A Raisin In The Sun Analysis

Words: 850
Pages: 4
Open Document
Lorrain Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun is a play depicting the life of a typical black family living in Chicago during the 1950s. The title of this play comes from the poem by Langston Hughes “Harlem” which Hansberry placed in the preface of her play. The first line of the poem “Harlem” asks about a dream deferred and goes on to describe what might happen to that dream. The characters in Hansberry’s play reflect some of these descriptions as their dreams are set aside. A Raisin in the Sun shows the Younger family as they struggle to fulfill their dreams. In the first act it is said that the family is waiting for an insurance check after the father’s death. Throughout the play there is dispute between in family about what the money should be used for. Walter Lee begs Ruth to tell Mama let him use to follow his dreams of owning his own business. Beneatha and Ruth tell him that it’s Mama’s money and she can do what she wants with it. Mama, who initially wasn’t sure what to do with the money, decides to use …show more content…
In Walter’s case, it does. Throughout act one he begs and pleads for Mama to give him the money to invest in a business venture, a liquor store that Mama disagrees with, with Bobo and Willy Harris. Being refused, Walter feels misunderstood and “explodes” (Hansberry 1005). Walter can also be described as “fester[ing] like a sore” and “drying up like a raisin in the sun” (Hughes). After finding out Mama used the money to buy a house, he becomes a shadow of his former self. He skips several days of work going out to drink instead (Hansberry 1025). After seeing Walter in such a state, Mama decides to give him the remainder of the money only asking him to put some aside for Beneatha’s education. Disobeying Mama, He gives all the money to Willy Harris to invest. Walter loses everything when Willy Harris runs of with the money and his dreams are completely shattered and he loses all hope (Hansberry
Show More

Related Documents: A Raisin In The Sun Analysis

A Raisin In The Sun Character Analysis

ais In Lorrain Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun, money is an essential key in the Younger household. For Walter Younger, money is the ticket to being a “man” in Harlem and the solution to any and every problem he may encounter. For Mama, Lena Younger, money is not all it seems. She is willing to use the money she has to maintain peace and happiness in her home. Walter is desperate for money; he feels that it is the key to everything and the solutions to all of his problems. Money is so important…

Words 501 - Pages 3

A Raisin In The Sun Quote Analysis

In class we finished up the first act of the book A Raisin in the Sun. After reading the book I analyzed act 1 through the social class lens. Which lead me to believe that it was a hard time for Ruth and Walter to sustain a family financially. There was one specific quote that stood out to me that revolved around the family's social class. It was right after Ruth had told Mama and Beneatha that she was pregnant, then and there Beneatha asked Ruth “Did you mean to? I mean did you plan it or was it…

Words 356 - Pages 2

A Raisin In The Sun Setting Analysis

The play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry helped illustrate how the setting of the slum apartments of 1950’s Chicago to convey the theme of hopes, plans and dreams. Hansberry invites us into the modest condo of the Younger family. This place is truly confined, particularly with five individuals living in it. The kitchen, which is small to the point that it's more similar to a storage room The vast majority of the play's activity goes down in the lounge, which likewise fills in as the lounge…

Words 617 - Pages 3

A Raisin In The Sun: Film Analysis

“Sir, I respect your decision to place Miss Stein as the director. However, as a black woman, I am very uncomfortable having her have a white woman represent my race and culture. A lot of these children do not come in contact with people of color or their culture and to have them still not have someone they can recognize in a play made for us, I cannot hold my opinion back on this.” “What would you have me do? Take away a role from a child who earned it through their audition?” I clenched my hands…

Words 945 - Pages 4

A Raisin In The Sun Dream Analysis

Mama, Walter, and the Dream In the play “A Raisin in the Sun” written by Lorraine Hansberry, there are two main characters that set the plot for this story. The main plot right now is the argument between Walter and Mama. Mama is a caring woman who always looks out for the ones that she loves. But her looking out for her family starts to cause a problem with Walter. Walter is Mama’s son who complains about everything and is very self-centered. This story took place around World War II in Chicago…

Words 819 - Pages 4

A Raisin In The Sun Quote Analysis

“MAMA(quietly): Oh— (very quietly) So now it’s life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it's money. I guess the world really do change.” (Hansberry 522) A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, talks about the life of the younger family and their dreams. The book shows how each of the family members, Mama, Ruth, Beneath, and Walter, realize their dreams. Lena Younger is one of the character of the book that has a dream. Lena is the oldest and the head of the family, she…

Words 710 - Pages 3

A Raisin In The Sun Film Analysis

A Raisin in the Sun is a film about a family; the Youngers, who lives in an apartment in Chicago. When the head of the family dies; the grandmother will get an insurance check. Each of the family members have ideas about what to do with the checks comes in on Saturday. This film is about the American dream of owning a house, getting away from the city. It takes place during the era where segregation of African-American families didn’t live in the same neighborhoods as white families did. The family…

Words 530 - Pages 3

A Raisin In The Sun Language Analysis

Many times throughout Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun, Aristotle’s six elements are present, but on P.338-341, both language and spectacle combined, make the characters and their ideas clearer to us and other characters in the play. Bobo comes to the Younger’s apartment to tell Walter the bad news about what happened to the money. The money Walter had invested had been stolen by Willy, who was supposed to take the money to the bank. Both language and spectacle are very present in this scene…

Words 1274 - Pages 6

A Raisin In The Sun Literary Analysis

one’s identity. In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun, Beneatha mentions that “people need to express themselves in one way or another”(Hansberry 72), in order to fully understand her identity as an African-American. Through the ideals of both George and Asagai on the meaning of African-Americans and Beneatha’s choice to side with both George and Asagai to discover her identity as an African-American and to benefit her family, Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun portrays that people must balance assimilationist…

Words 1106 - Pages 5

A Raisin In The Sun Quote Analysis

At one point or another, a person should have at least one goal in mind. Whether they are wanting to better their future or the futures of someone around them, they want to achieve something for themselves that does not make anything better, but its for personal satisfaction. A good example would be going to college. When a person goes to college they better themselves, give themselves the opportunity to make more money and provide better for their families. It is all about how a single person's…

Words 1656 - Pages 7