Similarities Between A Raisin In The Sun And The American Dream

Crystabelle Blickenstaff, Derek Duncan

Mrs. Rogers

L202-5

12 May 2023

Different than the American Dream

Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun, displays the idea of money controlling one’s outlook on happiness. The drama was published in 1959, when colored individuals did not have much freedom. In the African American communities were not as sustainable as they were in the white people communities, that they were forced to live in only because of their skin tone. The screenplay examines a story of an African American family and the struggles they endured when fighting with each other, society, and money. Walter Lee, who is not only a husband, but also a brother and a son, is expected to be the leader of his household; however, his character

Through the character of Walter Lee, Hansberry offers a bitter commentary on the ways in which money and the pursuit of wealth can both enable and hinder the realization of the American Dream for African Americans. In the context of the play’s production and reception, it is important to note that A Raisin in the Sun was one of the first plays written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. Its debut was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, and it went on to have a significant impact on the cultural and political landscape of the United States. The play’s themes of racial identity, economic inequality, and the pursuit of happiness resonates with audiences of all races and backgrounds, and it continues to be widely studied and performed to this day. Earl E. Thorpe’s book, From Africa in Thought of Negro Americans (1959), provides an important contextual source for understanding the ways in which A Raisin in the Sun reflects the experiences and perspectives of African Americans during the mid-twentieth century. Thorpe argues that African Americans have historically been denied access to the same economic opportunities as their white counterparts, and that this has had a profound impact on their ability to achieve the American Dream. He writes, “The Negro American has, as a rule, been prevented from attaining a secure economic position by a variety of circumstances, including discrimination, segregation, and lack of education and training.” This is precisely the situation that Walter Lee finds himself in at the beginning of the play. As the head of a struggling African American family, Walter Lee dreams of using the $10,000 insurance check left by his father to invest in a liquor store and provide financial security for his loved ones. However, his plans are met with resistance from his mother and