4/20

In Act II, Scene 3, the "Welcoming Committee" from Clybourne Park comes to visit the Younger family. Why did he come, and why does he seem so surprised when the Younger family are not receptive to his offer?

Karl Linder is the chairman of the "Welcoming Committee" of Clybourne Park, the neighborhood where the Younger's are planning to move. He comes to their apartment to try to convince them to not move to Clybourne Park, due to the fact that they are black, and Clybourne Park is a white neighborhood. Linder tries to offer large sums of money as compensation, but the Younger's refuse his offer. I think that Linder was surprised when they rejected his offer because he expected that because he was willing to give them so much money that moving wouldn't be worth it to them, but they had more respect for their integrity that they could not be swayed by money, but rather that they wanted to exercise their freedom. 

4/12

1. Put yourself into the shoes of the Younger family. What do you think it would be like to live in a tiny, three-room apartment with three generations of your family, without the choice or resources to move elsewhere?

I think I would feel differently about the situation in each different perspective. As Lena Younger, I would feel defeated and frustrated, but would have accepted the apartment as as permanent. When I was younger and newly wed, I thought this place would be temporary, and eventually I would have a house that would be comfortable to raise a family in. As years progress, that expectation gradually becomes less of a reality, and I would face the fact that a house is a fantasy rather than reality. As Walter I think I would feel frustrated, but that frustration would double as incentive to break out of having to live there. As Benetha, I would have the acceptance of the idea that after I got an education and got a job, I would have the finances to be able to move out and afford a more comfortable living space, trusting my hope and hard work will pay off.