Raisin In The Sun Paper
Akram Mohamed
Professor Michael Zeugin
English 102
9 April 2015
A Raisin in the Sun
Each individual possesses a unique idea and mental image of their future. Victor Hugo once said, “There is nothing like dream to create the future”. Langston Hughes quotes in his poem, “What happens to a dream deferred”, “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun … or does it explode?” Lorraine Hansberry derives the title of her play from this poem. Dreams are vital regardless of the various oppressive struggles one may endure. Thinking about the future and having a dream to look forward is in human nature. Typically, these dreams provide a means for developing into the well-rounded and accomplished individuals that we all strive to be. The characters in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, each seek to attain their own individual dream, but by the end put their individual dreams aside to pursue a collective dream which that they recognize is vital for their unity and survival as a family. Going from Walter’s puts aside his greed of money, and Beneatha’s lack of faith in god, all coming down to Lena’s strong motherly character that leads the family to realizing what the important things are in life and sways away from the fact that money isn’t needed for happiness, but to also chase their dreams.. Daniel Petrie, director of the film, and critics elaborate further to help support the main argument presented in the play.
Walter’s greed for money, led to great tension between the family. Shortly after the family finds out Walter Lee has lost his father’s life insurance money and plans to take the bribe from Linder to not move into their new home Beneatha, angry at the situation, says Walter Lee “is no brother of mine” (Hansberry, 499). Daniel Petrie portrays Lena as a very strong woman in this particular scene. Lena, though equally disappointed in Walter Lee, responds by saying, “Child when do you think it is time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things
Professor Michael Zeugin
English 102
9 April 2015
A Raisin in the Sun
Each individual possesses a unique idea and mental image of their future. Victor Hugo once said, “There is nothing like dream to create the future”. Langston Hughes quotes in his poem, “What happens to a dream deferred”, “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun … or does it explode?” Lorraine Hansberry derives the title of her play from this poem. Dreams are vital regardless of the various oppressive struggles one may endure. Thinking about the future and having a dream to look forward is in human nature. Typically, these dreams provide a means for developing into the well-rounded and accomplished individuals that we all strive to be. The characters in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, each seek to attain their own individual dream, but by the end put their individual dreams aside to pursue a collective dream which that they recognize is vital for their unity and survival as a family. Going from Walter’s puts aside his greed of money, and Beneatha’s lack of faith in god, all coming down to Lena’s strong motherly character that leads the family to realizing what the important things are in life and sways away from the fact that money isn’t needed for happiness, but to also chase their dreams.. Daniel Petrie, director of the film, and critics elaborate further to help support the main argument presented in the play.
Walter’s greed for money, led to great tension between the family. Shortly after the family finds out Walter Lee has lost his father’s life insurance money and plans to take the bribe from Linder to not move into their new home Beneatha, angry at the situation, says Walter Lee “is no brother of mine” (Hansberry, 499). Daniel Petrie portrays Lena as a very strong woman in this particular scene. Lena, though equally disappointed in Walter Lee, responds by saying, “Child when do you think it is time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things
Cited: A Raisin In the Sun. Perf. Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee. Columbia Classic, 1961. Film. "A Raisin in the Sun": Anniversary of an American Classic, Margaret B. Wilkerson Theatre Journal ,Vol. 38, No. 4, Theatre of Color (Dec., 1986) , pp. 441-452 Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3208286 "Background and Criticism of A Raisin in the Sun." Chicago Public Library. Web. 23 Apr. 2015. <http://www.chipublib.org/background-and-criticism-of-a-raisin-in-the-sun/>. Bonaise, Alice. Powerful Performances. Vancouver: imdb, 2001. David. Vivid depiction of social and ideological rifts within an African-American household in the early 1960s . Austin: imdb, 2013. Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New American Library, 1959. Snazel. An Underrated American Classic . Seattle: imdb, 2002.