Category: A Raisin In The Sun

A Raisin in the Sun depicts the life of an African-American family of Youngers living in Southern Chicago during 1950s. The play opens with Youngers preparing to receive $ 10,000 for insurance, from Mr. Youngers life insurance policy. As a result, all adult members of the family have budgeted for the money with each individual having varying opinions on how to spend the cash. Mama, the head of the family plans to buy a house and fulfill her lifetime dream which she shared with her late husband (Morrin and Hansberry 13).

Walter Lee, Mamas son is contemplating on investing his share in a liquor store in order to get finances that would salvage the familys financial status. On the other hand, Walters wife shares her vision with Mama and hopes that their son Trivis will find the world a better place to live. Lastly, Beneatha gives her medical school tuition first priority as she tries to figure out her identity by reflecting on their history and Africa.

This competition leads to a clash of dreams as more challenges emerge as the family later moves to Clybourne Park, fulfilling their shared dream. They remain optimistic and united as they hope for a better life in future (Sparknotes 101 literature 703).

The play illustratesa number of themes which the writer illustrates using different events and reactions as portrayed by Mama and her family. All the family members have aspirations and dreams which are universal and shared among other people from different backgrounds (Hansberry 25).

Walters understanding of this American dream marks the center of the conflict in the play. Hegets addicted to the middle-class philosophy of materialism and believes in rising to become a better person through hard work and determination. Hansberry illustrates Walters perception towards Charlies business that earns him $100,000 annually. He ignores everyones opinion towards his intentions of running a liquor storewhich he adopts with desperation as means to realize his dream.

The same is demonstrated as Walter considers accepting an offer from Mr. Lindner without visualizing the implication of this business deal. He sees it as the only way to recover his lost money. Walters wrong interpretation of the American dream is challenged as he carries illegal transactions before his son. He revises this understanding after finding it hard to deal with Mr. Lindner (Sparknotes 101 literature 703).

Additionally, Hansberry develops female gender identity throughout the play by representing three generations of women. Lena assumes the headship of the family in her early thirties after the death of her husband, Walter Senior. Having been brought up in the South during dangerous times of lynching, she relocates to the Northern part with the hope of finding peace and a better life. Despite the fact that Lena is ahead of time, her dreams remain anchored on the well being of her family rather than selfish interests.

According to Scholar Claudia, Lenas disregard to herself is fashioned by gender conditioning which affirms that the needs of a woman ought to be connected to the family alone (Washington 113). She puts up with her husbands immoral behavior under poor conditions and struggles to support him. This clearly portrays a conflict between men and women regarding their positions in the society. Women are not considered for material wealth as they are expected to better the life of their families.

Unlike Lena, Ruth engages her husband in arguments although she goes ahead to please him by commenting positively about the liquor business to Lena. She also pleads with her sister-in-law, Beneatha not to provoke her brother about the kind of businesses he is involved in.

She ends up doing all kinds of jobs to enable the family to move to a better house. On the other hand, Beneatha is a no-nonsense feminist college student who is against the unfair treatment and expectations of the society from women (Hansberry 27). She does not see the reason why women are considered less human yet they are expected to take care of their households.

She constantly rejects and criticizes the ideas of her brother who makes misinformed decisions based on mediocre interpretation of the American dream. She challenges Walters male chauvinism and rejects men like George Murchison who have no recognition and single respect for women in the society (Washington 111). The writer clearly exemplifies how the perception of women towards their identity in the society has tremendously changed.

In addressing gender imbalance in the society, Hansberry defines a man using Walter whose course of action is mainly dictated by the fact that he is a man (Washington 111). In his capacity as a son, husband and father, Walter demonstrates mens view over gender balance and discrimination. He pretends to love his son so much and wants to appear innocent and honorable in hiseyes.

He understands the financial constraints of the family yet he manages to give a dollar to his son every time he requests for fifty cents (Morrin and Hansberry 12).

Walter chooses the liquor business to make personal wealth and to provide for his family. He wants to make his wife happy and take his son to a prestigious college of his choice. He provides for his mother by stepping in his fathers shoes during her old age. He decides to degrade in his futile efforts to achieve his goals.

The play generally describes several themes which revolve around the life of African-Americans in 1950s. Through gender issues, American Dream and poverty, Hansberry discusses family life in a contextual manner that permits imagination of the social set up of Youngers.

Works Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. A raisin in the sun. New York: Vintage Books, 1994. Print.

Morrin, Maxine, and Lorraine Hansberry. A Raisin in the Sun. Piscataway, N.J: Research & Education Association, 1994. Print.

Sparknotes 101 literature. Botley, Oxford: Spark Educational Publishing, 2004. Print.

Washington, Charles. A Raisin in the Sun Revisited. Black American Literature Forum 22. 1 (1988): 109-124. Print.

This play starts with the younger family waiting for the arrival of the check. The check is on life insurance and is to be given to Lena due to the death of her husband. The family lives in an extremely tiny room where this play takes place. Children of Lena are Walter Lee and Beneatha.

Walter is married to Ruth while Beneatha thinks of studying and become a doctor in the future. On the other hand, Walter Lee works as a chauffeur. Every member of the family does not want to work with the money. Walter is working together with men from a low social level. However, he is seriously obsessed with money and feels that life is tremendously unfair especially for his wife and children.

Therefore, he decides to start a business with two men. This is a clear indication that he wants to get money very fast. In college, Beneatha is courted by two men, George and Joseph. George is a person who is rich and is concerned with the materialist things. On the other hand, Joseph is an African who admires Beneathas intelligence and spirituality. This younger family likes George just because he is rich.

Afterward, when the check reaches, Lena realizes that the amount of insurance is to take part of her husband. The family advises her to do what she wishes with the money. Walter tells his mother to give him the money arguing that his wife, Ruth is pregnant. Mama makes her mind to pay part of the money for a good house in Clybourne to act as life security for Wilters son in future. He pleads with his mother to give him the rest of the money.

The whole family is deeply hurt by the fact he misused the money instead of paying his sisters school fees. Afterwards, Joseph Asagai comes in and helps the family in packing. He finds Beneatha terribly disheartened and asks her get married to him. Afterwards, Walter is transformed to a very mature man. The whole family is truly happy; they live the, old, tiny, house and go to live in Clybourne Park (Sussman, Linda, Hansberry, Friedland, and Rikki Kessler).

Dreams of Walter, Beneatha, Ruth, and Mama

Walter loves money and, therefore, his dream is to continue satisfying his familys needs. His love for money and his hard work with the street men and his plan to do business with two men are a clear indication of his dream. Wilter asks for the insurance money in order for him to work with it and raise his familys standards of living.

In the play, Beneatha has a dream to study and become a doctor in the future. Mama has a dream of raising her family from poverty to a higher standard of living. Ruths dream is to see that her husband owns his own business and offers her the best basic needs. Mama is the most admirable character since she provides her children with unconditional love in a low social economic environment.

This play indicates that there is the celebration of materialism as the younger family favors George who is rich. On consumerism, the family of Lena Younger celebrates the insurance money through paying medical school fees for Beneatha and giving a down payment for a good house where they finally move to live.

This play does not promote the idea that blacks should want to be like whites. This is because Joseph, who is one of the boys that Beneatha was courting in college, did not lose his identity as an African man to marry her. He did not have to seize his African characters or culture for Beneatha to marry him.

There are some conflicts in the play, whether internal or external. Wilter has internal conflict since he is not getting money to provide for his family. This goes on until the time he is seeking for two men to start his own business. This is a conflict that is not solved at any time. This is because he did not save the money his mother has given him for his family.

On the hand, there is a conflict that is solved when Wilter is converted to manhood. Also, the conflict between Ruth and her husband does not end since she wants to abort. Wilter is trying to borrow money from his mother to solve this conflict problem but he ends up with no money.

Gender issues in the play

This is first presented by lack of peace in the family of Wilter Lee and Ruth. Her pregnancy is the one that is bringing this issue of lack of peace in the family. When Wilter uses his sisters school fees to start his own business, he brings out a gender issue in the play.

A raisin in the sun is a quote that has a great meaning in the play. It means that all characters in the play have dreams. First, one of the characters wants to move the family to larger home in, the future, the other ones dreams to become a doctor, while the one wants to improve his familys living conditions.

Works Cited

Sussman, Linda, Lorraine Hansberry, Joyce Friedland, and Rikki Kessler. Raisin in the sun [by] Lorraine Hansberry: a study guide. New Hyde Park, N.Y.: Learning Links, 1996. Print.

Introduction

A flow of peoples desire to follow a definite dream is great enough to stimulate them to struggle against various obstacles on the way to perfection. The world of a man is nothing without a dream. Japanese people would rather say that a man without a dream has nothing in the future. Actually, some dreams are hard to strive in the right direction due to the barriers made in the society. Many of social long-lasted problems of people in different communities, societies, countries on the whole leave much to be desired because of the negative influence of the nasty character features in every human being.

This negative impact grows when such motives get an ideological coloring of some groups of people tending to maintain their on rules and principles without adhering to the humane postulates. Racial segregation is a core factor which intended many famous American writers, playwrights, social figures in the first half of the twentieth century to show the real state of things in the democratic and free society of the United States of America with its strong power and following the scriptural principles of love towards each other. Raisin in the Sun reminds me of an incident in my life and of why I decided to go in Business in the first place.

Discussion

This book by Lorraine Hansberry was written and adopted first in the year 1959 just at the time when the opposition between white and black population of the US drew to a head in social spheres of interaction. Preceded by a stellar cast of eminent American black writers, such as, Gertrude Stein, Langston Hughes etc. she wrote in one of the articles: What is it exactly that we Negroes want to see on the screen? The answer is simple  reality.

We want to see film about a people who live and work like everybody else, but who currently must battle fierce oppression to do so. (Morrine 2) The story of Hansberry was screened on the Broadway and screened first in 1961. Moreover, as the struggle of racial controversies lasts until now, the film starring Sean Combs was re-edited to make special emphasis for those who are in despair because of unfair reality of everyday life in America.

When I faced with such attempts of the representatives among white population of the US to make my voice in the company of peers heard they just laughed at me and they had hardly made some tries of assault. It happened in the twenty-first century already, but the problem of racial segregation and struggle for your place under the sun is still opened within the society. The lack of money and poor legal protection strives many of those who were for a long period of time oppressed by the former colonists to gain enough education and skills in order to resolve this problem as soon as possible.

Then my dream coincides with one which the main character of the play had  to obtain the qualification of an economist, so that to know the principles of management and the mechanisms of cycle of money which are universally accepted. This will definitely help me to prove the statement of Lorraine Hansberry continuing the thought of Langston Hughes as of the dreams in our life: There is simply no reason why dreams should dry up like raisins or prunes or anything else. (Grant 24)

The concept of main characters  Youngers  determines the manifestation of family unity and wholeness of love which cover these people. Living with neighboring Clybourne Park full of whites the Youngers are intended to save their inner warmth with regards to the great significance of the family traditions and family itself serving to support every member of it. Thus, the theme of family wholeness and the relationships between parents and children urge to keep them together under the conditions of cruel reality of discriminative motives within the societal cut of the United States.

Another episode calling spectators attention deals with the scene when the main character Walter stole the part of the insurance money and was blamed by his sister. This moment in the film, particularly, shows the culminate feature of the book by Lorraine Hansberry.

This also concerns with the importance of family and its branches in particular. Though, the idea of freedom, not money, is put into the forefront. Walter comes to this conclusion at the very end of the play and gets the slightest idea of the life sense for a single human being notwithstanding his color of skin or other peculiar things which can be interpreted by someone else as a precedent for hatred, evil, and, as a result, struggle.

For me this story presents the description of how the personal goals should be developed and what a man should need to achieve such ambitious aims of life? The point is that many of us live quietly without any attempt to react towards social cruelty and unfair attitudes of those who are the same as you. The only thing is not to stop in the urge of gaining merely relevant freedom based on humane principles. The historical background of the US does not give the opportunity for many Americans to accept Afro-Americans as a huge constituent part of the American society.

Robert Coles speaks of the black familythe Youngersand their ordeal of trying to move out of a segregated Chicago borough as a continual tension between hope and despair in people who have had such a rough time and whose prospects are by no means cheerful (60). (Emerson 59)

My personal aim is growing every now and then when looking at the story of the Youngers. Trying to reach the point of mutual understanding between all layers in the American society I guess that it would be rather important for me to save those entire principles of a mans true priorities which are the key for the happiest life and ability to save your identity. No matter how hard this way may appear, the stimulus of freedom as it is intended to leave all prejudices, so that to provide a strong and convincing hit on the issue of predominant discrimination in the USA, which in return prevents many of Afro-Americans in following their dreams.

Conclusion

Thus, business for me is a tool with the help of which I can make impact on improvement of my personal beliefs about better times for the social life and conditions in the United States. The more I try to follow the way of my dream, the more it seems to come true. This credo of my life is a driving power for all my steps on the way of resolving the problems concerned with such points as race, religion, culture.

Works cited

Morrin, Maxine. A Raisin in the Sun (MAXNotes Literature Guides). Research & Education Association (1994).

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Hansberrys a Raisin in the Sun. Explicator 52.1 (1993): 59-61.

Review: Dreams Are for Everyone; A RAISIN IN THE SUN Liverpool Playhouse. Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England). 2005: 24.

The Script Analysis

The play A Raisin in the Sun communicates the ideas of family greed and mercantilism persuasions. The sophisticated evaluation of Beneathas positioning provides a background for further investigation.

Collaborative Role-Directed Questions

The four questions that are raised in the work regarding the characters theoretical grounding. These are such questions as: What does Beneathas conduct reveal about her intentions?, How does the character treat females role in society?, How does Beneatha regard poor people?, How does the heroine explain her choice of profession?

Responding to Two Questions

The first critical issue that underlines the principles of actor positioning is the matter of Beneathas behavior. The girl adopts a rude manner of speaking to her family members. Second, it is crucial to review the feminist ideals that are reflected in the characters speech. Beneatha considers that it is humiliating for a self-confident woman to descend to the role of a housewife.

Script Referencing

The issue of Beneathas disrespectfulness may be revealed through a few direct quotations. Thus, while responding to Ruths question about the biology class, the girl claims: I dissected something that looked like you yesterday (Hansberry 496). The underestimation of her mothers abilities is supported by Beneathas phrase Dont worry  I do not expect you to understand (Hansberry 505). The third quotation was selected so that to illustrate Beneathas disrespect of Ruth as well as her underestimation of the boys mental abilities: Brother isnt crazy yet  he  hes an elaborate neurotic (Hansberry 506). Finally, a quotation Do me a favor and dont ask him ignorant questions shows that Beneatha considers her mother to be stupid since the latter is uneducated (Hansberry 511).

The feminist strivings are revealed through the following quotations: And forgive me for ever wanting to be anything at all! as well as What do you want from me, brother  that I quit school or just drop dead (Hansberry 497). Moreover, the following arguments prove Beneathas feeling of female inferiority: How much cleaning can a house need! and I just want to learn to play guitar. Is there anything wrong with that? (Hansberry 514).

Exploring Feminism Movements in the Context of the Play

As an actor playing the role of Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun, I am interested in knowing about the feminist movements that influenced the world views in the 20^th century.

According to Ruth, the psychological stability of females in the 1950s was influenced by the renovated family and education conceptions. Specifically, the scientific analysis proved that the new liberation ideas disrupted the foundation of American family life (Ruth 2).

Source One

Moulton, Ruth. Some Effects of the New Feminism. The American Journal of Psychiatry 134.1 (1977): 1-6.

The academic resource serves as a reliable grounding for Beneathas role positioning. The work assists in perceiving the ultimate motives of the 20^th-century woman, who was seeking education. Specifically, the research study explained the prejudiced attitude towards Beneatha, which was adopted by her relatives and friends. The analysis guides me through the process of impersonation. Thus, as an actor, I realized that the role demands a depiction of a willful, strong, and highly-motivated female, who breaks the social stereotypes.

Source Two

Coontz, Stephanie. The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap, New York: Basic Books, 1992. Print.

The work was written as a description of multiple dimensions of human life in the middle of the 20^th century. Among the familiar topics, the author dwells on the social ranks as well as gender-related issues (Coontz 12). Thus, the materials are helpful for the role development since they reveal that Beneatha disrespected her parents since she considered that their social status did not comply with her potential.

Role Interpretation

Character Artifacts

Playing the role of Beneatha from A Raisin in the Sun presupposes the acquaintance with the primary life artifacts that characterize the personages life values and objectives. Thus, they are:

• greed;
• money;
• education;
• superiority;
• gender equality;
• professional perfection.

Role Notes

The role of Beneatha implies embracing the characteristic features of a willful woman, who strives to supersede her relatives and friends as well as to prove the external world that feminism is a living dogma that supports strong and educated women. Thus, the girl seeks opportunities for receiving a degree from a doctor. Consequently, the primary objective of the actor is to reveal the perseverance and strength of character.

The numerous disgraceful quotations prove that Beneatha respects neither her mother, who did not manage to become educated nor her brother. The scrapes of mistreatment and disregard are distinguishable in her speech. Therefore, the actor has to master speaking in a disgraceful manner as well as using verbal insulting techniques. Moreover, the winning strategy of role-playing includes raising the voice so that to show the characters superiority over her relatives. Finally, since the personage serves as an embodiment of evil and disgrace, the actor should practice using a fierce and mad look.

Works Cited

Coontz, Stephanie. The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap, New York: Basic Books, 1992. Print.

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun, New York: Vintage, 2004. Print.

Moulton, Ruth. Some Effects of the New Feminism. The American Journal of Psychiatry 134.1 (1977): 1-6.

Introduction

The author of the play is Lorraine Hansberry, the first African American female playwright whose work was performed on Broadway. The work which was written by Hansberry and produced on Broadway in 1959 (Veal 2) is the play discussed in this essay called A Raisin in the Sun. Even though it seems that the U.S. today is a country of equal opportunities, there are reasons which would resonate with this optimistic opinion. The play is about an African American family from Chicago whose life is about to change as the mama gets a quite big cheque. A Raisin in the Sun is divided into three acts and five scenes. This paper is discussing the character of the relationship between mama and her son Walter together with the problems which are brought up in the interaction of these two characters in the play.

The Analysis of Dialogues

Mama lives together with Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, grandson Travis, and daughter Beneatha. The day when mama is expected to get the cheque for 10000 dollars is a big day for the entire family, but especially for Walter, as he has got a business idea of his own. Walter wants to invest this money in a liquor store, so he asks to give him money. Lena seems to be a strict determined mother who tells Walter: And there aint going to be no investing in no liquor store (Hansberry 42). By saying this, she causes Walters emotional outbreak in which he expresses the general dissatisfaction with his life and how everything has turned out for him so far. The reader sees that the relationship between mama and Walter is complicated, as there is a sense of misunderstanding existing between two close relatives.

Shortly after, Walter dwells on the matter of meaning in life, arguing that he cannot expect anything good to happen to him. Walter says: I can see the future stretched out in front of me  just plain as day (Hansberry 76). In the same speech, he touches upon the issue, which is intrinsic for the entire play, racial inequality. Walter describes his perception of the problem of inequality in America: them white boys are sitting back and talk bout things & sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars (Hansberry 76). Walter realizes that his social status has got something to do with him being African American, and he is not the only one in the family who apprehends it.

This expression of the feelings by Walter makes Lena reveal her opinion on the way life is for her and her family. Mama does not seem to agree with the view of her son when she states: In my time we were worried about not being lynched and getting to the North (Hansberry 76). She starts with a comparison giving a sense of a clear generation gap: my children aint satisfied or proud of nothing her generation has done (Hansberry 77). Walter does not see a problem in this as he looks at the current state of affairs. There is, therefore, a clear misunderstanding between Lena and her because of differences in the experience of the two generations.

The criticism of Walter is different from the one of his mother. Lena is a woman who seems to have found peace about this unjust social stratification. She cares about her children, who, in her opinion, have all the opportunities to live a better life than her generation of African Americans. She considers the inequality from a historical perspective, while Walters view is more overarching, as it includes historical, cultural, and socio-economic aspects. He sees society as consisting of the takers and the tooken (Hansberry 142).

Another element of the relationship between Walter and Lena Lee accounts for poverty, as this issue has always been important for their family. At the end of the second act, mama tells Walter to stop his wife from giving up their future child to poverty. Mama says: Im waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty (Hansberry 78). Although Lena expects her man to act manly like their daddy, Walter does not live up to her expectations. It all makes Lena call her son a disgrace of your fathers memory (Hansberry 78). The emotionality of the moments spurs mama to take a decision which is going to change the lives of all the member of the Lee family.

The role of traditions and respect to them is crucial for the play as their inclusion demonstrates how important it is for families like the Lees. The other episode when mama refers to a dead father of the family happens when Bobo has informed Walter that his business partner Willy disappeared with all his money. Lena then tells how she used to watch her husband night after night & come in & and look at the rug, she takes pauses, which makes it clear that the memories are not distant (Hansberry 131). Mama thinks that working like somebodys old horse killed her husband (Hansberry 131). It is then clear why the fact that money is gone because of her sons deliberate act makes her so afflicted.

Another important issue brought up in A Raisin in the Sun is the unattainability of the American dream. The second act ends with Lena buying a house in Clybourne Park, where only whites reside. This decision makes Walter anguished, so he blames Lena for being the one who butchered up a dream of his (Hansberry 97). Walter leaves mama thinking heavily about reconsidering the decision of not giving Walter any money for his enterprise. It is possible that until this moment, Lena has not realized how important this dream is for Walter. He is an embodiment of a young American adult with an American dream of his. Walter wants to have his own business and be rich, but apparently, he comes from a background that automatically creates many hurdles in the way of a young man.

The almost last scene portrays Walter as a man ready to betray the idea of his people for the sake of money. He wants to accept the offer of the chairman of the New Neighbours Orientation Committee, Lindner. Lindner has already visited the Lees in the middle of the play to offer money if the family decides not to move to the neighborhood because they are not welcome there. Mama and Beneatha are outraged by this decision of Walter. However, Walter superspies everybody when he tells Lindner that the Lees are going to move to the house because my father  my father  he earned it (Hansberry 148). This is the culmination of the play, to which Lena reacts as the demonstration of her sons manhood.

Conclusion

The play is relevant in todays context because the key issues of the work have penetrated American society deeply, so these issues still exist 60 years after the play was first performed. This is a piece that lets anyone gain an insight into the lives of numerous African American families and the struggles they face. The play not only reveals the graveness of these social issues but also grants a sense of the importance of the family in any individuals life. Although Walter and Lena fight and argue, when they face an external threat, they become united. Both of them act based on the views of the whole family, but not individual philosophies.

Works Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Random House USA Inc, 2004.

Veal, Aliyah D. I AM A MAN: How legacy and inheritance bear a heavy burden on black masculinity in A Raisin in the Sun, Barbershop, and Creed. Academicworks, Web.

Dreams are the fulfilments of a wish that people have based on real-life experience and their connections to unconscious desires. Literature has been used to expound on having a dream, with various authors and poets writing books and poems highlighting the issue. In the poem Harlem, the persona asks the readers questions about a delayed vision. The speaker outlines four possible outcomes of having a deferred dream. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, the playwriter uses art to fictionalize encounters of a delayed dream by a family; it is a supposition of the poem by Hughes. Characters in the play struggle to deal with the demanding events that rule their life. The play examines the effects of racial prejudice on the attainment of a dream in an African-American family. A universal message of the craving for social progression amid the differing opinions on attaining it is portrayed. The characters in the play A Raisin in the Sun have varying dreams that are unrelated, each facing complications in its realization.

In A Raisin in the Sun, all five characters Ruth, Lena, Travis, Beneatha, and Walter, have personal dreams they yearn to achieve. Each of them deals with different happenings in their life that put their aspirations on hold, with lack of funds being the main factor impeding the realization of their dreams. Lena looks forward to buying a house for her family and herself (Hanseberry and Nemirof 530). Walter Younger dreamed of being a business owner; however, he could not attain it and had to hope that his children would be able to achieve theirs (Hanseberry and Nemirof 534). Beneatha Younger had ambitions of becoming a doctor, which his brother Walter saw as far-fetched (Hanseberry and Nemirof 577). The two had dreams that got jeopardized due to Walters foolish business dealings with Willy Harris. Ruth desires to move into a big house in a better neighbourhood (Hanseberry and Nemirof 560). Lena laments about their life; to her, God decided to give the black man nothing but just dreams (Hanseberry and Nemirof 540). She has goals for herself and her children, as she wants them to succeed. Being the younger, Travis has no clear ambitions; his vision is made up of the thoughts of those around him.

The author of A Raisin in the Sun approves of Lenas dream of moving into a better and greater house. Lena had always had the ambition to maintain her family with dignity; this made her focus on fulfilling her goal. She kept her familys needs first and constantly worked hard, ensuring they did not suffer. Approval of the dream can be seen as her wish being the only one fulfilled among all the family members. Lena Younger and her husband had imparted the fantasy of moving into a bigger and better house; at last, the dream had been attained, although the husband was not around to witness it. Mama finally bought a home in a white neighbourhood, reassuring her of the familys safety and peace (Hanseberry and Nemirof 582). She also wanted to preserve the memory of her husband, who had dreams and always worked hard, putting the familys needs first. Together they were unable to put in enough money to fulfil the wish. The desire to move into a good house was not to profit her alone but the entire family; this is why Hansberry approved it more than the others.

The play partly answers Hughess question; among all the dreams, mama was the only one who never gave up on her in the end; it was fulfilled. From Hughes poem, the questions asked seeking more clarification on what happens to a dream deferred are answered. Every character in the play A Raisin in the Sun has a plan, but challenges force them to delay. When the play ends, and everyone is happy at the new home, the individual dreams are still uncertain. Upon giving up, there is no progress in achieving the wish. It is evident from the play that if you give up, then what you hoped for can not come to pass. A unique character who never gave up on herself finally sees the results of persevering. Lena finally fulfils the dream she and her husband had long ago before he died (Hanseberry and Nemirof 562). From her revealing experiences, it is evident that a dream deferred will dry up like a raisin in the sun. The only possible way to achieve it is not to give up but struggle till the end.

A dream makes a person not to give up and work towards attaining the goal. The plays author uses five main characters to help explain the consequences of a deferred dream. Further illustrations are developed, indicating the personal setbacks people engage in that impede the realization of a dream. Mama is the only one whose vision is focused on her and the family; the rest have ambitions that only favour themselves. The author approves of the dream as it is fulfilled in the end. Lenas goal of providing a secure and peaceful family home becomes a reality. The plays occurrences partly answer Hughess question about a deferred dream. The ending is uncertain as we do not know what happens to the rest of the Youngers dreams.

Work Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine, and Robert Nemiroff. A Raisin in the Sun. New American Library, 2008.

A Raisin in the Sun is a play in three acts whose action unfolds sometime between the end of World War II and the 1950s. The play takes place in an urban ghetto and depicts a struggling African-American family stricken with poverty and racism permeating American society. The family anticipates a life insurance check that they are entitled to after the death of the husband Walters father. The central conflict revolves around the disposition of a large amount of money.

Walter dreams of opening his own liquor store: to him, running a successful small business might become his lucky ticket out of the impoverished neighborhood. Ruth, the wife, has other, more down-to-earth plans: she plans to use the money as a downpayment for a new house and to cover her sisters medical school tuition fees. After many rows and quarrels, the spouses split the money and leave the ghetto in search of a better life. Right from the premise, it becomes clear that A Raisin in the Sun bears some of the critical characteristics of the realism genre.

The author approaches the narrative without romanticizing, subjectivizing, or idealizing it. A Raisin in the Sun is developed around commonplace characters that do not have any outstanding qualities or superpowers. In a way, Walter and Ruth are typical African-Americans of the Jim Crow era: they struggle with inequality, poverty, and the lack of opportunity like many other Black people did back then. The author Lorraine Hansberry uses clear, simple language that reflects the everyday talk characteristic for the depicted demographic. The conflict itself is presented in a realistic way as well: one can readily imagine the indecisiveness and agitation of a poor, underprivileged family over receiving a considerable sum of money.

Of special note is the level of detail in the story: for example, the description of the familys dwelling (tired furnishing, once loved couch upholstery ) makes up for a convincing setting (Hansberry 207). Lastly, A Raisin in the Sun provides a social critique: it shows the realities of the lower class and disdains racism. Social critique unfolds in such plot arcs as Ruths unplanned pregnancy: the woman realizes that a child would be an economic burden and considers abortion. Another vital element is Walters hesitance about accepting a bribe from his white neighbors that want the family to leave for good.

The messages embedded in A Raisin in the Sun are still relevant today. Firstly, the play teaches the reader the importance of the family. At the beginning of the play, the life insurance payment puts a distance between the spouses and causes arguments. Neither Walter nor Ruth wants to let go of their individual dreams and take the other persons interests into account. Undoubtedly, the husbands plan to open a liquor store may not work out in the long run.

However, the man sought acceptance and understanding in his wife, and when she took charge of the money, he felt emasculated. In the end, the spouses reached a compromise: perhaps, they realized that they are only able to survive if they support each other. Another valuable idea hidden in the play is the insidious nature of racism. The familys neighbors were not openly abusive or violent, and some may even think that the bribe they offered was a nice gesture. However, they put Walter in an embarrassing situation that he, however, successfully escaped. Today, the reader can learn that racism is not only about open aggression: it is also about the prejudice and elusive public sentiment that covertly hurts the minorities.

Work Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun. Samuel French, Inc., 1984.

In the process of developing characters in their plays, poems or films, the playwrights, poets and filmmakers strategically feature both similarities as well as differences in the characters. Lorraine Hansberry provides the best illustration of this claim through the way he presents the characters in his play A Raisin in the Sun. Lena Younger and Walter Lee Younger are similar and at the same time different based on some parameters discussed in the paper. For instance, while Lena loves her family directly, Lee does it, but indirectly.

There exist some differences between Walter Lee and his mother Lena. Lena is a loving mother, a trait that provides the reason behind her patience, selflessness and understanding. She seems determined and caring to her family because when faced with discrimination she migrates with it from the south to Chicago (Hansberry 112).

She is a mother who cherishes and values the unity and family as opposed to Lee. On the other hand, lee is more ambitious and he tries his best level to reach more people by fully living the American dream by working towards economic success in order to improve the living condition of his family. However, he develops an ambition of owning a liquor store thereby concentrating on the business more than his family as his mother does.

When it comes to an idea of freedom, the two characters have different perspectives and understanding. Lena sees freedom of living as more important compared to money. She seems more concerned about the status of living conditions and the ability to enjoy the freedom as opposed to being in possession of money.

On the other hand, Walter Lee is so much engrossed with money. He thinks that money is the real freedom, which can rescue him from the many life obstacles (Cliff 12). He believes that money is the only thing, which brings happiness and comfort in the lives of people. Therefore, a clear cut of their differences is that while Lenas experience of racism forms the basis of her decisions, Walter Lee on the other hand bases his on his dreams of owning many businesses.

There are also similarities that these two characters depict in the play. For instance, both are determined and brave. The two make a decision to move to the white neighborhood amidst resentments and threats by some weak representatives who claim that Chicago, their intended destination, is not a place they can be welcomed.

However, they defy the claim and make their way to Chicago where they manage to buy a house regardless of the financial obstacles. They run through a financial crisis after the collapse of the liquor business opened by Lee whose friend runs away with some of the money that Lee intends to invest in the business (Cliff 43). Regardless of the impediments, Lena uses her savings to facilitate their resettlement in the new land because for her, determination welcomes no barrier.

In addition, the two characters value their family as opposed to anything else though the degree of the value differs. Lena is more concerned about the life of her family more than anything else to the level of struggling to ensure that she provides a good house for her family. On the other hand, Walter Lee is also concerned about his family members.

In fact, he dreams about providing the best support for his family and that is why he is so concerned about its economic situation. He goes as far as convincing his mother to give him money to begin liquor selling business though she mother had earlier on opposed. He does all this to ensure that his family is satisfied and lives well (Hansberry 23). This character eventually realizes the need for family ties and closeness after his business and search for money becomes unsuccessful.

Works Cited

Cliff, Anthony. A Raisin in the Sun, 2008. Web.

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1959.

Each person should have a dream and try to achieve it any possible means, because a life without a dream may seem dull simple and even useless. American literature is probably one of the most frequent sources that depict the concept of having a dream, the existence of a deferred dream, and the necessity not to lose it. Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun and Langston Hughes Harlem are the two stories about what can happen to a human dream that is so perfectly compared to the image a raisin dried up in the sun.

It may happen that Hansberry finds the line of Hughes Harlem appropriate for her play because of the necessity to complete a thought about human demands and possibilities and explain that even a deferred dream can make a life full of sense and enthusiasm that inspires people of different age with different interests and ambitions like the Youngers from A Raisin in the Sun.

Hansberry and Hughes introduce the same idea of a dream compared to a raisin dried up in the sun, but explain it in different ways in order to show how the interpretation of a thought may influence the role of a dream. There are many readers and experts, who believe that Hansberrys decision to use the whole line of the poem as a title of a play is based on the connection between the races of the author and the characters of the play and their intentions to use their potential and achieve the goals set.

Still, each person may have a unique vision and attitude to the same issues and prove its rights on the existence. I think that Hansberry finds the line like a raisin in the sun? (Hughes 3) the most appropriate for her play because of two reasons: to complete a though about human possibilities and demands and to prove that the image of a raisin in a black community may have a number of interpretations that worth of recognition.

In the poem, Hughes puts a number of questions to one simple idea about what can happen to a dream deferred and fails to provide the reader with a clear answer but offers more questions for consideration. Hansberry may find the chosen approach and questions too interesting but too abandoned by their author and want to complete the thought. It is not enough to give an answer, it is more important to explain how the dream deferred appears and influences a human life, and then encourages and guides a person  seem like God didnt see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams  but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while (Hansberry Scene 1 Act 1).

Hansberry proves that even if the dream is deferred or dried up in the sun, it should never be left as it has been already identified. People may face some challenges and misunderstandings but never lose a hope to achieve the goals sets and consider personal abilities.

Finally, the lines of the poem and the characters of the play seem to have much in common because Hansberry tries to create her characters regarding each line of the Hughes work. For example, a dream deferred (Hughes 1) represents the Youngers as a whole; and the dream that can fester like a sore (Hughes 4) addresses George Murchison.

For Beneatha, the dream deferred may stink like rotten meat (Hughes 6) because of her inability to drop something on a half road and believe in the concepts that are neither appropriate nor acceptable. In fact, the play is a kind of depiction of the poem that has not been finished by its author and offered to the reader to be understood and interpreted.

Black people should not be deprived of an opportunity to dream and try to improve their lives, and this is the main message sent by Hughes and Hansberry in their works to their readers in order to demonstrate how dreams and their wrong explanations may change the lives and influence the relations between the closest people.

In general, the connection between Hughes Harlem and Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun is evident and cannot be neglected. The two authors show how it is possible to treat a dream and allow the dream to guide a human life. On the one hand, it may seem that people create more problems for themselves dreaming about something being at odds with their abilities. On the other hand, the more complicated a dream is, the more interesting a life can be.

This is why it is an individual choice of each person how to understand the importance of having a dream and use it as a raisin that can be easily dried up in the sun or just explores under the circumstances or a powerful stone that can show the right way and prove the worthiness of each moment of a life.

Beneatha lives in a society where women are expected to be mothers and wives rather than active agents of their own lives. However, as levelheaded as she is, she still has a dream of her own. Wishing to become a doctor, Beneatha works hard toward fulfilling her dream, which makes her a more relatable character.

Beneathas dream is quite evident from the start of the novel. For instance, when arguing with Walter and her Mother Beneatha clearly states that she wants to be a doctor (Hansberry 35). Moreover, Beneatha makes it very clear that she sets this goal to escape poverty.

Beneathas dream could seem as unusual given the time in which she was born and raised. Indeed, in the 1950s, the feminist movement was only starting in the U.S. However, despite the pushback, Beneatha is confident in her position. She insists on becoming a healthcare worker even though it might run her relationships with her family.

In fact, to become a healthcare employee, Beneatha must overcome a lot of obstacles. For example, she needs to deal with the objections of her family: Lets face it, baby, your heritage is nothing but a bunch of raggedy-assed spirituals and some grass huts (Hansberry 75). However, Beneatha does not give up and continues to look for opportunities.

To overcome the obstacles, Beneatha makes a lot of effort. In addition, she has to give up important relationships, such as her relationships with her family, to build a career. She wonders how something that comes naturally be seen as eccentric (Hansberry 75). This idea helps her move forward and finally achieve her dream.

Beneathas dream of becoming a doctor defines the characters main decisions, making her more vulnerable and relatable. At first glance, Beneatha might seem as arrogant, which hardly makes her a protagonist, let along the leading character. However, as she shows her willingness to achieve her dream at all costs, she appears to be more humane.

Works Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Vintage, 2004.