a raisin in the sun themes essay

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: Play Analysis Essay

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Introduction

Characters of the story, the final freedom.

Lorraine Hansberry’s story is heavily steeped in racism. It does well to portray the social features of strong segregation and racial discrimination that prevailed during the 1950s in the United States, a time when the story’s younger family lived in Chicago’s South Side ghetto, as well as the struggles of the African-Americans to resist against the unfair treatment being meted out to them. Racial discrimination leads to the city being carved into two distinct parts – the first housing whites only, and the other housing blacks. Not only did blacks occupy a marginalized sector of society, but even within that margin, black women had to combat racial and gender prejudice. A majority of blacks did not accept the idea of assimilating into the dominant white culture because by doing so they would fit into white perceptions about their behavior and actions and thereby would be demeaning themselves. Blacks were searching for separate self-identities based on a celebration of their culture and heritage. They wanted to be treated as equally (like whites) contributing members of society, in pursuit of the American Dream (in those days it was to be a happy family that owned a house and a car).

Claudia McNeil is commendable as Lena’s (‘Mama”) Younger. She constantly dreams about her family and herself being considered equal to whites in society. She does not allow racism to come in the way of her dream of creating a new life and future for her family that involves moving into a dominantly white neighborhood.

Sidney Poitier’s phenomenal role as Walter Younger captures the central meaning of an African American’s intense desire for the American Dream. The power of his dream is to be financially well-off, educate his son Travis (Stephen Perry), and provide for his future. His endless preoccupation with finding quick riches and dominating his household makes him engage in arguments with his mother, wife, and sister; he turns wayward by resorting to constantly drinking.

Diana Sands as Beneatha (“Bennie”) attends college and is better educated than anyone else in the family. However, she is hampered by her dependence on the insurance amount to pay for her education: an effective stereotype of a black woman in those days who was racially discriminated by white society as well as by her own culture as not being worthy of higher education and its related status in life.

Ruby Dee as Ruth Younger portrays a pragmatic pessimist continually battling poverty and household problems. She dreams about getting away from their present slovenly locality, moving into a respectable house, and attaining a status equal to whites in society.

Joseph Asagai (Ivan Dixon) is a forceful Nigerian character who takes fierce pride in his African heritage. George Murchison (Louis Gossett Jr.) believes the only way to overcome racist deficiencies, riches, and admiration of others is by assimilating into white society. John Fiedler as Karl Lindner portrays the typical “white Aryan”, arrogantly secure in the power of his race and its belief that blacks are not fit to live in the same neighborhood as them. An opposition successfully portrayed in the story is white/black opposition representing Karl Lindner and other white racist Americans against the Younger family representing African Americans seeking a just and fair foothold in society.

The play “A Raisin in the Sun” officially opened in 1959, much before the black liberation movement revolutionized the lifestyle of African Americans in the United States. The movement, famously highlighted by Martin Luther’s speech “I Have a Dream” on August 28, 1963, signaled the start of a successful struggle that was responsible for elevating the status of African Americans in the United States in a series of gradual developments ultimately culminating into total freedom and total recognition as equal contributors to American society as their white counterparts. Although Lorraine Hansberry did not live to see the final freedom achieved by African Americans (she died an untimely death in 1965 at the age of thirty-four), she would surely have greatly gladdened to witness the “I Have a Dream” speech and realize that racial discrimination against African Americans would soon be an unhappy memory of the past.

Cocola, Jim & Douthat, Ross. “SparkNote on ‘A Raisin in the Sun’”. 2007. Web.

Petrie, Daniel. “A Raisin in the Sun” (video). 1961. Web.

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Themes in a Raisin in The Sun

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Published: Jan 29, 2024

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Table of contents

Racial discrimination, family dynamics, mama's dream, walter's dream, beneatha's dream, housing discrimination, segregation and inequality, conflicts between generations, gender roles and expectations.

• Wilkerson, Isabel. "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration." Vintage Books, 2010.
• Ward, Candace. "Wish You Were Here: A Raisin in the Sun and the American Dreams." University of California Press, 2016.
• Hansberry, Lorraine. "A Raisin in the Sun." Vintage Books, 2004.

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A Raisin in the Sun Analysis

This essay about “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry discusses the profound exploration of themes like ambition, identity, and socioeconomic disparity within the African American experience. Set in 1950s Chicago, the narrative follows the Younger family’s struggles against systemic racism. Through vivid characters like Walter Lee and Beneatha, the play exposes the tensions between individual aspirations and collective responsibility. It offers a poignant indictment of racial discrimination while celebrating the resilience and cultural pride of the Younger family. Ultimately, the essay highlights the enduring relevance of Hansberry’s work in provoking social consciousness and advocating for equality.

How it works

“A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry is a compelling narrative that dives deep into the complexities of the African American experience, dissecting themes of ambition, identity, and the harsh realities of socioeconomic disparity. Set against the backdrop of 1950s Chicago, the Younger family emerges as a microcosm of the larger societal struggles faced by African Americans during that era. Through the lens of the Youngers, Hansberry paints a vivid picture of the dreams deferred by systemic racism, the quest for self-definition, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.

Central to the narrative is the theme of dreams, which serves as both a driving force and a source of conflict within the Younger family. Each member harbors their own aspirations: Walter Lee yearns for financial success, Beneatha strives to carve out her own identity, and Mama seeks a better life for her loved ones. These dreams symbolize hope and the relentless pursuit of a brighter future, yet they also expose the stark disparities in opportunity and access that plague marginalized communities.

Hansberry masterfully explores the tensions between individual aspirations and collective responsibility, particularly through the character of Walter Lee. His desperate pursuit of wealth often leads him to neglect his family’s needs, causing friction and discord within the household. Beneatha’s journey towards self-discovery further complicates matters, as she grapples with questions of identity and belonging in a society that seeks to confine her to narrow stereotypes.

Moreover, “A Raisin in the Sun” offers a searing indictment of the systemic racism that permeated every aspect of life for African Americans in 1950s America. The Younger family’s struggles with housing discrimination, employment inequality, and societal prejudice serve as a stark reminder of the structural barriers that hindered the progress of black communities. The dilapidated apartment they inhabit becomes a powerful symbol of the stifling limitations imposed upon them by a racially stratified society.

Yet, amidst the adversity, the Younger family displays remarkable resilience and courage. Mama’s decision to invest the insurance money in a house symbolizes a defiant act of resistance against racial segregation, affirming their right to dignity and self-determination. Her unwavering faith in the importance of family and community underscores the strength derived from cultural heritage and solidarity, offering a beacon of hope in the face of oppression.

Furthermore, Beneatha’s exploration of her African heritage emerges as a central theme in the play, highlighting the importance of cultural pride and self-awareness. Her interactions with Asagai, a Nigerian student, serve as a catalyst for her journey towards self-discovery, challenging her to embrace her roots and reject assimilationist tendencies. Through Beneatha’s evolution, Hansberry celebrates the richness and diversity of African American culture, affirming the importance of authenticity and self-expression in the quest for identity.

In conclusion, “A Raisin in the Sun” stands as a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with audiences for its poignant exploration of the African American experience. Through the trials and triumphs of the Younger family, Lorraine Hansberry sheds light on the enduring legacy of systemic racism, while celebrating the resilience and determination of those who dare to dream in the face of adversity. As we confront ongoing struggles for racial justice and equality, the enduring relevance of “A Raisin in the Sun” serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of literature to inspire change and provoke social consciousness.

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Themes in a Raisin in the Sun

The quest for self-determination is a recurring theme in A Raisin in the Sun and other theatrical works that we have examined throughout this academic year. The theatrical presentation shows how the Younger family pursues their objectives while facing obstacles brought on by institutionalized racism. The protagonist of August Wilson’s play “Fences,” Troy Maxson, works to fulfill his objectives of establishing his independence and creating an identity free from the constraints imposed by society conventions. Sweat by Lynn Nottage depicts individuals that struggle with their agency and try to establish autonomy in the midst of exploitation and hardship due to the economy. The struggle between upholding tradition and seeking development is a recurring topic in A Raisin in the Sun. It is clear that the younger generation wants education, uniqueness, and integration into mainstream American society, in contrast to the elder generation, which is represented by Mama’s dedication to religion and African traditions. Fences, where Cory attempts to pursue a football career against his father’s opposition, and Sweat, where the younger generation’s quest of economic growth conflicts with the elder generation’s loyalty to organized work practices, both highlight the issue of intergenerational friction.Jacobin, 16 December (2020), pages 80–201

In A Raisin in the Sun, the intersectionality of race and gender is highlighted as it digs into the complex process of identity building. Beneatha’s desire to reconnect with her African heritage and explore her gender identity is in line with the themes in For Colored Girls, where the main characters struggle to reconcile their experiences as African American women in the United States with their sense of worth. As seen in Fences and The Piano Lesson, the theatrical performance also examines the social expectations placed on Black masculinity and the challenges Black men have in providing for their families in a society that routinely excludes them from positions of power. Bernstein cites Robin Modern Drama Vol. 42, pp. 16–27.attempting to create a Fishbowl: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: White Supremacy in the Reviews.

In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter’s treatment of his wife and family is shown in a problematic way that exemplifies the pervasive issues with patriarchal institutions and destructive masculinity. The play portrays Walter’s behavior as being motivated by his desire for control and power, which results in his lack of regard and respect for the needs and feelings of others around him. This tendency may be seen in Walter’s behavior toward Ruth, his wife. The guy in issue consistently disregards his partner’s needs and wants, being emotionally distant from and neglectful of her. The phenomenon, as previously mentioned, is demonstrated by his communication style with her, which is frequently characterized by a patronizing or disregardful demeanor, as well as by his behavior towards her, which is best exemplified by his refusal to heed her advice to consider having an abortion. As he fails to show Travis any affection and constantly speaks to him in a stern and angry tone, Walter’s behavior has a negative impact on Travis. Colbert, Soyica Diggs, and Pg. 10-80 of the paper on Radical Vision is the book under discussion. The behavior Walter displayed might be seen as a reflection of the social pressures placed on males to act as providers and maintain a dominating position in the household.

However, this does not excuse his actions or absolve him of responsibility for the negative effects he causes. The declaration highlights how important it is for men to take the initiative in efforts to confront and destroy damaging parts of conventional masculinity and the cultural systems that uphold them. According to the study noted previously, Walter’s treatment of Walter’s wife and family in A Raisin in the Sun is problematic and representative of larger social issues with toxic masculinity and patriarchy. The person’s actions highlight the need for males to work actively to dismantle harmful gender norms and promote more fair and respectful relationships.

Bernstein, Robin. “Inventing a Fishbowl: White Supremacy and the Critical Reception of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun.” Modern Drama Vol. 42

No. 1 (1999): 16–27.

Colbert, Soyica Diggs. Radical Vision: A Biography of Lorraine Hansberry. Yale University Press, 2021.:10-80

Whitney, Joel. “Lorraine Hansberry Was an Unapologetic Radical.” Jacobin, 16 Dec. pg 80-201, 2020,https://jacobin.com/2020/12/lorraine-hansberry-raisin-in-the-sun-playwright

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Themes on raisin in the sun.

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            Raisin in the Sun is a play that has many themes on pride and dreams. Everybody has the right to dream and the right to make their dreams come true. Every members of the Younger family has their own dreams and their own ways to do it. Because they have dreams, the Youngers rebel against the position that society has forced them into. Not just a dreamer, Mama is also a doer. She long wants to own a nice house in a nice region, where her children and grandchildren can be born and grown up well. She can't do it when she was a young woman, but she still tries and works that out. Walter is the only man in the family, so not being success makes him feel uncomfortable. He wants to invest in a liquor store, so that he can help himself and his family to rise above the poverty. Even though she's a girl, Beneatha wants to be a doctor, to have high education and to marry a nice man. It's a dream of every modern woman, who doesn't want just to stay at home, do housework and baby sit the children; they want to study high, to work outside so that they can support out their selves and be independence. .              Also, pride is also an important theme of the play. The Younger family is a poor black people, but they"re still proud of their morals and values. The whole family is very proud of Big Walter, Lena's former husband. Also, Mama is very proud of her family. She wants to buy a nice house in a white neighborhood, and even doesn't back down or give up her decisions when the prejudiced representative threatens them. Walter believes in himself a lot and he's very sure that he can success in business. That's his pride, of being the man in the family. Even he was a little down when his friend steals all of his money, he regains his pride not to sell the house to Mr. Lindner and help the family to move to the new house. Beneatha works hard in school, and she believes that she can become a doctor.              Prejudice and discrimination is one of the minor theme in the play, but can't be forgotten.

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A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, was written perhaps with some personal experience. ... However, racial prejudice is just one of the themes discussed in the play. ... Lindner's offer appeals to him (A Raisin in the Sun, 909). ... However, the climactic theme of the story is Walter's selling out point. ... Bennie felt like low class, and didn't feel she could be a doctor anymore (Raisin in the Sun, 901). ...

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Pride in "A Raisin in the Sun" In the play "A Raisin in the Sun", by Lorraine Hansberry, pride is one of the major themes. Several of the characters display their own particular kind of pride. Walter Lee shows a type of pride that could be called "manly" pride. Beneatha is constantly displa...

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Topic: America , United States , Family , Life , Dreams , Raisin In The Sun , Money , Walter

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Loraine Hansberry’s iconic play A Raisin in the Sun tells the story of the beleaguered Younger family, who face racism and interpersonal strife in their life on Chicago’s south side. Given the title’s status as a line from a Langston Hughes play, “A Dream Deferred,” A Raisin in the Sun is itself about dreams, and the ways in which they are denied to people of color in America. The dreams of Walter, Benethea and Mama Younger are ‘deferred’ in this way throughout the play, showcasing the unique struggle that black families have to get ahead in American life. Walter Younger is one of the most industrious people in the family, working hard to make enough money so that they can achieve the American Dream in the kind of way that would make them more respectable to whites. Money is directly tied to the fulfillment of dreams – in Act I, Scene II, Mama says that “Once upon a time, freedom used to be life – now it’s money,” to which Walter replies: “No - It was always money, Mama. We just didn’t know about it.” When Walter admits this, he points out that American families must work hard and sacrifice to fulfill their dreams, and more often than not do not achieve it. Mama also looks for the American Dream, wanting a good house for her family, and is dedicated to taking care of them: “You just name it son and I hand you the world!” (Act II, Scene II). However, even in her search for a nice house in an affluent neighborhood, the racism inherent to American life works hard to keep it from her. In this respect, the primary theme of A Raisin in the Sun is about the deferment of dreams to the disadvantaged in American life, and the anxiety that causes.

Works Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Random House, 1959. Print.

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Raisin in the Sun

• Words: 1808

Related Topics

• Doctor Faustus

A raisin in the sun theme analysis

All their dreams are differ rent and these dreams also have divided the family creating conflicts among them. Being the head of the should, Lena dreamed to live on a place where her family could raise the next generations with dignity. She would do whatever it took to make those dreams come true. Walter, Lens’s oldest son, set his dream on the liquor store that he planned to invest with the e money of his mother. He really does not have any organized plan for that investment and t his could result in a catastrophe.

Beneath, in the other hand, wants to become a doctor when SSH e got out of college she struggles to determine her identity as a wildcatted black woman. Been that is clearly the best educated member of the Younger family. Ruth, Walter’s wife, wanted to Ii eve a better life. “A Raisin in the Sun” is a book of “dreams deferred”, and in this book that Lorraine nee Handlebars had fluently defined the dreams of the Younger family and how those dreams beck name deferred.

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Lena Younger, Walter and Beneath mother, was a widow in her early is sixties who dedicated her life to her children after her husband’s death. Retired from word king for the Holiday’s family, she was waiting for her husband’s insurance money to arrive . With the ten thousand dollars check in her hand, Lena decided to buy a house in Colloquy e Park and she was also going to put some of the money in the bank for Beneath medical SOHO 01. Those were her dreams; they were so simple but also were beautiful.

She expected everybody to be pleased at the things she had done with the check and indeed, they did, except for Walter: “Big Walter used to say, he’d get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his he d back with the water standing in his eyes and say, ‘Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile (Handlebars,29). ” Lena clearly describe that her dreams are not for herself but for her family’s f true generations. Big Walters mention in the play serves as a reminder of the sacrifices parents make for their children.

Her dream is truly a common dream among African Americans and r minded me one of the most popular political activists of the African American history, Martin Luther King, Jar “l have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Have a dream today. (Luther King, 1963). ” Walter who was working as a chauffeur wanted to be the head of the fame lay he believed that y starting a business he would be TABLE to advance and make more money to support the family.

Everyone in the family was concerned about the insurance check; However W alter was more than everybody else. The day the check arrived to the small house, he came b jack from work early asking if the check has arrived. He was so excited about the money. Thin king that finally he would be TABLE of build his dream. Walter was frustrated when he knew his mother had spent part of the insurance money buying a house and thought it wasn’t fair that Be neaten his own sister got some of the money for her medical school while he got nothing for is dream a liquor store business.

He stopped going to work and instead was digging himself nit o the alcohol on the “Kitty Cat” the same bar he always went to talk about business with his friend s. Lena, who always wanted her son to be happy, gave the rest of the insurance money to Walter not without telling him that first make a deposit to his sisters account. She also told him t hat it was time for him to take the reins of the family and guide them as he was taught by his par nets. Holding the money in his hands, he thanked his mother and appreciated the trust she had in him.

He could not find what to say to his mother Other than the following: “You trust me like that, Mama? ……. Mama says she has never stopped trusting him (Handlebars, 106). ” After Walter received the money the next we notice is that he seems to be a d efferent man. He is singing, dancing and more over having a close relationship with his son. As Ca roll P. Has also written: “As the gift of money inaugurates his rejuvenation; in the next moment, he enthusiastically seeks a relationship with his son, whom he had therefore sign ordered. Apparently money mediates and inspires black male community (Carol P. 93) Walter then gave the money to his partners in order to get the liquor license without realizing that they were going to betray him. When the family discovered that he was f lolled they felt the all their dreams were escaping from their hands. First mama, she reminded hi m how his father had worked trying to build a better future for his family: ” seen… Him… Night after night… Come in … And look at that rug… And then look at me… The red showing in his eyes… The veins moving in his head… L seen him grow thin and old before he was forty.. Irking and working and working like somebody old horse… Killing himself… ND you?you give it all away in a As his dream vanished, Walter was regret that he didn’t listen to his mother, wife and sister. At this point he started to realize the importance of family and his character star Ted to struggle on how to get the money back. He almost sells the house his mother bought. Ho waver at the end he exposed his inner self and found out the true value of family and money and core values her family inculcated in him. Beneath dream, in the other hand, is to become a doctor.

Sagas calls Been that (Bennie) “Alai,(Handlebars, 52)” which means something like “One for Whom Bread – Food is not enough. Handlebars, 52)”. Beneath symbolizes the young, liberal, free, and feminist voice in the play; she is the only member of her family who always looks beyond he r living circumstances. When she discovered that her brother didn’t put anything in t he bank for her medical school. With her dream of became doctor is economical frustrated. S he was more than upset, she was depressed. At this point as a reader you realize that her strength the has gone. Now she seems to be weak and fragile.

Fortunately, her friend Sagas came over a ND talked to her; he convinced her that there was still hope and dream in this world and that Been that should forget about the money because there wouldn’t have been ten thousand dollars chew KC if her father had not died. “Beneath: Assai, while I was sleeping in that bed in there, people went out and took the future right out of my hands! And nobody asked me, nobody con salted methyl just went out and changed my life! Assai: … Was your money they gave away? (Handlebars, 134)” As Beneath found hope again, her dream returned.

She also realized that SSH e would want to marry Sagas someday and practice her medical career in Nigeria, Aegis’s birr outplace. Ruth, Walter’s wife, dream was a common dream even these days. Stop living in poverty, accumulate wealth. She was pregnant and did not want to tell her husband the e situation. The family was in a great misery. They had only eggs for breakfast and did not have e fifty cents to give her son to go to school. When Walter lost the money and therefore their dreams, Ruth forgave him and gave the support as a wife to start everything over.

Ruth cal ml accepted the fact that her dream was only a dream. To her, it was a relief that her husband had come back to reality after his failed dream. There is no doubt that segregation and racism was still marked in the 1 ass’s s society. Example of that is the way the white people of the neighborhood is trying to p revert them to move into ‘their place” But this was written in a book let’s see a few examples of what was happening in the society those days: “On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks, a 43 year old black seamstress, was arrest deed in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man.

Civil Rights leaders, Dry. Martin Luther King, organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott t. (Black Peoples of America Civil Rights)” 1954 “Oliver Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas In the sass, school segregation was widely accepted throughout the United States and was a requirement of law in most southern states. In 1 952, the Supreme Court heard a number of agglomerations cases, including Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. In 1954 the court d creed that segregation was unconstitutional. Black Peoples of America Civil Rights)” 1957 Desegregation at Little Rock, Arkansas “Little Rock Central High School was to begin the 1 957 school year desegregated. On September 3 when nine black students tried to enter the SC wool, they were prevented from doing so by National Guardsmen acting on the orders o f the Arkansas state governor. On September 20, Judge Davies granted an injunction against Governor Buff and three days later the group of nine students returned to Central High SOHO 01 but were prevented from attending school by a mob of 1 ,OHO townspeople.

Finally, President Eisenhower ordered 1,000 paratroopers and 1 0,000 Nation Guardsmen to Little Rock, and on September 25, Central High School was des segregated. (Black Peoples of America Civil Rights}’ Clearly in the fifties many events took place, thus helping to put a start to end the wave of racism and racial separation. Finally, with Walter transformed into a new man they forgot their problem s and moved to the new house for start a new life. Although they knew it was going to be hard to start everything over, for them it was as if their lives had just begun.

They were happy and cell berating while the moving was about to start. At the end the mom took a last look to the place a ND this clearly symbolizes how much she is thankful for all she got in the past. Also appreciate ins big Walter’s for all the sacrifice he made to concrete their dreams. Lorraine Handlebars in t his play had successfully characterized the four main characters in the play as human been gas with desires, reams, aspirations, conflict, weaknesses, and strength.

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