Raisin In The Sun Relevant

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.

In A Raisin In the Sun Lorraine Hansberry uses everyday objects-a plant, money, and a home to symbolize a family's struggle to deal with racism and oppression in their everyday lives, as well as to exemplify their dreams. She begins with a vivid description of the family's weary, small, and dark apartment in Chicago's ghetto Southside during the 1950s. The Youngers are an indigent African-American family who has few choices in their white society. Each individual of the Younger family has a separate dream-Beneatha wants to become a doctor, Walter wants to open a liquor store, and Ruth and Mama want a new and better home. The Youngers struggle to accomplish these dreams throughout the play, and a major aspect of their happiness and

Symbols can be; images, signs, colors, sounds, shapes, anything. It is like how blue can stand for sadness, and how the sun can stand for happiness. Symbolism is an object or an idea that has a representation beyond the literal meaning of the object. The functions of symbols are to add meaning to the text and underline some subtle point the author is making, also to give the reader a clue about the mood of the story and what will happen. The symbols Lorraine Hansberry used in A Raisin in the Sun are the light, plant, and the window. All three symbols; the light, the plant, and the window, have to go together for the Youngers to reach their dream.

Throughout the story “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry creates the theme of the story by introducing tension between the characters on what each ones dream is in life.

     I believe racism to be as apparent today if not more profound then in the past. A large portion of society believes that no man is still to this day denied any unalienable rights. I do not believe this statement to be true. We have adopted affirmative action programs and enforced strict equal opportunity employment laws to hinder discrimination. Although I believe it is still a very prevalent issue in today’s society. Despite laws, investigations and results show that twenty percent of African Americans interviewing for jobs were turned down due to the color of their skin (Omi and Winant 67-68). Indeed racism may be very subtle in most cases; it is not a thing of the past but rather a very serious problem in society that evolves

In taking the poem from Langston Hughes and comparing it to raisin in the sun. In Raisin in the sun is mainly about dreams that each of the characters of in this play and on how they struggle through their issues and circumstances they have to deal within their lives. Just the title alone it coincides with the poem Langston Hughes wrote about dreams. This poem was about dreams that were pushed to the side or just left to be forgotten.

Most everyone has a dream, some more elaborate and extravagant then others. Some dream of a simple life with a little house and a garden and others dream of making it big and having everything in the world at their fingertips. One may lose sight of what they need in life, for what they want. In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry one can see a strong sense of symbolism with Lena Younger’s plant and how it reflect her family, her perception on what her family needs and dreams that may get in the way.

The story of this play is simple and the majority of African-Americans faced such issues in the 1950’s, living on the south side of Chicago, struggles with poverty, dignity and dreams of a better life. Wanting better for your children and trying to fit in, while maintaining family values. A Raisin in the Sun is an excellent example of the relationship between family values and conflict. In this play it portrays: values and purpose of dreams, the need to fight for racial discrimination and the importance of family.

I believe racism to be as apparent today if not more profound then in the past. A large portion of society believes that no man is still to this day denied any unalienable rights. I do not believe this statement to be true. We have adopted affirmative action programs and enforced strict equal opportunity employment laws to hinder discrimination. Although I believe it is still a very prevalent issue in today's society. Despite laws, investigations and results show that twenty percent of African Americans interviewing for jobs were turned down due to the color of their skin (Omi and Winant 67-68). Indeed racism may be very subtle in most cases; it is not a thing of the past but rather a very serious problem in society that evolves sociohistorically.

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, a novel about the life of a black family in Chicago after World War II, took an allusion to A Dream Deferred, a poem by Langston Hughes. Therefore the characters in the play and their dreams share similarities to the simile provided by Hughes. The simile of “a raisin in the sun” (2) encounters with Beneatha Younger, a young college student, who dreams of studying in a medical school but is criticized by her family. The dream seems aggravates the family conflict, but it represents Beneatha’s hope of helping the family.

Racism is still a very current issue in America today. By no means is racism as overt as it was fifty years ago with enforced segregation, but today racism is more covert and often hides behind closed doors to only strike out when least expected. Racism has been deceasing and will continue to be decreased only through education. Hopefully, one day racism will cease to exist. But, that day if possible is many years away.

The title A Raisin in the Sun originated from the poem written by Langston Hughes, “Harlem.” In the poem, Hughes is discussing different scenarios that could happen when a dream is deferred or stalled. He inquires in the poem “what happens to a dream deferred?/ does it dry up/ like a raisin in the sun?” (lines 2-3). The title of the play is an allusion to Hughes’s poem. The play has a series of deferred dreams from each character.

You know that great feeling When you finally get done with that long book you read and are just ready to watch the movie but realize the movie is so much different than the book. Although the play A Raisin in the Sun is similar to the 2008 film A Raisin in the Sun by Kenney Leon with the main idea of life plans and dreams they are also very different. Teachers must read the play before watching the movie because it shows the differences in mood changes, character changes and scene changes. To begin, there are a few similarities between the play and the movie. Both the movie and the film talk about life plans for the family and their future.

There are several themes present in A Raisin in the Sun. The subjects of hope, dreams, and values are all recurring motifs throughout the play’s entirety. Despite the repressive conditions faced by the Younger family due to the racist and sexist societal views of the sixties, they still maintain a degree of hope throughout their ordeal. They hold onto the hope that, in the face of their circumstances, things will get better and they will be able to achieve their dreams. The symbolism used in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun helps emphasize the themes and tone of the play.