Mama's Plant And Sunlight In A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

Mama’s Plant and Sunlight In Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun” Mama’s plant and sunlight are reoccurring symbols that represent growth, hope, and her pursuit of dreams through hardship. Through these symbols, Hansberry conveys the idea that just like plants need sunlight to thrive. People need a sense of hope of purpose to overcome the obstacles of life. Throughout the play, Mama’s plant is a powerful symbol of growth and hope. As the plant struggles to survive in the dark apartment, Mama gives all her love and attention to nurturing it. A prime example of Mama’s affection is when she questions “If this little old plant doesn’t get more sun than it’s been getting, it never going to see spring again”(40). Mama’s dedication to the plant mirrors her commitment to her family and to providing a better life. Eventually, the plant does survive and its flourishing symbolizes the family’s ability to overcome their own struggles and achieve their dreams. The plant's survival represents the family’s perseverance. It is

Despite the systematic injustices that the Younger family faces, they are able to find hope and strength in the small moments of beauty and growth. As Hansberry notes in her final stage note “her plant on the table before her as the lights start to come down…takes a final desperate look, pulls her coat about her, pats her hat and goes out. The lights dim down. The door opens and she comes back in, grabs her plant, and goes out for the last time”(151). Even when all was accomplished, Mama returns for her plant proving that she still wants to brighten her family’s future. Even when all seems lost, the human capacity for love and resilience allows people to keep pushing forward. In this way, Hansberry's use of symbolism serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance through difficult