A Raisin In The Sun Conflict Essay

Langston Hughes film “A Raisin in the Sun” is an excellent example if character versus conflict. Director Bill Dukes focuses on the average African American family in the Harlem Rennaisance times, living in the southside of Chicago, struggling with poverty and maintaining their dignity. Throughout the film Lena Younger, Walter Lee, Ruth and Beneatha face inner obstacles with themselves, conflict with outsidersm and cherished dreams. These dreams reveal the nature of the character’s longing to societal expectations that cannot be destroyed in the end.
A Raisin in the Sun portrays a few weeks in the life of the Younger family. The family is an African American family in the 1950s that are struggling, striving, and dreaming. In the beginning the audience learns of a 10,000$ check the family inherits from the death of big Walter. Each member of the family has their own intentions of what they want to do with the money. The head of the family, Mama, wants to buy a house to fulfill a dream she once shared with her deceased husband. Walter Lee, wants to invest in a liquor store because he believes that it will solve all of the families financial problems. Ruth, agrees with mama and wants to provide space for her son, Travis, then Beneatha wants to
use the money for school.
The actors in the play provide the roles of the average African American individuals.
Walter Lee, has the average man perspective. He is a typical black man trying to support his family, and tries to come up with better schemes and ideas to secure the lack of finances. Lena and Ruth, very much alike, has the same goals to live a better life in a nice spacious home and not suffer like the typical black family in Harlem Renaissance times, in poverty. Beneatha, on the other hand, is unlike a lot of black women her age. Usually black women her age is more content with not being more intelligent than men, but she tries to get a higher education in the medical field and tries to find her true identity, by not being mentally
enslaved.
Film director Daniel Petrie uses a lot of close-up shots, theatrical music, and symbols in the play. One key close up would be when Walter is on the floor desperately crying in Part 2. The camera shows a close up to show the feelings Walter has about losing the money his mother trusted him with on the investment in his dream liquor store. Then, the music in part 2 of the play lets the audience feel the intense sadness of the character’s feelings of their everyday struggle. One of the biggest symbol the director catches is “Lena’s plant”. Lena is seen in the movie caring for the plant often, which is weak and resilant. The plant represents her dream of living in a bigger house with a lawn. As she tends to her plant, it symbolically shows her dedication to her dream.
The film represents the Harlem renaissance well in different ways. The audience sees that though they are free, and not slaves, they were still struggling with trying to find a position in society. African Americans still went through racism by being segregated from the whites. An example of segregation and racism is shown when the family wanted to move to Claybourne Park, and Mr. Linder tries to offer them money in exchange to not move into the white neighborhood. Linder though appearing polite insults the Younger family a lot, for example when he says that “people want to live among their own kind”, which is when the Younger family catches on to prejudice act.
In conclusion, everyone should attend the film “A Raisin in the Sun” for a learning and even entertaining experience. Hansberry focuses on an emotional journey of a family under pressure. The play consist of moments that are heart breaking and hilarious. Battling financial issues and deferred dreams have the audience thinking throughout the play, will the family dreams “dry up like a raisin in the sun or will they explode (Langston Hughes).”