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Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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The story is set in a small village on the Southside of Chicago, which is racially divided to the southern side. The Younger's, the family in the story, are a low-income family living in an apartment that is evidently too small for the five occupants that live there. The daughter, Beneatha Younger, is the only one who is privileged enough to go to college. She is proud and arrogantly determined to get out of the environment she grew up in and become a doctor. She is very determined and very different from the rest of the family, who often tease her because of her collegiate attitude. She is not only determined in her schoolwork, but everything else about her is "the best". She spends the extra time on her hair and attire, to show she is proud …show more content…

Consequently, a conflict erupts on how the money should be used. Walter wishes to invest in a liquor store, an idea opposed by his mother. Therefore, while she rejects Walter's proposal, she sets aside money for his sister's medical school. Walter is very angered by this, and in Act 1, he makes the statement "He was my father, too!" because of his frustration for not being given a chance to decide on how to spend the money (Hansberry 27). Mama later pays an installment on a house that is situated in an all-white neighborhood. For this reason, the neighbors send a representative to prevent the family from buying the house. Mr. Lindner even offers to pay them if they will refrain from moving to his neighborhood. He makes it very clear that if they do decide to move then they will not be welcomed back. Mama decides that she will entrust Walter with the rest of the money. With Walter's low paying job as a chauffeur, he is frustrated and invests the money into a liquor store with his so-called friend. He later comes to find that the friend has made off with the money. The family decides to move to the neighborhood anyway, and this is how the play …show more content…

The Women's Movement was growing strong during this period of the story. Throughout the play, Lorraine uses the characters as a way to follow the struggles and harshness of an African American family's yearning to realize the American Dream. Along this hard road comes the importance of togetherness and family harmony, which Mama is finally able to instill upon Walter. The house enables them to fulfill their father's hard work and determination. Which is the “American Dream”. They achieved his "American Dream" even after his death. The characters of Mama, Walter, and Beneatha all have their differences, but in the end, unity prevails in the family, and the struggles faced by the family are nothing if they only work together and understand each one's wants and

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