Racial Contrast
The characterization, the only white character in the series, as a timid and indecisive individual at first struck me as slightly off-putting. It seemed as though the author herself was making use of such a weak character to almost unfairly make the main characters of the play seem to be stronger figures by contrast. However, on further consideration, I feel that she may have instead been using such a characterization to make his character seem all the more devious, coming as a wolf in sheep's clothing. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and Lindner states that he has the best of intentions. Any thoughts as to any other intentions the author may have had with such a character?
3 comments:
Although Lindler may seem timid, I believe he portrays the lack of understanding and the uncertainty that the white community shows towards the black community. Linder's stuttering and his lack of the ability to understand why the Young's would want to move into a white neighborhood show this. When Lindler says, "I hope you people know what you're getting yourselves into," he is showing us that he cannot understand the Young family's reasoning. He thinks that the cons outweigh the pros and he doesn't understand what it would mean for a lower-class black family to move into a white, middle-class neighborhood.
I do not believe that he was supposed to be an evil character, but more of an opposing force. They know that race will come to find them wherever they go and this is the manifestation of this fear and hatred. Lindner was obviously an obstatcle for this family and I think that he was placed in the situation for that very reason. I also do not think that he was a wolf in sheeps clothing. I believe that he was not trying to deceive them. He was just stating what was ingraded into his mind all of this time. He was their barrier for getting what they want.
I think Lindner was supposed to represent the problem in the white community. He is not a vicious Klansman, but rather a fairly peaceful-appearing man. He is complacent with the system and just goes along, thereby perpetuating it. I think that’s what Hansberry is also warning against; not vocally opposing the black community does not mean being supportive or an ally of it. That takes an active stance.
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