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     In Ms. Torrenga's reading class, we have been reading A Rasin in the Sun and To Kill a Mockingbird. In the process of reading these books, one encounters the idea of gender streotypes. In A Rasin in the Sun, Walter's ideas of manhood are showcased. Walter is a young man in this play who has a unique personality. He has a son named Travis and his wife is Ruth. They all live in a small, inadequate apartment with Mama, the mother of Walter, and Benetha, the sister of Walter. The play starts off where all the characters realize that a 10,000 dollar check will be mailed in tommorrow. The characters' ideas start to take shape. Walter is a very ambitious, desperate man who is strucken by poverty and prejudice. Walter believes that a man should be the head of the house. He thinks that the wife should be a person to comfort the husband. He wants Ruth to agree with him in the idea of investing in the liquor store. This is shown in the fact that Walter tells Ruth that she should be backing him up with his every thought. He also wants to give a good impression. I think that this his attitude towards this fact is good. He gives his son a dollar in the morning for school and a taxi, while Ruth will not budge. She does not want Travis to waste money. This shows that Walter wants his child to rely more on his father than his mother. This also connects with the fact that Walter believes that the man should be the head of the household. Walter also believes that men should run businesses and feel like a big part of the community. He does not think that men should be servants towards others. This is why we wants to invest in the liquor store so badly and this also motivates him to temporarily stop working. He thinks that this will solve all of his economic and social problems. By accumulating money, he thinks that will improve himself. He thinks that he will be looked up to by others who do not think of him as much of a man. Click here to see a picture that shows a man that is business-like and earn lots of money. At the end when Walter does not give in to selling the house, Walter truly becomes a man. He realizes that a new house will help his child's future and that would be the best thing to do. I agree with Mama in the fact that she thought Walter became a man at that moment. Walter understood that it is not all about how much money you have; your actions and mental thoughts contribute to being a "man". Men are supposed to do the best they can with what they have and be sensitive and helpful to those around them. He learns to be proud of what he has which is shown when Walter does not accept the offer of money in front of Travis. Walter has evolved a lot in the course of the play. Walter can be connected to Tom, in Tom Sawyer, because they both grow up to be lovely and compassionate men.

     His notion of what a man needs to be differs from that of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus thinks that men do not need to carry a gun or be the muscular, athlectic. This is shown when Atticus tells Jem that he does not like to use a gun. He states that it is unfair that he has an advantage over animals and he should do the right thing and stop using his gun. Atticus believes that a "good" man should be one that is sensitive and moral. 

     The idea of the man being "the bacon of the house" still pervades our thinking today. Men are usually the lawyers and bankers, while women are supposed to stay home and take care of the family. Men are usually more controlling and fierce; they are demanding. Click here to see how a man can be controlling in a situation. Men also are suppose to make a lot of money. Women are believed to cook and do house work. Before women could not vote or own land, now women have more rights. People nowadays, I believe, are less streotypical than before. Also, men are supposed to be like a joker. They should not be serious or emotional. Sometimes, men are in denial. This happens a lot with Walter in the play. Men are also supposed to be aggressive and in control. Power and strength allows for more friends and allows for womens' admiration.

     This affects how boys think today. Boy are into sports and most do not like dance and art. Boys face the pressure of being the most athlectic and having lots of friends. Click here to see a picture of what a man "should" look like. This also affects how boys want to feel rich and wealthy. People are more materialistic and want to be economically and socially powerful. Boys feel the pressure of being and feeling accepted.

     These ideas affect me because it influences how you should think about men. Women are not supposed to like men who are weak and dumb. It affects how you treat men based on their social status or appearance. 

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