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The Raisin In The Sun Symbolism Essay

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YOUR NAME: Ameisha Mohammed Symbolism is the use of an object, animal or character to represent greater ideas. Symbolism is used in literature when one subject in a work can represent another idea. The play, The Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry-- utilizes symbolism to represent problems of people who lived in poverty, specifically black families in the 1950’s. The eggs and food mentioned in the play represent Walter and Ruth’s marriage deteriorating, the Linder Deal symbolizes racism and judgment towards black families, and Mama’s plant represents her pride. The eggs and food mentioned in the play symbolized the deterioration of Ruth and Walter's marriage. In the beginning of Act one, Walter talks to Ruth about his dreams …show more content…

Linder tries to strike with the Youngers is another example of symbolism as it represents the racism black families dealt with in the 1950’s. When Mama received the life insurance check, she put a down payment for a house so the family could move out of the small and tight apartment they were living in. However, the house she put the money down on was in Clybourne park, a predominantly white neighborhood. Karl Linder, the representative of the “welcoming committee” for Clybourne Park, visits the Younger family not to welcome them, but to bribe them to not move into the house Mama paid for. Mr. Linder feigns hospitality and concern for the family when he states that, “for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities. (570)” He claims that he is concerned about the wellbeing of the Youngers when in reality he just does not want them to move in because of their skin color. Racism seems out of every word he says even though he tries to justify it. Linder explains how the white families in the neighborhood “feel that their whole way of life and everything they’ve ever worked for is threatened. (571)” This deal symbolizes and shows the unfairness and judgment black people and their families had to endure. Some white people automatically assumed that when a black family moved into a neighborhood, they did not earnt it and they threatened the lives of the other people living

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When the people of Clybourne park learn that blacks are going to move into their neighborhood they take action by sending Karl Lindner, one of the residents of Clybourne Park, to bribe the Youngers and explain why they shouldn’t move. “I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into it. It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities. (Hansberry, 118). The race of the Youngers is seen as the most detrimental part about them which is due to the public opinion that blacks are seemingly lower than whites which started with slavery.

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