Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

The play “A Raisin in The Sun” written by Lorraine Hansberry, centers on the vast struggles faced by African-Americans in the 1950’s and 60’s. The Youngers are a working-class family with humble origins and dreams that reach beyond the stars. Throughout “A Raisin in The Sun”, Hansberry illustrates her ability to manipulate text like a surgeon manipulates a scalpel, with delicate, subtle, and precise motions she nurtures a tremendous amount themes that branch and expand from the major concern, deferred dreams, faced by Walter Younger. As the only ‘man of age’ in the household, Walter finds himself in an undeniably stressful position considering the period in question. He sees himself as being the rightful, yet not truly head of the family.

Walter plays his role of an emotional burden for the Younger family invariably while Ruth wrestles with the shocking news of pregnancy. With the onset of more familial conflict stemming from Walter’s broken dreams, Mama finally sees the despair inside Walter, and claims partial responsibility for his state of mind with "… I been doing to you what the rest of the world been doing to you” (1026; 1.2). With thousands of dollars in his hands, Walter’s self-esteem is restored, and the gravity of what is entrusted evades his infinitesimal

Hansberry paints a beautifully happy picture of the family in the initial moments of day to distract from the dark cloud hanging over them the entire time. For Walter and his family, the storm returns as quickly as it passed when his business partner interrupts the packing and tells him that third partner has run off with all the investment money. The despair, anger, and fear from his pulverized dreams fill Walter once more, and control his actions like a marionette. Decidedly choosing Lindner’s offer Walter breaks down “… you people just put the money in my hand and you won’t have to live next to this bunch of stinking niggers!” (1048; 3.1). Walter’s temporary break with reality serves as a reference for his all-time low, and as a springboard for the internal revelation that follows. Once again, the Younger’s, exhausted from financial and emotional drudgery, fall back on Mama’s ability to turn the tables. Her unbreakable will to keep Travis present for events Walter has set in motion prevents further shame to himself or the Younger name, but also guides Walter and the rest of his family to a renaissance of self-identity. Walter denies Linder’s proposal at the last moment “We have decided to move into our house because my father – my father – he earned it for us brick by brick” (1051; 3.1). This simple action changes the way his family views