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A Raisin In The Sun American Dream Analysis

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“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore and then run?”That is the question Lorraine Hansberry asks the reader before A Raisin in The Sun even begins. The idea of dreams is the main theme of the play and the struggle to keep dreams alive.The dreams of Ruth ,Lena and Walter show us that, despite great obstacles the American Dream is still possible.

Ruth is a character with a fierce desire to make her a dream reality. She dreams a simple dream of one day owning a house and living happily with her family. A simple dream that at one point felt beyond her reach. Ruth intimates ”Remember how we used to talk when Travis born...about the way we were going to live...well,it’s all starting slip away from us.”.Ruth felt like her dream was futile and started to let it dry up like a raisin in the sun. However Ruth’s dream was realized when Mama bought a house in Clybourne Park and it festered like sore.

Lena is the head of the Younger household and dreams of having her family live in harmony. She always puts her family first and will sacrifice anything to see her family …show more content…

Similarly to Lena,Walter wishes for his family to live together in blissful unison.He also dreams of wealth so his family and believes that purchasing a liquor store will help him accomplish this dream.However, Walter’s desire for wealth consumes him ,and at one point when arguing with mama he exclaims”No-it was always money,Mama.We just didn’t know about it.”.This shows how much Walter’s desire for wealth consumed him and how it clouded his view of the world. Walter never really achieved his dream of wealth.Nonetheless, Walter’s dream of wealth dried up like a raisin in the sun.Because of this he realized what truly mattered to him and that was his pride and most importantly his

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