TI Podcast: Part 1

In this episode of Tita's Tubular Talks, Tita discusses the theme of ambition in The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Both authors explore the destructive nature of strong ambition and how it can harm not only ourselves but also those around us. Miller's novel shows how Achilles' ambition costs him his relationship with Patroklos, while Hansberry's play depicts how Walter's ambition ultimately improves his relationships with his family. Miller warns about the negative impact of personal desires on relationships, while Hansberry emphasizes the importance of adapting ambition to prioritize loved ones. Hello and welcome to today's episode of Tita's Tubular Talks. I'm Tita, as you know, and today we're going to be talking about something I'm very passionate about, which is being passionate, or, in other words, ambitious. After having read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, I picked up on some interesting similarities regarding ambition in both Miller's book and Hansberry's play. In this part of the podcast, I will be examining the different ideas the two authors have on the theme, and then in Part 2, I'm going to tell a story that gives the theme some relevancy through the direct parallels and connections to my personal life. So kick back, relax, but keep listening, and enjoy Part 1 of the podcast. It serves a will, serves a way. A common phrase that highlights the importance of ambition and perseverance in accomplishing goals. Many believe that to accomplish big, one must dream big. However, Madeline Miller and Lorraine Hansberry both explore the destructive nature of strong ambition in their works of literature to show how strong personal desires may potentially harm not only ourselves and our goals, but those around us, too. Despite being written nearly 50 years apart, Miller's best-selling novel The Song of Achilles, as well as Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun, both wrestle the concept to display different messages exploring the impact of one's ambitions on those they love. Miller's novel is a modern adaptation of Homer's Iliad, told from the perspective of Patroklos and is a riveting love story between himself and Achilles, the heroic and ambitious Trojan warfighter. While the growing love between these two boys may seem strong, Miller shows how Achilles' ambition may be even stronger as it ultimately costs him the loving relationship he had with Patroklos. Hansberry's play, however, depicts how big dreams are not necessarily destructive to ourselves and our loved ones, as the development of protagonist Walter Younger's ambition allows him to earn love and respect from the rest of his family during a time of struggle. As both authors highlight the role of ambition in their works, Miller's The Song of Achilles demonstrates through Achilles' personal desires that strong ambition can cause us to be selfish and negatively impact how we treat others, while Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun displays through Walter's character development that strong but flexible ambition ultimately allows us to improve how we treat others and strengthen our relationships with those we love most. Miller displays the destruction of strong ambition in The Song of Achilles through Achilles' profound desire to be a hero and how it causes him to prioritize his reputation over Patroklos, leading to the downfall of their relationship. Achilles, the strongest warrior and greatest fighter in Greek mythology, was set to become a legendary hero if he went to Troy to fight in the Trojan War in a prophecy given to him by his mother, Thetis, shared by the gods. In spite of his relationship with Patroklos, Achilles went to Troy anyway in hopes of acquiring his destined fate. However, Achilles soon became deeply consumed by honor and glory that he prioritized them above all else, displaying his sole ambition to lie and protecting his honor and legacy. This is made clear when Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae and the commander-in-chief of the Greek army, publicly dishonors Achilles by taking away his war prize, the Praseus, and in turn, Achilles refuses to fight in the war. Achilles says, I will fight for him, Agamemnon, no longer. At every turn, he seeks to rob me of my rightful glory. Miller, 297. While Achilles' ambition is what drives him to fight in the war, it's also what drives him out of fighting in order to protect his pride and honor. His ambition to be the most honorable soldier progressively causes him to value his legacy more than Patroklos, as Achilles makes remarks like, my life is my reputation, Miller, 130, excluding Patroklos from significance in his life. Achilles' stubborn withholding to fight caused him to lose sight of what is truly honorable, which was not only protecting the Greeks, but protecting Patroklos. Achilles allows Patroklos to fight in place of himself and becomes prideful in how many Greeks were dying due to the power of his absence. When Achilles felt joyful in the death of the Greeks, Patroklos immediately thought, I cannot escape the feeling that, below the surface, something was breaking. Miller, 304. Patroklos is not only concerned by Achilles' blind ambition, but with what it means for their relationship, referring to the destructive impact of Achilles' ambition on their relationship. When Patroklos later died in battle, leaving Achilles to feel nothing but sadness and shame, Miller displays the impact of Achilles' ambition to be detrimental to both him and his relationship, as it indirectly led to the death of Patroklos. Through Achilles' desire for glory, Miller warns readers about how personal desires can get in the way of our connections, causing us to prioritize ourselves and, as a result, put those we love and our most important relationships at risk. In contrast to Miller's perspective on ambition, in A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry shows how strong ambition is not always destructive through Walter's development as a character as his ambition changes from prioritizing wealth to prioritizing the happiness and well-being of his family. As an African-American family living in South Side, Chicago, in 1959, the younger family struggles to achieve their dreams due to racial prejudice and an unsteady income. Although, the death of Walter's father, Big Walter, provided Walter's mother, referred to as Mama, with a $10,000 life insurance and payment. Growing envious of the wealthy white man and frustrated that he was just known as someone's chauffeur, Walter used the money to invest in a liquor store to fulfill his dream of being wealthy, even though Mama insisted on putting a portion of the money towards Walter's sister, Benita, and her education, as well as the house. Walter's ambition caused him to sacrifice his mother's wishes, which would benefit the whole family, for his own personal desires, leaving Mama in a rage, saying, I seen him, Big Walter, grow thin and old before he was 40, working and working and working like somebody's horse, killing himself, and you, you give it all away in a day, Hansberry 129. Mama describes Walter as selfish and inconsiderate for using the money to his own benefit, less upset with Walter. Mama's reaction to the situation reveals the effect of Walter's blind pursuit and misguided ambition on his family members. However, his character development throughout the play suggests how a shift in his ambition allowed him to mend the tensions that were forming with his mother, as well as the rest of his family, displaying the importance of strong ambition in the right mind. Walter's growth as a character is made clear when he learns to value the happiness of his family over financial successes, and makes the decision to move into a single family home instead of accept money in its place. Walter tells the courier, Mr. Linder, we've decided to move into our house because my father, my father, he earned it for us brick by brick. We don't want your money, Hansberry 148. Towards the end of the play, Walter's decision to move into a home and out of their small apartment, rather than accept Mr. Linder's money, displays his newfound respect for his family and ambition to make them happy. He became a respectable man, and much of the tensions with his family members lessened as a result of this development. As Walter was willing to let go of his initial ambition that revolved around his personal desire to be considered a wealthy man, Hansberry displays how Walter's matured persona allowed him to recognize the importance of his family and adapt his ambition to strengthen his relationships with those he loves. Achilles was ambitious. Walter was ambitious. Both characters were ambitious, but only one character let their ambition destroy. While the Song of Achilles did not suggest that ambition in itself is destructive, Miller sends a cautionary message to readers regarding the dangers of intense, fervent ambition, and its tendency to blind us to the impact of our decisions on a grander scale. If Achilles had not allowed his desire for greatness continuously blind him in making the quote, right decisions, his relationship with Patroclus would not have been sacrificed, and Patroclus would not have died. Hansberry's message in A Raisin in the Sun, on the other hand, makes for the more useful and guiding claim, going further than Miller to show how an adaptable ambition can allow us to improve our current situations and relationships with those we love. Walter's change of heart allowed him to be ambitious about providing for his family and creating a better future, rather than pursuing his personal goals that would come at the expense of his loved ones, like Achilles did. This message carries importance by encouraging readers to pay attention to how one's personal aspirations can interfere with how they treat others. While many would go to the fullest extent in order to fulfill their ambitions and achieve their dreams, Miller and Hansberry suggest that, instead, we go to the fullest extent to keep sight of what we all truly value most, those we love.