The Youngs appear to be a representation, and an inspirational symbol for African American families in 1950s America as Walter chooses to stand up against social normalities and oppression. It is, as put by Judith E. Smith, “a plotless story, in the way that life itself never seems to offer much in the standard notions of plot” . To achieve dreams, and make a stable life, the presence of money helps greatly. But because of the society and human status African American people lived in, in the 1950s, it was extremely hard to pursue dreams and create a bountiful life. Lorraine Hansberry represents this idea in the award-winning play, “A Raisin in the Sun.” The play portrays the story of a poor family, the Youngers, residing in a small apartment in the southside of Chicago. During Act I and II, the Youngers eagerly await a $10,000 Insurance check, following the death of the hard-working Walter Senior.

a raisin in the sun theme essay

A Raisin In The Sun (B+)A Raisin In The Sun (B+) In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, one of the most important themes is the American Dream. Many of the characters in this play have hopes and aspirations; they all strive towards their goals throughout the play. However, many of the characters in the play have different dreams that clash with each other. Problems seem to arise when different peoples dreams conflict with one another; such as Walters versus Bennies, Georges versus Asagai…

A Raisin In The Sun Theme Essay

The white neighborhood thought they could send the Youngers back to the dingy apartment, and buy their dreams of a new life away, which infuriated the family. Money is these scenes have a powerful significance, in the sense that it can take away, or define the characters’ self-respect, and social status. One of the most notable plays on the topic of racial minorities and family issues, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, has continued to be popular since it was written in 1959.

a raisin in the sun theme essay

Although the abortion theme is merely touched on in this play, the way is opened for other writers to treat it more thoroughly in future plays. A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry Summer Journal In A Raisin In The Sun the Younger family lives in Chicago on the south side in a small two bedroom apartment. Another theme of the lay was the need to fight racial discrimination. 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.

Dreams Of African American Women In A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

Walter himself serves as both protagoinist and antagonist of the play. In most of times, Walter represents as a symbol of the androcentrism who does mistakes which hurt the whole family greatly. However, in the bottom of his heart, he always wants to solve family’s problems.

  • The progress of each character’s thinking in ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ by the end of the play.
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  • Below you will find five outstanding thesis statements / paper topics for “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry that can be used as essay starters.
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In Act I, Walter responds that “money is life” when Mama asks Walter why he always think about money. He believes that money is all of their problems are about, but he is rarely successful with money. These difficulities and barriers that retard his and his family’s progress to fulfill his dream constantly frustrate Walter.

” Although the story focuses somewhat on materialistic things, opposite of nature like Walter’s desire for money and Beneatha’s desire to become a doctor, many examples of nature can be found throughout the story. Dreams control these materialistic possessions and goals and in a sense nature controls the physical world. The Youngers go through great trouble to reach these dreams, and much of their happiness and depression is immediately related to whether or not they reach their dreams. When the family is united in the end by the last dream, it is realized that a natural phenomenon, a dream, really does control the outcome. James Joyce’s The Dead reveals characteristics of frustration, restraint, and violence. Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun reveals dreams as the main characters struggle to deal with the oppressive situations that overrule their lives.

If you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing….Have you cried for that boy today? I don’t mean yourself and also for the family ‘cause we lost the money. I am talking about for him; just what he been through and exactly what it done to him. Kid, whenever do you think it’s the time to love someone the absolute most; once they done good and made things possible for everyone? When she says, “I used to care” this is not only directed at her dream but herself, because her dream was a reflection of herself and who she was, so Walter’s actions not only crushed his sister’s dreams but it also crushed her identity as well.