“A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry is a play centered around an African-American family on the Southside of Chicago set after World War II. This groundbreaking play was the first of its kind revolving around the race relations of the middle of the twentieth century. This play has won over many hearts and minds with its intense drama and relevant storyline. This play’s title is off the poem “Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes, where Mr. Hughes contemplates on what happens to a dream deferred “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” This play’s main theme is dreams of each of the characters. Each character has their own version of how they want the future to be. Also each dream is centered on how the role of money is going to get them there. This essay will establish commentary on how the dreams of each of the characters is related to the title of the play and also the role of money affecting each of the characters.
“A Raisin in the Sun” is about a family on the verge of receiving a $10,000 payment from the insurance company after the passing of the former head of the household Walter Sr. The family consists of Walter Lee, his wife Ruth and son Travis, Mama, Beneatha (Walter’s sister). They all live together in a cramped apartment with Travis sleeping on the couch. Each of them have a plan for the money but not everything happens on point as they would like to. Mama wants to buy a new home to complete a dream she had with with her husband. Walter Lee believes that they should buy a liquor store and that would put them out of poverty. Ruth also shares a dream with Mama but she really just wants a better place for Travis to grow up in. Beneatha really just wants for Mama to spend the money on whatever her heart desires, but knows that Mama’s desire is to help pay for Beneathas medical school. With everybody having their own version of a dream, soon they start clashing over their competing dreams. Then