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A Raisin In The Sun

            
             In "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry shows that having dreams is essential to the lives of the characters in the play. In particular, the main character Walter Younger has idealistic dreams of better lives for himself and his family. When Walter is introduced in the play, it appears that he is frustrated with his current position in life. His frustrations stem from his inability to provide for his family and his lack of control in making his dreams of a better life become a reality. Throughout the play Walter struggles with these dreams and exhibits greed and foolishness. The consequences of his actions force him to grow up and become the man that his family needs him to be. Walter realizes the selfish nature of his dreams and learns that he must put the dreams of his family as a whole before his own.
             In Act I, Scene 1, Walter speaks of his dreams and appears to have the best intentions for his family. He believes that an investment in the liquor store business with his friends is the ideal way to lift them out of poverty. The desperation with which he talks about these dreams even causes his wife Ruth to have a slight change of heart about them. The urgency in his voice shows his serious need for change and prompts her to bring the subject up to Mama. "Walter Lee say colored people ain't never going to start getting ahead till they start gambling on some different kinds of things in the world - investments and things." (p. 1815) In 1959, the time period of the play, most black men in America faced struggles and a lack of opportunity in trying to become providers for their families. Without his dreams and the resources to achieve them, Walter feels that his existence in the world is insignificant.
             However, Walter's complete determination to have the means to invest in the liquor store begins to overshadow the good intentions of his plans. He wants to use the insurance money from his father's death, the entire sum of $10,000.


Essays Related to A Raisin In The Sun

1. Themes in A Raisin in the Sun

The story, "A Raisin the Sun" is a direct reference to Hughes poem. ... Walters "deferred" dream "dried up like a raisin in the sun.... This showed that like a raisin sitting in the sun the good parts of it begin to evaporate and then everything becomes dry. ... A Raisin in the Sun showed us the struggle of racial equality and obtaining the American Dream. ... Today racial equality isn't a big issue like the era of "A Raisin in the Sun". ...

  • Word Count: 1328
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

2. A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, was written perhaps with some personal experience. ... Another sign of family strength is when Beneatha denies Walter as her brother (A Raisin in the Sun, 907). ... Lindner's offer appeals to him (A Raisin in the Sun, 909). ... Walter gave it away anyway though because he thought it would help the family (A Raisin in the Sun, 897). ... Bennie felt like low class, and didn't feel she could be a doctor anymore (Raisin in the Sun, 901). ...

  • Word Count: 1169
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun These fifteen pages were wonderfully written. ... A Raisin in the Sun In this chapter I grew a sort of a dislike for mama. ... A Raisin in the Sun This section surprised me because of how irresponsible Ruth was acting. ... A Raisin in the Sun . ... A Raisin in the Sun Once again, this chapter represented a family who didn't have their eyes open. ...

  • Word Count: 905
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

4. A raisin in the sun

A comparison between the life of Lorraine Hansberry and her Play "A Raisin in the Sun" What is it that caused Lorraine Hansberry to portray a family like the Younger's in " A Raisin in the Sun"? ... In fact " A Raisin in the sun", and "Native Son" start off the same way with an alarm clock ringing. ... "A Raisin in the Sun" is the story of a lower class black family living on the south side of Chicago. ... There are many aspects of Lorraine Hansberry's life that seem to be relived in a "Raisin in the Sun". ... "A Raisin in the Sun" is considered one of the greatest Americ...

  • Word Count: 1699
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

5. A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun A Raisin in the Sun contains many themes. ... Two themes Lorraine Hansberry uses in A Raisin in the Sun is that dreams can either save or destroy a person or in this case a family and the importance of family values and morals. ... Lorraine Hansberry put her personal views into A Raisin in the Sun. ... A Raisin in the Sun displays a great recurring theme in life that many times the good of the few has to be sacrificed through the needs and propagation of the group. ...

  • Word Count: 501
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. A Raisin In the Sun

A Raisin In The Sun Lorraine Hansberry wrote the play "A Raisin In The Sun", it was produced on March 11, 1959 in Ethel Barrymore Theatre located in New York. "A Raisin In The Sun" was the first drama by a produced African American women on Broadway. ... For instance a sun raises then sets. "A Raisin In The Sun", shows a decisive portrait of African American life in the mid-1950s. ... But when the movie started out the sun was up, in the middle it was gloomy out side the window, and at the end of the movie the sun had came back out again. ...

  • Word Count: 886
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Raisin in the sun

A Raisin in the Sun" is set at in an area where racism was still occurring. ... Throughout the play A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry criticizes the racial and discriminatory climate of America in the 1950s and early 60s. ... Speaking of the United States, Adler states, "A Raisin in the Sun is a moving drama about securing one's dignity within a system that discriminates against, even enslaves, its racial minorities.". ... A Raisin in the Sun deals with many issues but none more than Prejudice's--the act of pre-judging something. ...

  • Word Count: 786
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, the author uses the African American Younger family to represent a struggle for the pursuit of the American Dream. ... In A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry uses the main characters and their dreams as a means of demonstrating a pursuit for the American Dream. ... Throughout A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry uses the characters as a way to follow the struggles and harshness of an African American family's desire to achieve the American Dream. ...

  • Word Count: 970
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansberry's, "A Raisin in the Sun" focuses in the struggles of the Youngers, and illustrates how nothing is stronger than family ties. ... Once again, family ties proves itself to be the theme of "A Raisin in the Sun." ... A Raisin in the Sun displays a great recurring theme in life that many times the good of the few has to be sacrificed through the needs and propagation of the group. ...

  • Word Count: 867
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

10. A Raisin In The Sun

A Raisin in the Sun Title - A Raisin in the Sun Author - Lorraine Hansberry Genre - Drama Copyright Date - 1958, 1986 by Robert Nemiroff, as an unpublished work 1959, 1966, 1987, 1988 by Robert Nemiroff Setting - The setting was after WWII and the present (1958), in the south side of Chicago. ... Similarities in Characters, Setting, Plot, or Theme to other Books I have Read - A book that is similar to A Raisin in the Sun is, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. The book is very dramatic like A Raisin in the Sun. ... This book has conflicts of hatred and love, but has humoro...

  • Word Count: 1553
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

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