The play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry takes place in Chicago’s Southside during the 1940-1950s. The play is about a poor African American family that receives a $10,000 check and decides to buy a house in a white neighborhood. This is a problem because during this time period they had segregation. The author wrote this piece because her family bought a house in a white neighborhood and they had to go to court for it since they were told they could not live there. The two characters, Walter and Mama influence the plot the most through dialogue, actions, and stage directions.
The most impactful character in the play is Mama. In the play, Mama is the head of the house so she makes all of the big decisions. This