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Symbolism In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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In Lorraine Hansberry’s, A Raisin in the Sun, many hidden but touching meanings are portrayed through various objects, especially Mama’s plant, throughout the play. A Raisin in the Sun depicts a struggling African-American family, also known as the Younger family, coming together to fulfill their deceased relative’s dream. The deceased relative was Mr. Younger. His dream was to move his family into a much better house. Due to his passing away, the Youngers would receive an insurance check for $10,000. The head of the household, Mama, wanted to use the money to give the family what her husband wanted to give them, a new house. Her son, Walter Lee thought it would be a better idea to invest in a business. This business was a liquor store. He thought that this could help them out financially in the long run. However, Walter Lee’s wife agreed with Mama. She also wanted to fulfill Mr. Younger’s dream. Mama’s daughter, Beneatha, wanted to use the insurance money to pay for her medical school. Throughout the play, the Youngers fight about what to use the insurance money for. However, Mama goes and puts a down payment on a new house in Clybourne Park for the entire family. . …show more content…

Mama is always hoping that the plant will pull through and survive. She feels the same way for her family. She hopes that they will be able to move into a new house with a garden and live a better life. “…Big Walter used to say, he’d get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his head back with the water standing in his eyes and say, ‘Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams – but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while.’”(Act 1, Scene 1; 47). This proves that Mama wanted the best for her family. She wanted the best for her children just like her deceased husband did. Mama hoped that she could give her family the life they deserved. With hope and determination, Mama fulfilled her family’s

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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.

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Travis, you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good Like Willy Harris taught. You sow where our five generations done come to.”(147) Mama is so committed to having a better life for her family, she’s risking their lives.

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Her main goal was to use the insurance money that she got to help provide her family with something. Mama’s chances of reaching this goal is very high since she ultimately did. Readers can learn hat Mama mainly bases her actions and thoughts on helping her loved ones and will try to do anything to make them

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A Raisin in the Sun is a play, which consists of three acts for a total of six scenes. From the very beginning, the plot line begins with the Younger family waking up, going about their morning as they normally do. The family living in the small apartment consists of Mama, Beneatha, her daughter, Walter, her son, Ruth, Walter’s wife, and Travis, Walter and Ruth’s son. The apartment that accommodates this family consists of a small kitchen, containing one small window, a living room, which also serves as Travis’ room, and two bedrooms, one for Walter and Ruth, the other shared by Mama and Beneatha. In the kitchen window lays a potted plant, second to only family in Mama’s most prized possessions.

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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.

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