Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

Research Paper; “A Raisin in the Sun” Throughout many centuries we have seen racism and culture difference take place in America. This is a struggle that has been fought and faced for many decades, and it’s a struggle America still faces to this day. As our generation continues to learn about the struggles African American families faced in the past, we come to realize this struggle has not been overcome over the years. “A Raisin in the sun,” a play by Lorraine Hansberry gives us an incite of what African American families confronted in 1959. While we focus on Hansberry’s play we come to realize how situations have and haven’t changed since the late 1950’s. Hansberry’s play opened in broadway, and was first preformed in March 11, 1956 at
the New York City, Ethel Barrymore Theater. This performance was a success when it first aired on broadway, and still is to this day. This play gives an example of what a small African American family goes through when struggling in the late 1950’s in South Side, Chicago. When we read this play we come in contact with different characters that take a big roll in this small family. Each character that Hansberry has included in this play has significance behind them, for example, Mama, Walter Lee, Beneatha, and Ruth have different personalities and methods that help their family for the better, as they struggle with racism in their community. While readers get to analyze the characters in this play, we come to realize how they help each other through their battles, and how they each develop throughout the performance. Although this play provides viewers with a great example of how difficult African American families lived in 1959, it also gives the audience incite on how they maintained hope and faith throughout the struggles they had to face together. As this small family of five struggle to live in a small home with difficult conditions; an opportunity arises for them when they receive a check for ten thousand dollars.
This brings tension to the family, when they all have a different opinion on how the check should be spent. As Walter Lee insists on the check to be invested in a liquor store with his two other friends Bobo and Willy Harris, Beneatha has other plans as well as Mama. This brings conflict and anger towards Walter Lee and Beneatha. Although Ruth doesn’t insist on how the check should be spent she mentions to Mama that she should take a vacation, and leave the city. When Mama explains to the family that she has gave down payment to buy a house in Clybourne Park, an entirely white neighborhood; Walter Lee had a strong opinion and felt betrayed when his own family did not what to support his investment in the liquor store. Mama reacted in a generous way giving Walter Lee what was left of the money ($ 6,500) explaining to him how he should be in charge of the family. Mama explained to Walter Lee how part of that money would go to Beneatha’s medical school, but they soon realized that Walter Lee had invested all 6,500 in the liquor store. When Bobo went to inform Walter Lee that Willy Harris had run off with their investment money, we see the reaction of all four family members including Walter Lee’s frightened reaction. As Walter Lee find’s a way to gain the money that was lost, he remembers Mr. Lindner a man who was sent from Improvement Associations to offer the Youngers money in return for them not to move into their new home in Clybourne Park. Although Walter Lee invites Mr. Lindner over to discus the money, Walter Lee encounters redemption, therefore, explains to Mr. Lindner that his family has come from proud people and continues to explain that they would not accept the
money. All four characters have deferent personalities which incorporate to the plot of the play. Walter Lee, a strong character who at the beginning we have trouble understanding, but towards the end Walter lee is a character we see that evolves the most. Walter Lee’s actions throughout the play hurt his family members, for example, when he invested all of the families remaining money on his dream of owning a liquor store. During “A Raisin in the Sun” we see Walter Lee’s character have miss communication with his family members which cause conflict all throughout the beginning of the play. Although we see Walter Lee make terrible choices at the beginning, this quickly shifts towards the end of the play. The audience can see Walter’s change in character. At the beginning of the play we see how Walter fights and argues with Mama, Beneatha, and Ruth, but as he begins to listen to what each family member has to express about their feelings and dreams we see how he comes to change, and becomes a better man at the end of the play. Beneatha is a creative character who struggles to find herself throughout the play. As the play develops, we see her character develop as well. We notice Beneatha’s strong attitude from the very beginning. Her strong attitude is one reason why Walter Lee and her have so many arguments at the beginning. Although Beneatha and her brother struggle to understand each other throughout the play, we see both characters become closer as each one develops. Beneatha’s dream to become a doctor gets in the middle of Walter and her relationship, but as we see Beneatha’s love interest Asagai communicate with her about her independence we see how her mind as well as her character begin to shift. Although Beneatha grew angry at Walter for losing her medical school money in his investment, As she experiences Walter’s development at the endof the play we see how she begins to accept and appreciate him.