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A Raisin In The Sun Title Meaning

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Lorraine Hansberry named her play A Rasin In the Sun after Langston Hughs's poem Harlem, due to the fact that Harlem is about having a dream and not being able to accomplish that dream. In A Rasin in the Sun Beneatha, who is the sister of Walter and the daughter of mama, exemplifies the title due to her dream to become a doctor. Beneatha's dreams were deferred when her brother Walter losses all her money for medical school we see this when Mama says ”You mean your sister’s school money you used that to Walter?”(Hansberry 129) Benetha is upset because she believes that she is not going to be able to achieve her dream. Beneatha has dreamed of being a doctor and her dream has just been deferred/ delayed. This relates to title A Rasin in the Sun because Hughes compares a dream …show more content…

Beneatha feels that her dream is all ”dried up” and that she no longer has the resources to reach her dream. Beneatha feels help less like a tiny raisin against the big lumming sun above it. Consequently, she is a strong representation of the title A Rasin in the Sun. Walter, who is Beneathas brother; Mamas son; and Ruths husband, is also an exemplification of the title A Rasin in the Sun because his dream of being able to provide and take care of his family is lost when he losses the money. Walters's dream was deferred when he took all of the familys money and lost it by trusting the wrong person, this represents Hughe’s poem Harlem because he feels that his dream ”Sags like a heavy load”(Hughes ln 9-10) Walter feels upset and sad when he loses the money and it is a huge weight in his shoulder. Walter has let his family down and feels that he will not be able to fulfill his dream of taking care of his family. He also has caused his family to financially unstable and defers his sister Beneatha's dream of being a doctor. He also defers his wifes of being able to raise their family in a nice

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882 Words | 4 Pages

In the play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha is an empowered young woman whose dreams are more significant than life. Beneatha is not an actual name, but it still has a more profound significance. Hansberry creates this name to show society’s perception of Beneath in contrast to her perception of herself. Everyone around her wants to dim her light and make her more petite than she wants to be. Beneatha has had her mind set on being a doctor forever.

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714 Words | 3 Pages

The setting is illustrated in Southside Chicago and shows the struggle of a black family trying to prejudices when wanting to become successfully wealthy. Between these 2 excerpts, they show that their lives are similar, but have more differences in fulfilling their American Dream. A Raisin in the Sun and The life of Fredrick Douglass have many similarities in regards to their dream. Fredrick and Walter both find their American Dream through different situations, but have meaning to them.

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867 Words | 4 Pages

The hidden meanings in the references that authors write about, when they write their novels or plays, change how a play or book is thought of and also commences the development of better critical thinking skills.. In the play, A Raisin In The Sun, Lorraine Hansberry uses many different types of literary devices for the play to have a deeper meaning or idea than what is just read. Taking place during the 1950’s in Southside Chicago, the play is about an African American family who live through many struggles, racially and financially. When the father dies and the Younger family receives $10,000, their hopes and dreams are possible and may come true. It is until they lose their money that they realized they “aimed to high”(140), especially Mama and Walter Younger.

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587 Words | 3 Pages

A Raisin in the Sun is an inspirational book/play that tells the overcoming story of an African-American family Going through the terrible struggles of Chicago in the 1950’s. Greg Kincaid once said “No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That's the only way to keep the roads clear.”. This explains Beneatha younger, a young woman who tries to find herself while dealing with others scrutinizing and being treated like a child in her family. In conclusion, Beneatha younger is an overpowering character that is shaping her life through independence, an education, and growing closer to her

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810 Words | 4 Pages

Both use the theme of dreams not coming true and describe what that means to them. Hughes says “What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / Like a raisin in the sun?” to describe what happens when a dream doesn’t come true.

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600 Words | 3 Pages

He wants to be a businessman and own a liquor store. He wants to be able to provide for his family and give them what they have never had. Walter also wants to take his mother’s position as the head of the house and make the financial decisions for the family. Walter can be seen as selfish as instead of putting the money for him and his sister in the bank he uses it all and loses it trying to fulfill his own dreams with no regard to his sister’s dreams or the rest of the family’s.

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1105 Words | 5 Pages

A Raisin in the Sun is a play, which consists of three acts for a total of six scenes. From the very beginning, the plot line begins with the Younger family waking up, going about their morning as they normally do. The family living in the small apartment consists of Mama, Beneatha, her daughter, Walter, her son, Ruth, Walter’s wife, and Travis, Walter and Ruth’s son. The apartment that accommodates this family consists of a small kitchen, containing one small window, a living room, which also serves as Travis’ room, and two bedrooms, one for Walter and Ruth, the other shared by Mama and Beneatha. In the kitchen window lays a potted plant, second to only family in Mama’s most prized possessions.

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1002 Words | 5 Pages

Young African American women's ideas and aspirations changed around the middle of the 20th century in America, and her character reflects those changes. The larger cultural and societal shifts occurring at this time are reflected in Beneatha's curiosity and yearning to connect with her African background, and her interactions with other characters emphasize the challenges and complexities of the African American experience. Beneatha's commitment to social justice and a strong sense of cultural and social identity both influence how she sees the world. Her interactions with other characters offer a potent reflection on the African American experience in mid-20th century America, and her character represents the shifting attitudes and aspirations of young African American women during this time. One quote from "A Raisin in the Sun" that typifies Beneatha is: "I'm not a symbol.

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934 Words | 4 Pages

Walter, believes Beneatha should give up on her dream of becoming a doctor. In the story, he states, ¨If you so crazy ´bout messing ´round with sick people- then go be a nurse like other women- or just get married and be quiet...¨(Hansberry 38). Her attitude towards his response was very fitting for the situation. She is tired of his attitude toward his dream and lets him know by telling him to give up. It seems as if Walter was the reason for Beneatha 's dream to become deferred.

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1686 Words | 7 Pages

The 1950s were oppressive and degrading towards the culture and identity of African Americans. This principle is especially personified through the drama, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry. As a black female author in this time period, she was easily able to capture the racism and forced stereotypes poignant within the lives of the minorities. Beneatha, a fictional character in the play, represents the ambitious and suppressed black female intellectual who is stripped of her identity at every turn. The men in her life are as different as black and white, and in essence that is what they are.

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1127 Words | 5 Pages

Walter dealt with a hardship in his live as well. Walter was faced with racial discrimination. He wanted to have money to be able to to what he wants, follow his dreams. The only problem is that he didn 't have a high paying job. Your probably thinking to yourself why doesn 't he just get another job.

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809 Words | 4 Pages

Being the man of the household, Walter dreams of owning a liquor store and plans on using Lena’s money to do so. Walter is always after money and believes that the only way to succeed in life is with money. For example, when Walter is talking about the check, he says, “Mama, sometimes when I’m downtown and I pass them cool, quiet-looking restaurants where them white boys are sitting back and talking about things, turning deals worth millions of dollars, sometimes I see guys don’t look much older than me” (992).This shows how Walter wanted something more out of life and not just be a poor black man. Everyone in this family had dreams but no one supported each other dreams.

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793 Words | 4 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.

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816 Words | 4 Pages

She defies the ideal life for a woman and expresses her opinion loud and clear. Beneatha throughout the play finds herself and her African American roots. Walter does not approve of Beneatha’s hopes to become a doctor he tells her, “If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people---then go be a nurse like other women---or just get married and be quiet. . .” (1.1.125) These social issues that the characters faced in their lives made them out to be the people that they were meant to be.

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779 Words | 4 Pages

Walter’s statement tries to tell the women that he didn’t try to make the world the way it is now. Yes, he wants luxurious items for him and his wife. However, even though he seriously messed up, he’s still the man in the family and will continue to make the decisions for the

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