Raisin In The Sun Symbolism

793 Words4 Pages

“Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.” Symbols can add a deeper meaning than just an object itself that the author is trying to make.Symbols can also foreshadow what is yet to come. The audience can interpret a symbol in many ways it depends on their experience. In Southside Chicago the Younger family is struggling to have hope as they are always facing society.In the drama, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry the plant symbolizes the Younger’s dream as it evolves throughout the play. Meanwhile in southside Chicago dreams are either being crushed or pursued. The Youngers family are always facing society as they live in poverty. A family with such big dreams believes the only way for these dreams to come true is money. Mama received her husband's life insurance which was 10,000 dollars. Trusting Walter, her son, she mistakenly gave him the money. Mama specifically told Walter to put away some money away for Beneatha Walter's sister. Like Walter Beneatha has big dreams. She wants to go to medical school …show more content…

In the middle of act one Mama says, “Lord, if this little old plant doesn't get more sun than it’s been getting it aint never going to see spring again.”(1.1, 40) Mama says this in the beginning as the plant symbolizes their dream, and the sun symbolizes hope.Their dream will never be pursued if they don't have hope. As the Younger’s seem to live in darkness with little hope.They must have “sunshine” to even come close to pursuing their dreams. Hope doesn't comes into the play until the money does. Especially Water sees, only way for hope is money. In the beginning they have no money as they live in poverty.The plant has not yet evolved into their big dreams as it lives in darkness. Regarding the circumstances the plant will not grow as they do not have the ‘“sunshine” to do

Open Document