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Lorraine Hainsberry's A Raisin In The Sun

1260 Words6 Pages

Things were completely disparate in the 1950’s from what they are now. Especially for African-American people, they had strong prejudices against them, which could make it impossible for them to do things in society. In Lorraine Hainsberry’s A Raisin in the Sun we meet the Younger family, an African American family in the 50’s, but we get to see them have dreams and attempt to follow those dreams. We get a close look at what a typical lifestyle would be for people in the same situation. The Younger family are fantastic examples of the American Dream, but they each have their own different dreams, and each dream has an outer shell plus a deeper meaning on the inside. Lorraine Hainsberry does an amazing job of layering and giving deeper meanings …show more content…

Her version of the American Dream is to own her own house with a little garden to live out the rest of her life: “Been thinking that maybe we could meet the notes on a little old two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime…” (1.1.28). As a matter of fact, it also gets brought up that this has been Mama’s dream since before she and Big Walter got married, but it never was a possibility until now. Another part of Mama’s dream, is to own this house with her family, but more importantly for them to be happy in it together. Mama obviously cares very much for her family, especially for her children: “You what supposed to be my beginning again. You—what supposed to be my harvest.” (3.1.128). This is what Mama says to Walter and Beneatha as her family starts falling apart after Walter loses the money. As she’s saying, her children were supposed to be this new beginning, a chance to shape a life and create a better future through means of inspiring her own children. Her dream was to live comfortably with her family. Consequently Big Walter had to die for them to move, which Mama never wanted to happen of course, but at least now she gets to live out her dream, even if her family is just a little smaller. Mama’s dreams differ from those of her children by being more simplistic. She’s not looking for a career or fancy new things, just a small house with a happy …show more content…

All the dreams of these characters are very relatable and genuine, it was hard not to hope for everything to turn alright for them. This family, when they are together can overcome anything, and are the most joyous when they are together. When you need help to achieve your dreams, turn to the people that you love and love you back. After all, it’s those people that support and love us that compels us to achieve our

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