Raisin In The Sun

Lorraine Hansberry used symbolism in her successful drama, “A Raisin in the Sun” to portray emotions felt in the lives of her characters and possible her own. Hansberry set her piece in Chicago’s South Side, probably the early 1950’s. During this period in history, many African-Americans, like the Youngers, struggled to overcome the well-known prejudices that were far too familiar. The main scene, in this touching realist drama, is the home of the Youngers, an overcrowded run-down apartment. Hansberry used this private scenery to enhance the many feelings the Youngers, and other African-Americans, fought to conquer and to embrace in the name of happiness.

A Raisin in the Sun was first produced in 1959 and brings forth many of the issues which were to divide American culture during the 1960s. Lorraine Hansberry, the writer, was an unknown figure who achieved her success when her play became a Broadway hit. Not only were successful young black women writers were rare at the time, but they were also virtually unheard of. Despite the unpopularity of colored women writers, the success of A Raisin in the Sun was stunning. Hansberry’s ability to articulate words make her successful and well known across the world.

What is the meaning of money for you? For some people money means the world to them and even where the only place they can find happiness. However, for others money doesn’t mean anything to them; those people can live just with what they have and still be happy. According to “A Raisin in the Sun” written by Lorraine Hansberry demonstrates some of the conflicts people of color had in the late 1950’s when the subject involved money. Walter, one of the main characters of the play and also the only grown man of the family had the most problems with money, but at the same time he just wanted the best for his family. Beneatha, Walter’s sister, wanted to prove that a black woman could be a doctor not just a nurse to the racist society they were living in. Mama, the mother of Walter and Beneatha. Always trying to do the right thing for her family. All Mama wanted was a successfully family in a perfect house.

In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, the story is set in 1950s Southside Chicago, in a red-lined neighborhood. Although the majority of the story is set within the scope of the neighborhood, the perceptions of the world held by the inhabitants of that neighborhood vary greatly. Mama and Beneatha, two quintessential members of the Younger family and cohabitors of this neighborhood, have vastly disparate perceptions of the world, likely because of the discrepancies, fueled by changing times, in what they each consider to be the baseline of society , from which they wish to improve.

    Lorraine Hansberry faced many obstacles in her life which has made her  write this book A “Raisin in the Sun.” As said in Blooms Literature “She was the youngest of four children whose parents were well-educated, middle-class activists centrally engaged in the fight against racial discrimination. Early figures in the Civil Rights movement.” In the book “A Raisin in the Sun,” the first play written by an African American she made through experiences of  black people who live on Chicago’s South Side, Hansberry used members of her family as inspiration for her characters. Lorraine Hansberry life had comparisons in this book dealing with poverty

Walter Lee, at the beginning of the play is hopeful to reach his dream. He expresses his excitement to Ruth and explains how his family’s life would be different if he was able to reach his dream. Walter talks

In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry many character have dreams. Beneatha’s to become a doctor, Mama’s to buy a house and Walter’s to own a liquor store. These dreams affect each character differently. In A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry illustrates Walter Lee’s dream of owning a liquor store affects him negatively by causing him to constantly be thinking about money and causing him to make bad decisions, it also affects him positively, by teaching him an important life lesson.

Lorraine Hansberry was a writer during the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement. She was the first woman, the first black person, and the youngest person to get a show on broadway with her hit A Raisin in the Sun. The name comes from Langston Hughes’ famous poem Harlem (Dream Deferred) where Lorraine got all of her inspiration from. Harlem is about what happens when you put off a dream for too long. In A Raisin in the Sun Hansberry uses the characters Walter, Beneatha, and Momma to show the consequences of deferring your dreams.

The 1960’s were a harsh time for African Americans and females. A Raisin in the Sun which was written by Lorraine Hansberry shows this very well by introducing different characters that represent different values during the time. The play involves an African American family that is struggling to survive with the way that their situation is. The characters shown throughout the play introduce key ideas from the 1960’s. The characters also introduce different contrasts that can be analyzed. The play also introduces an interesting topic on dignity. The three big points to analyze are the characters in the play, the contrast between characters, and the importance of dignity.

Stephen King, a famous American Author, once said, “Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste completely different.” In other words, books and movies are relatively similar, but they are completely different at the same time. This is for sure the situation with the story A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. When comparing the movie and the novel, the movie is better because you gain insight into the lives of the Youngers. The details within the movie far exceed what is given in the book.

Lorraine Hansberry’s Raisin in the Sun is a monumental play in the theatrical world. Produced in 1959, it became the first play written by an African-American woman to hit the stage and was later nominated for several Tony Awards. The play touched many controversial themes of the time including racial discrimination and poverty. The design of Raisin in the Sun, including scenic, costume, lighting, and sound elements, were crucial to developing the plot and emphasizing these themes. All of the elements are vital to the message and audience interpretation of the production, and overall, the Playmakers Repertory Company executed them well.

Upon walking out of Krannert's production of "A Raisin in the Sun," an eerie silence drizzled about the audience as people murmured and slowly shuffled towards the exits. After witnessing such a powerful yet melancholy piece of theater work, words seemed inappropriate. For three hours, "A Raisin in the Sun" encompassed us with racial, economic, and social issues of the 1950s. Swirling portions of humor, disgrace, pride, and sadness into a smooth blend, the play developed many twists and turns that kept the audience and myself completely alert. Throughout the three acts I could feel the audience, as well as myself, totally devoting themselves to the play. But after taking a step back, the play proved to

Racism is a very common and serious issue that still takes place in real life and in real time. In the 1950s-1960s racism was at its peak and it is reflected in Lorraine Hansberry’s well-known play, A Raisin in the Sun. In the play, Hansberry depicted many of the racial problems that African American families suffered and the impact of it. Some literary critics we’re quick to respond to the racism showed in the play while others preferred not to commentate. This play also brought much controversy among people with different opinions. My goal in this paper is to effectively inform readers about what the racism in Hansberry’s play caused critics to argue. In Lorraine Hansberry’s famous play, A Raisin in the Sun the author raises many questions about race, fueling a debate among the literary critics.

Willy Harris runs away with the money that Walter had invested in the liquor store and the money for Beneatha's education.

My group for the project on A Raisin In The Sun, consisted of Mollie, our director, Avery, who played the role of Beneath, Isabel, who played the role of Travis, Dana, who played the role of walter, and myself, I was the prop director. When we first sat down to decide upon a scene it took a little while because we needed to find a scene that would be suitable for our group's size and it also needed to be a fair amount of lines for each actor. I was the one that suggested that we did the very first scene where they are waiting to use the restroom and Travis is asking for money for school I suggested this scene because when i read over it, it seemed as if it would be a great scene for our group to do. We all ended up agreeing to do that scene.