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A Raisin in The Sun

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A Raisin in the Sun

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• South Puget Sound Community College Pressbooks - A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
• The Guardian - A Raisin in the Sun review – still challenging its characters and audience
• Literary devices - "A Raisin in The Sun"
• Internet Archive - "A Raisin In The Sun"
• Academia.edu - Ethical Idealism in the Play A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun , drama in three acts by Lorraine Hansberry , first published and produced in 1959. The play’s title is taken from “ Harlem ,” a poem by Langston Hughes , which examines the question “What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?” This penetrating psychological study of a working-class Black family on the South Side of Chicago in the late 1940s reflected Hansberry’s own experiences of racial harassment after her prosperous family moved into a white neighborhood.

Walter Lee Younger, a chauffeur, hopes to use his father’s life-insurance money to open a liquor store with two partners. His mother, with the support of Walter’s pragmatic wife, Ruth, and independent sister Beneatha, instead uses part of the money as a down payment on a house in an all-white neighborhood. Mama gives the remaining money, including Beneatha’s share (which is to be deposited in the bank), to Walter. After one of his partners absconds with the money, Walter despondently contacts Karl Lindner, a representative of the white neighborhood who had earlier tried to buy out the Youngers so as to avoid racial integration . Walter asks Lindner back, intending to accept his offer. However, Walter finally rejects the proposal.

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A Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine hansberry.

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Dreams possess great importance in A Raisin in the Sun , with the play’s name coming from a 1951 Langston Hughes poem titled Montage of a Dream Deferred . In the poem, part of which serves as the play’s epigraph (a quotation at the beginning of a book that elaborates on its major themes) the poet asks, “What happens to a dream deferred?” pondering whether it shrivels up “like a raisin in the sun” or…

Dignity and Pride

A central virtue in the Younger household, dignity exerts a unifying force throughout the play. Mama expresses pride in her family’s background and tries to instill in her children a sense of respect for their ancestors, who were Southern slaves and sharecroppers. Although some characters, such as Mrs. Johnson , criticize the family as “one proud-acting bunch of colored folks,” the family holds fast to its ancestral dignity, an inheritance it considers to be greater…

Race, Discrimination, and Assimilation

In 1959 much of the United States, including Chicago, remained de facto segregated, meaning that racial segregation persisted in education, employment, and housing even though the Supreme Court had overturned segregation that was established by law as unconstitutional. Set in de facto segregated Chicago, Hansberry’s play draws on stories from the author’s own life, such as her family’s experience with housing discrimination in 1930s Chicago. After moving to a house in an all-white neighborhood, Hansberry’s…

Gender and Feminism

A Raisin in the Sun anticipates the massive changes in gender relations – principally, the rise of feminism and the Sexual Revolution – that would transform American life in the 1960s. Hansberry explores controversial issues like abortion (which was illegal in 1959), the value of marriage, and morphing gender roles for women and men. Each of the Youngers takes a different attitude towards shifting gender roles, and the characters’ perspectives shed light on their identities…

Money provides a constant source of conflict and preoccupation in the Younger household. Within moments of the play’s opening, Walter Lee asks Ruth , “Check coming today?” in reference to the insurance payment that his mother, Lena , is due to receive as a result of her husband’s death. The members of the Younger family view money in different ways, with Mama, Beneatha , and Ruth imagining money as a means to an end and…

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A Raisin in the Sun

By lorraine hansberry.

• A Raisin in the Sun Summary

The Youngers are a poor African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago. An opportunity to escape from poverty comes in the form of a $10,000 life insurance check that the matriarch of the family (Lena Younger or Mama) receives upon her husband's death. Lena's children, Walter and Beneatha, each have their plans for the money. The oldest son, Walter (a man of 35 with a wife and a young son), wishes to invest in a liquor store. The younger sister, Beneatha, currently a college student, wants to use the money for medical school. Lena has plans as well for the money: she wants to buy a house for the family and finance Beneatha's medical school.

The environmental pressures are high: five people live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment, two families share a single bathroom, and the building is run-down and roach-infested. These pressures increase when Walter's wife, Ruth, finds out that she is pregnant for the second time, and begins seriously contemplating abortion. Yet even in an environment where a request for fifty cents becomes a family conflict, there is room for ideas and dreams.

Beneatha Younger is the source of the many of the new ideas and philosophies that infiltrate the family's home. Currently in college, she is constantly challenging the notions of culture, race, gender, and religion that her family has grown up with. She is dating two men who represent very different aspects of African-American culture. George Murchison , the first, is a wealthy African-American classmate of Beneatha's. Through his character, Hansberry is able to illustrate many of the class tensions that exist within the African-American culture. Asagai is her second boyfriend, a college student who is from Nigeria. Through Asagai, Beneatha is able to learn more about her African heritage. He gives her Nigerian robes and music, encourages her idealistic aspirations, and near the end of the play invites her to return to Nigeria with him to practice medicine there.

Walter Younger truly encapsulates the American dream. He has a genuine entrepreneurial spirit and desire to progress. Walter doesn't want to challenge the present system as Beneatha does. Instead, he wishes to progress up the social ladder into a higher class. He is unsatisfied with his job as a chauffeur, and wants a big house, a nice car, pearls for his wife, and an office job. In short, he desires the bourgeoisie lifestyle. Walter's idolization of wealth and power actually creates a deep hunger within him for change, but as long as obstacles like racism keep him stagnated, his hopes and dreams fester. After several events, Mama realizes the significance of his plans even though she morally objects to the idea of a liquor store.

After having made the down payment on a house in a predominantly white neighborhood, Lena gives her oldest son responsibility over the rest of the insurance money, asking him to put away a significant portion for his sister's medical school education. To the contrary, Walter decides to invest all the money in the liquor store business with two men of questionable character. The plan falls through when Willy , one of the "investors", runs away with all of the money.

The family is entirely dependent on the money: they already have made plans to move, and are in the midst of packing up their things. Devastated, Walter seriously considers taking an offer from Mr. Lindner, a representative from the white neighborhood, that would pay the Youngers extra not to move into their neighborhood. The option is immoral in the family's eyes, and prioritizes money over human dignity. Walter is determined to make the deal despite his scruples, but at the last moment Walter is unable to make the transaction under the innocent gaze of his son, Travis. In the end, the family decides to move. Even though the road ahead will be difficult, they know that they have made an honorable choice.

A Raisin in the Sun Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for A Raisin in the Sun is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

I'm sorry, what passage are you referring to? Please include all information in your posts.

Mama tells Walter that something is eating him up, Something that has to do with more than just money. What do you think it is?

Although Walter has a family, wife, and a job, he continues to live with his mother. As a result, he feels emasculated. Walter believes that nobody listens to his dreams or wants to give him a chance at being a "man".

Walter says that pride is old-time stuff what would Walter consider modern day thinking?

Walter believes that only doing things you can be proud of is old-fashioned. In his eyes, pride has nothing to do with accomplishment, and you do whatever it takes to reach your goal.

Study Guide for A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun study guide contains a biography of Lorraine Hansberry, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About A Raisin in the Sun
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Essays for A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.

• The Aspirations of Women in A Raisin in the Sun
• Viewing the World from Different Angles: Generation Gaps in Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun
• Women, Black and Proud
• The Struggle of Finding a Home in African-American Literature
• A Dream Deferred: An Analysis of "A Raisin in the Sun"

Lesson Plan for A Raisin in the Sun

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• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to A Raisin in the Sun
• Relationship to Other Books
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• A Raisin in the Sun Bibliography

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — A Raisin in The Sun — Themes in a Raisin in the Sun

Themes in a Raisin in The Sun

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About this sample

Words: 557 |

Published: Jan 29, 2024

Words: 557 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

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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Racial Discrimination in “A Raisin in the Sun” Essay

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Racial discrimination is the main theme of the book, strongly reflecting the situation that prevailed during the 1950s in the United States, a time when the story’s Younger family lived in Chicago’s South Side ghetto. Racial discrimination led to the city being carved into two distinct parts – the first housing whites only, and the other housing blacks. A majority of blacks did not accept the idea of assimilating into the dominant white culture on the grounds that 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. All the minor characters in the book indulge in actions that reflect the racial discrimination prevailing at that time.

George Murchison, the rich black suitor of Beneatha Younger, believes that assimilating into white society is the only way to attain riches and the admiration of others. Instead of feeling pride in his African heritage, and like other black members of the community, resist racism, George in fact supports racism by willingly submitting to white culture. When Beneatha says he ought to be more considerate about the causes blacks were fighting for, he arrogantly replies: “Forget it baby! There ain’t no causes” (Hansberry, p. 136). He even goes to the extent of using his God given sharp intellect and debating ability to ridicule other blacks . Due to his perceived pro-racist stance, George becomes increasingly repelling to other blacks .

Joseph Asagai is the exact opposite of George Murchison. He is a forceful Nigerian character, an African intellectual (Hansberry, p. 42), who takes fierce pride in his African heritage (Hansberry, p. 72). Having fallen in love with Beneatha, he tries to awaken pride of her heritage in her by giving her Nigerian costumes to wear and fondly calling her ‘Alaiyo’ . He pleads with her to marry him and accompany him to his native Nigeria that he promises she would like so much, it would feel as though she had “only been away a day” (Hansberry, p. 130)}. While Asagai represents a powerful African model that other blacks can proudly emulate, he is guilty of supporting an important pillar of racism – suppression of women. When Beneatha, in response to his proposal of marriage, says she is not interested in a storybook romance, but wants to become an independent and liberated woman, Asagai heaps scorn on her wishes, saying: “Liberated women are not liberated at all!” (Hansberry, p. 50).

Willy Harris, Walter Younger’s black partner in his liquor store project cheats him and runs away with the investment money (Hansberry, 118). Instead of helping Walter try to improve his finances and position in life for himself and his family, Willy instead adds more problems to the Youngers’ already heavy financial burden. Willy’s action proves that he is a betrayer of his fellow black, and by association, a betrayer of the entire black community and the causes they were fighting for.

Mrs. Johnson, neighbor of the Younger family, represents the typical black person too scared to assimilate with whites in a predominantly white neighborhood. She tries to scare the Younger family into not moving into the all-white Clybourne community by recalling incidents where blacks were badly intimidated in similar situations (Hansberry, p. 104).

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. He is chosen by the all-white Clybourne community to make the Youngers “try and understand their [whites’] problem, and the way they feel” (Hansberry, p. 105); the problem being the entry of a black family into the all-white community would create insecurity for the residents. The whites even authorize Lindner to pay the Youngers money in return for staying away from their sheltered community. Lindner comes very close to achieving his mission when Walter agrees to take the money and sign a binding contract (Hansberry, p. 141), only to be thwarted at the last moment when Walter has a change of heart.

African American Lorraine Hansberry wrote “A Raisin in the Sun” much before the black liberation movement resulted in the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 that revolutionized the life of blacks in the country, giving them freedom and recognition as equal contributors to American society as their white counterparts. Unfortunately, she did not get much time to savor the great victory because the landmark Act was passed just one year before her untimely death at the age of thirty-four.

Hansberry, Lorraine. “A Raisin in the Sun.” USA: Vintage. 1994.

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IvyPanda. (2021, September 12). Racial Discrimination in “A Raisin in the Sun”. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racial-discrimination-in-a-raisin-in-the-sun/

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IvyPanda . 2021. "Racial Discrimination in “A Raisin in the Sun”." September 12, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racial-discrimination-in-a-raisin-in-the-sun/.

1. IvyPanda . "Racial Discrimination in “A Raisin in the Sun”." September 12, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racial-discrimination-in-a-raisin-in-the-sun/.

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The Tony Winner Behind ‘Appropriate’ Is Back. This Time, With ‘Purpose.’

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins had Broadway success this year with a drama starring Sarah Paulson. In February, he’ll return with a new play directed by Phylicia Rashad.

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By Michael Paulson

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins won a Tony Award in June for the Broadway production of “ Appropriate ,” his blistering play about a white Southern family grappling with some serious baggage.

This season, Jacobs-Jenkins will return to Broadway, now with “ Purpose ,” a stormy play about a Black Midwestern family wrestling with its own legacy.

“Purpose,” which had a well-received run earlier this year at Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago, is to begin previews Feb. 25 and to open in mid-March at the Helen Hayes Theater. The Broadway production is being directed by Phylicia Rashad, who also directed the play at Steppenwolf; Rashad, best known for “The Cosby Show,” has won two Tony Awards as an actor, for “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Skeleton Crew”; this will be her first time directing on Broadway.

Set in contemporary Chicago, “Purpose” is about the Jaspers, a civically engaged family of preachers and politicians. There are some parallels to Jesse Jackson’s family, but the story is fictional.

In the play, the family gathers at the home of its patriarch — a civil rights activist and preacher who had marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — to welcome the eldest son, a politician, home from prison as his wife prepares to serve her own sentence. The gathering is complicated by the presence of the younger son, a divinity school dropout, who shows up with an unexpected friend.

The critic Chris Jones, writing in The Chicago Tribune , called it an “absolutely not-to-be-missed” play.

Jacobs-Jenkins, 39, has for a decade been touted as among the nation’s most important young playwrights. He is a two-time Pulitzer finalist (for “ Gloria ” and “ Everybody ”), but “Appropriate” was his first play on Broadway. It took so long for it to get there that the production, which starred Sarah Paulson, was deemed a revival and won the Tony Award in that category. Now, Jacobs-Jenkins is working on a musical adaptation of Prince’s “Purple Rain” that will have an initial production in Minneapolis next spring, while also preparing to return to Broadway with “Purpose.” (And before then, he has a new Off Broadway show this fall: “ Give Me Carmelita Tropicana! ” at Soho Rep.)

“I’m shocked, honored, surprised, confused, nervous,” Jacobs-Jenkins said in a phone interview, referring to having two Broadway plays in a row. “I definitely feel like there’s some kind of turnover: In this post-recovery period, lots of surprising things are happening.”

“I feel like suddenly my cohort is stepping into some new space that wasn’t available to us before,” he added.

And are “Appropriate” and “Purpose” related? “Not really,” Jacobs-Jenkins said. “But it wouldn’t be ridiculous to read them against each other.”

Though the nonprofit Second Stage Theater owns the Helen Hayes Theater, this will be a commercial production. The lead producers include David Stone and Marc Platt, who are the lead producers of “Wicked”; the film producer Debra Martin Chase; the actress LaChanze; and Rashad V. Chambers, Aaron Glick and Steppenwolf.

Michael Paulson is the theater reporter for The Times. More about Michael Paulson