essay a raisin in the sun

A Raisin in The Sun

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A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry

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A Raisin in the Sun Essays

The aspirations of women in a raisin in the sun emilie browne, a raisin in the sun.

Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun challenges the stereotype of 1950's America as a country full of doting, content housewives. The women in this play, Mama, Ruth and Beneatha, represent three generations of black women who, despite their...

Viewing the World from Different Angles: Generation Gaps in Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun Kathryn Larrivee

The African-American experience of growing up in America changed dramatically throughout the course of the twentieth century, thus leading to differing views between the older and younger generations. In Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the...

Women, Black and Proud Michael 'Shotgun' Spratling

"We're people, we're just like the birds and the bees, We'd rather die on our feet, Than be livin' on our knees" ("James Brown Lyrics"). These lyrics for James Brown's classic soul hit "Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud)" could have easily been...

The Struggle of Finding a Home in African-American Literature Peggie Ruth Hale College

The “American Dream” connotes a vision of a house with a white picket fence, a place of warmth and family, a secure place to lay one's head at night, a place to just be. Much of African-American literature since the 1900's demonstrates that the...

A Dream Deferred: An Analysis of "A Raisin in the Sun" Blondene Leys College

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore -- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over -- Like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags Like a heavy load. Or does it...

Opposite Takes on the “American Dream” in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman Kevin Andrew Fagan College

Money is one way to achieve one of the “American Dreams.” The “American Dream” is different for everyone and that dream for most people depends on how they were raised. There are many plays that critique the “American Dream” but only two will be...

Development of the Family Melodrama Genre: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and A Raisin in the Sun Anonymous College

A melodrama is a film which appeals to the emotions of its audience, on a higher level than the simple “drama” genre. The characters of a melodrama are often stereotyped and exaggerated to indicate something about the culture of the times, making...

Family's Effect on Identity: The Bean Trees and A Raisin in the Sun Sarah L Klotz 10th Grade

What describes family is not the people who are blood related or someone who has an obligation. Family is loving someone unconditionally and mutually; family is those who greet the worst self of someone without judgement and still stick around...

Petrie's Film Adaptation: Placing A Raisin in the Sun in a New Light Anonymous 12th Grade

The American Dream varies for individuals, but for most it includes providing a stable home for their children and ensuring future generations will have more opportunities to become successful. In the play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine...

The Dissonance Among Family, Pride, and Money Amogh Garudadwajan 10th Grade

Money and acquisitiveness have always had the ability to turn people into someone they are not. Greed can tear apart families and friendships when a person neglects others for their own benefit. This is depicted perfectly in Lorraine Hansberry’s...

Marxist Literary Analysis of A Raisin in the Sun Anonymous 11th Grade

“Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life – now it’s money” (Hansberry, 74). The quote from Mama portrays the Youngers, a typical African American family living in Chicago in 1959, in their struggle to break free from the endless...

The Ideal Man and the Flawed Pursuit of Perfection Andrew Cowan College

Both Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun and Toni Morrison’s 1987 novel Beloved are works that deal predominately with race, but feature vastly different subject matter. Beloved features a group of people haunted by the memory of...

The Circumscribed and Tragic Hero: Lena’s role in A Raisin in the Sun Katie Livingston College

In his book Twelve Million Black Voices Richard Wright asserts that:In the Black Belts of the northern cities, our women are the most circumscribed and tragic objects to be found in our lives […] Surrounding our black women are many almost...

The Issue of Universality in Critical Responses to A Raisin in The Sun Oscar Williams College

“One of the most sound ideas in dramatic writing is that in order to create the universal, you must pay very great attention to the specific” (Hansberry, To Be Young 128).

Ben Keppel notes that during the 1960s and 1970s, A Raisin in the Sun ...

Love and Wealth: A Comparison of So Long a Letter and A Raisin in the Sun Anonymous College

What exactly makes love and wealth so appealing to humans? Love is a desirable feeling, which people feel they cannot live without. People need love in their life to feel whole, when they are with or care for a special someone. Wealth refers to...

Deceased and Significant: How "A Raisin in the Sun" Portrays the Father and His Impact Anonymous 10th Grade

Lorraine Hansberry’s play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’, first debuted in the year 1959 on Broadway, depicts the life of the Youngers, a fictional African-American family, in the 1950’s, who live in Chicago, USA. Hansberry delineates the deceased father -...

Thematic Analysis of Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” Analytical Essay

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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. Younger’s 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, Mama’s son is contemplating on investing his share in a liquor store in order to get finances that would salvage the family’s financial status. On the other hand, Walter’s 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).

Walter’s 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 Walter’s perception towards Charlie’s business that earns him $100,000 annually. He ignores everyone’s 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. Walter’s 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, Lena’s 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 husband’s 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 Walter’s 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 men’s 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 father’s 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.

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Bibliography

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A Raisin in the Sun Essay Examples

Symbolism in a raisin in the sun.

The American dream is the opportunity for all Americans to seek and reach their dreams. However, Langston Hughes wrote a poem called “Harlem” which talks about dreams, and what happens to them when they don’t come true. In the poem, Hughes writes, “What happens to...

American Dream by Raisin in the Sun

Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that details the experiences of an African American family that lives in Chicago’s south side. The family receives a check following the death of Mr. Younger. The family members have conflicting ideas on how to...

Walter Lee Younger Character Analysis

To start with, this is Walter Lee Younger character analysis essay where we will analyse how Walter changes throughout the entire story. Walter Lee Younger went from a selfish, self-centered, and immature person with an inability to make crucial decisions to a well mannered, selfless,...

Finding Out What is Beneatha's Dream in "A Raisin in the Sun"

In her play, A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry masterfully creates a seemingly paradoxical character, Beneatha. Benethea dreams of being a doctor but is rarely taken seriously. This stems from her gender-defying aspirations, a multitude of extracurricular activities, and her history of relationships. Beneatha’s...

Defining Gender Roles in the Novel "A Raisin in the Sun"

Notions of gender roles are all throughout A Raisin in the Sun, a play written by Lorraine Hansberry. The play portrays a couple of weeks in the lives of a poor african american family named the Youngers. The story takes place in the 1950s in...

Symbols in a Raisin in the Sun

Dreams and aspirations differ depending on the person – one might aspire to become a dancer; another might want to own his or her own business one day. These dreams act as goals for us to reach for and to work towards, but they are...

Social Issues- a Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” includes many social issues that were very clearly represented by the actions of the characters and the surrounding individuals. This play revolving around Walter Lee Younger, his wife, Ruth, sister, Beneatha, son, Travis, and Mama (Lena Younger), takes...

Hamlet and a Raisin in the Sun

Both «A Raisin in the Sun» and «Hamlet» share one aspect of their plays in common: main protagonists with dead fathers and being in a conflicted relationship with their mothers. Without this particular part, the entire story will not make a sense to the main...

Values in a Raisin in the Sun

Plays always have important values. These values are critical throughout the play. Furthermore, these values can create conflicts between characters. Therefore, there are major values in A Raisin in the Sun. These crucial values in A Raisin in the Sun are family, God, and money....

Reflection on a Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

“A Raisin in the Sun” is a playwright wrote by Lorraine Hansberry, an African American woman, in 1959. The film takes place in Hanberry’s birthplace, Chicago. The cast includes Claudia McNeil as Lena Younger, the mother of Beneatha Younger (Diana Sands) and Walter Younger (Sidney...

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About A Raisin in the Sun

March 11, 1959

Lorraine Hansberry

Domestic drama

A Raisin in the Sun portrays a few weeks in the life of the Youngers, a Black family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. At the beginning of the play, the Youngers are about to receive an insurance check for $10, 000 from the deceased father life insurance policy and each of the adult members of the family has an idea as to what they would like to do with this money. The story full of important topics as housing discrimination, family relations, racism, materialism and others.

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