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A raisin in the sun by lorraine hansberry essay
Themes in a raisin in the sun
Give a detailed analysis of lorraine hansberrys a raisin in the sun
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Throughout the play Mama has a small potted plant that she cares deeply about. Not only does this small plant represent her family’s delayed dreams for a better future, but it also represents Mama’s constant care for her family. “Growing doggedly in a small pot by the apartment’s kitchen window, Mama’s plant has “spirit” despite the fact that this little old plant...ain’t never had enough sunshine or nothin.” This plant connects to the family by sharing the need of desires. For example, the plant needs sunshine to thrive and grow big and strong.
Respect Yields Harmony Written and set in the 1950s, Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun encompasses the struggles of a lower-class African-American family, living in Chicago’s Southside. Even though such struggles may seem exclusive to the time period and the family’s race, Hansberry includes multiple life lessons throughout her play that skillfully transcend any potential limitations, and stand true for the majority of people. Through the use of her characters’ actions and words, Hansberry importantly illustrates that in order to maintain harmonious relationships, people must respect others’ opinions, decisions, and dreams.
There are many symbols in A Raisin in the Sun worth describing, but one that particularly stands out is Mama’s plant. It is old and barely a substantial piece of nature, yet it makes many vital appearances in the play. The small plant seems to personify Mama’s stubborn nature in its intent on survival despite its close to death appearance. It also represents Mama’s dream that seems close to being crushed, yet never dies. As a whole, the plant is an extension of Mama’s character and an important symbol in the play.
Mama feels like the plant is all she has close to the garden she wants. “Lord, if this little old plant don’t get more sun than it’s been getting it aint never going to see spring again” (Hansberry, 16). The plant and sunlight represents Mamas happiness in the dark dreary apartment. “Well, I always wanted me a garden like I used to see sometimes at the back of the houses down home. This plant is close as I ever got to having one” (Hansberry, 26).
In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun, One theme is that a mother will do anything to teach her children money isn’t everything, to never give up on their dreams, and to make her family happy. For Mama’s whole life, she has been trying to teach her family that money isn’t everything, but it seems that ever since they knew that they were getting an insurance check that seems to be all they talk about. Right, when Walter woke up he started to ask about the insurance check and when it was coming, so when Mama wakes up she says "Somebody would have thought my children done starved to death the way they talk about money here late...”(330). This quote is important because it shows that the family is talking about money like they are starving and don't have food, but in reality they are so worried about what mama is going to do with the money because they all want it used a different way to benefit themselves or their dream, but some of the family disagree and want to leave it to Mama to choose what happens to it because it's her money and it's not right for them to ask for it or use it how they want to.
Raisin in the Sun Book Report In the book “A Raisin in the Sun” one theme that is extremely prevalent throughout the whole story is the importance of dreams. In this story almost all of the main characters have dreams that drive and define who they are as a person. These dreams range from a character wanting to be a doctor and one wanting to own a liquor store and not live in poverty. Even from the very beginning it is easy to see that each character is extremely passionate. First, A prominent example of how each character finds the importance of dreams is the character Beneatha Younger.
The play "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry examines the hopes and challenges faced by the Youngers, an African-American family living in Chicago during the civil rights movement. Mama's plant, Beneatha's hair, and the insurance money, are all utilized throughout the play to symbolize the characters' dreams and goals. While Mama's plant stands in for her drive to provide a loving and warm home for her family, Beneatha's hair signifies her quest for individuality and desire to go against social standards. The insurance money, which the family got from Mr. Younger, symbolizes both Walter's aspiration for financial success and the families shared motivation to have a more prosperous future. These symbols reflect on the racial and economic discrimination that
“Choices made, whether bad or good, follow you forever and affect everyone in their path one way or another.” J.E.B. Spredemann. The theme I chose to analyze is choices and consequences. For this type of writing assignment, I’ve decided to choose the following readings. The poem titled Harlem was written by Langston Hughes in 1951.
Mama’s potted plant symbolizes many things, but the most prevalent is family. In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raison in the Sun, Hansberry uses a plant to represent family. Just like any living thing, a plant needs to grow, to be watered, to be cultivated, and to be nurtured. Here are some examples of how Hansberry symbolizes family with a plant. To properly care for a plant you must watch over it as it grows and water it daily.
Raisin in the Sun A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, takes place in Chicago’s Southside during the 1950s. This play is about an African American family’s life and their struggles that include segregation and discrimination. This book was based off of parts of Lorraine Hansberry’s life, so some of the trials and events that happen to the Younger family in this book are similar to the author’s. In this play, every character has an influence on the plot, but the two characters that have the most influence are Walter and Mama, based on their actions, dialogue, stage directions, and conflicts.
Every hero has a some short of hard work in his or her success. In the story, “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, Len Younger (Mama) is down to earth, hardworking black woman who does not suffer fools. She had dedicated her life to her children and struggles to install her values in them. Throughout the play, Mama struggles to connect with her grandchildren, Beneatha and Walter. Mama’s faith was put to the test near the end of the play when she entrusts Walter with the $6,500 that is left from the insurance check.
Everybody has a family that they want to help or keep happy. In A Raisin in the Sun, it is centered around one family who all love each other and are very close. Most of them are not just living for themselves, but are trying to help others who are older or younger then they are. However, Some characters show this more than others. In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Mama demonstrates the theme that we do not simply live for ourselves, but for those who came before and will come after us.
Lorraine V. Hansberry Author Lorraine Hansberry, who is considered one of the Great American authors, wrote during the Modernist period. She wrote “A Raisin in the Sun” in 1959. In this work, we can see evidence of the characteristics, themes and style identified with the Modernist movement which was extant in American letters between 1850’s and after WWII. Lorraine Hansberry wrote during this time period of American literature, and such, remains one of the most identifiable and iconic writers of her time. Lorraine Hansberry was born on May 19, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois.
In America, women’s rights has been a controversial and powerful movement that has caused women everywhere to stand up for what they believe in. Throughout time many civil rights movements have increased, decreased or haven’t changed at all in progression. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry depicts how ideas of women’s rights have not been seen as a crucial issue and is often laughed off. The steady movement of women’s equality of rights has slowly changed for the better over the years. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry proves women being equal to men in the workplace has progressed very little as displayed in the lack of development of women’s rights today.
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.
