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A Raisin In The Sun American Dream

741 Words3 Pages

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a play that explores the theme of hopes and dreams. Set in Chicago's South Side in the 1950s, the play follows the Younger family as they struggle to achieve their dreams in face of poverty and discrimination. Through the characters of Walter, Beneatha, and Mama, Hansberry illustrates how the pursuit of hopes and dreams can be both a source of inspiration and a source of conflict. The play, setting a world of racial Injustice and economic hardship, emphasizes the importance of dreams as a means of hope and progress. However the play also highlights the dangers of having unrealistic or unattainable dreams as well as the impact that the pursuit of dreams can have on the lives of individuals in the …show more content…

Walter expresses his frustration with his current job and his desire for something more: “ I'm 35 years old; I've been married 11 years and I got a boy who sleeps in the living room – and all I got to give him is stories about how rich white people live” (Hansberry 33). This quote highlights the importance of Walter's dreams to him in the impact that it has on his life. Ultimately Walter's dream is not fully realized. His struggle to achieve it highlights the importance of hopes and dreams in the face of …show more content…

Walter expresses his frustration with his current situation, “That's all we got- dreams, man- and we have to keep them alive” (Hansberry 38). This quote shows the importance of dreams to Walter and to the other characters in the play. Walter's dream is to provide a better life for his family but he feels trapped by his job and by the poverty that surrounds him. However, his dream also creates conflict within the family, particularly with his mother Mama, who is hesitant to use the family's money to invest in Walter's business idea. This conflict reveals the different ways in which the characters understand the American Dream and the challenges that they face and try to achieve it. Ultimately Walter's dream is not fully realized but his struggle to pursue it highlights the importance in

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