with just
a simple, yet grand action.
“Walter Lee—it makes a
difference in a man when he can walk on floors that belong to him.” (92). In
theory, the newly owned house will hypothetically improve Walter’s behavior and
perspective on things; one of the main reasons why Mama bought the house was
to, hopefully, straighten up Walter and make him start acting like a man. She
is switching the location of her team in hopes that a better environment for
her team will cause them to have a better season.
Although Mama is no
doubt the Alpha Dog of this pack, she also is the most loving and caring
character. She is mighty like Superman, but just like Superman, she has a soft
spot, a weakness. “So you butchered up a dream of mine—you—who always talking ‘bout
your children’s dream…” (95). Her son’s disappointment and crushed dream really
gets to her and makes her think heavily, it is her kryptonite. She wanted to
make a change and she did, but she lost a part of her son in doing so.
Mama really is the backbone of the Younger family, and one of the things that keeps her family in check is Mama's faith in the American Dream. From her first entrance in the story, her optimism and stubbornness shine through. She picks up her plant on the windowsill and claims that if it doesn't get enough sun soon, it will die--just like if dreams see little opportunity, they cannot last. Yet Mama keeps the plant, and she keeps her faith.
ReplyDeleteMama's hopefulness seems to keep her composed under the unfavorable conditions in which the Younger's live. She never appears rattled by pressure, and it seems nothing is too much for her to handle. She is a leader and recognizes that there are opportunities for breakthroughs. Although her children appear to stress about their current living conditions, Mama keeps her composure through her hardships.
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