Analysis Of A Raisin In The Sun - 1858 Words

Set in the late 1950s at the height of Civil Rights Movements in America, A Raisin in the Sun is a reflection of the true African American life at that era. At the time of the setting of the novel, America was undergoing a period of conformism with rapid growth of urban population and a robust development of the commercial culture. Racism and prejudice against the black was the order of the day and families struggled to come out of vicious cycles of poverty instituted by the already abolished slave trade. This, compounded with social resentment, spurred the uprising by the civil rights activists, of whom a considerable number were women. A Raisin in the Sun exhibits these struggles of an African American through its plot and characters.†¦show more content†¦Exposing contentious issues in the society through a black character elevated the state of the black community during such a time when their voice did not count as much. Despite the air of racism and discrimination that fills the atmosphere of the book, a common drive that is evident is the dreams that the characters of the book have. The motivating force behind the main characters in the book is the power of dreams and hoping for a change of their circumstances in the future (Emery 21). In a great way, the grip that the characters have on their aspirations relieves them off the sight of their daily struggles and hard work. As one of its inspirations, the book informs the reader of the undying determination of a black family in the pursuit to overcome their challenges and maintain a family that uplifts each other. There is an ever present grow to keep the family hope alive, with anticipation for a better tomorrow. The main characters find themselves surrounded by despotic circumstances that they have to overcome by keeping to the course of chasing their dreams. Despite having the lows of life where some of the characters question reality and the possibility of their dreams, there is a constant desire to keep pushing. Sourced from the title of the story, one of the characters questions whether some of the far-fetched dreams would ever come to pass or they will just wither away just as â€Å"a raisin inShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of A Raisin In The Sun1185 Words   |  5 PagesArianna Williams-Smart English 1B Professor Quinn Final Essay The epigraph to A Raisin in the Sun is Langston Hughes poem called A Dream Deferred which was written as an example of life in harlem. The lines are a introduction to the white societys actions to take away equal opportunity from black citizens. Hughes main point is that there could be consequences when peoples frustrations build up or accumulate to the point where they have to either surrender their dreams or allow strenuousRead More Analysis of A Raisin in the Sun Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesA Raisin in the Sun Analysis Upon walking out of Krannerts production of A Raisin in the Sun, an eerie silence drizzled about the audience as people murmured and slowly shuffled towards the exits. After witnessing such a powerful yet melancholy piece of theater work, words seemed inappropriate. For three hours, A Raisin in the Sun encompassed us with racial, economic, and social issues of the 1950s. Swirling portions of humor, disgrace, pride, and sadness into a smooth blend, the play developedRead MoreA Raisin In The Sun Analysis768 Words   |  4 Pagesbeing able to reach this goal. Mama has the dream of owning her own house, Walter wants to be able to open a liquor store, Beneatha wants to go to school to become a doctor, and Ruth wants to move out of their current apartment. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry shows the effect of a deferred dream in Walter Lee’s character. Walter Lee, at the beginning of the play is hopeful to reach his dream. He expresses his excitement to Ruth and explains how his family’s life would be differentRead MoreA Raisin In The Sun Analysis784 Words   |  4 Pagescharacter from Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun, because throughout the book readers see her talk about her aspirations in life and everyone always tells her she is aiming too high. They tell her that she should not be so bold and to settle and do what a typical woman should, but she is so driven she refuses to let them degrade her and her dream. She continues to push for what she wants no matter what anyone says. Throughout the book A Raisin In The Sun Beneatha appears to be insensitive,Read MoreA Raisin in the Sun: An Analysis723 Words   |  3 Pages Raisin in the Sun What does Mamas plant represent and how does its symbol evolve over the course of the play? The plant that Mama cherishes and nurtures is used as a powerful symbol throughout the play. At the time the play was presented, African Americans were struggling to gain justice on several fronts. The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing and the Black community was pushing forward, although their status as a culture was in doubt. The plant symbolizes the actual status of AfricanRead MoreAnalysis Of A Raisin In The Sun863 Words   |  4 Pages Throughout â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† by Lorraine Hansberry, the author describes the struggle of an African-American family by the name of the Youngers, to work together so that every member of the family has a better future. While there are many characters that affect the plot line of the play. Two major characters, Walter Lee Younger and Lena Younger (Mama), influence the plot of â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† to the highest degree. Whenever Walter’s wife or other family members try to argue against his opinionRead MoreAnalysis of A Raisin in the Sun2138 Words   |  9 Pagesrepresentation of the white race of that time, Walter Lees handling Mr. Lindner in A Raisin In the Sun, and the oppression of Clay caused by Lula in The Dutchman, the very the nature of white and black relations and racism in America, and the responses to the oppression, that these two characters come to symbolize the great Era that their creators belonged to. While the overall plot progression of A Raisin in the Sun circulates around many characters and their motives, goals, and ways through whichRead MoreA Raisin In The Sun Archetypal Analysis1452 Words   |  6 Pagesbe an emotion that is universally felt by others that have encountered similar situations and in turn may result in those people forming the same mentality and character. Correspondingly, any piece of work can be approached through an archetypal analysis that enables one to gain insight into the conventional and universal experiences within the society of which that form of literature is based upon. These repeating and shared experiences are especially prevalent in the literature of the 1950s, asRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of A Raisin Of The Sun Essay845 Words   |  4 PagesWriting Assignment 4: Character Analysis of â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† The male protagonist of this story is Walter Lee Younger, an African American, who plays the roles of a son, husband, father, and brother. The story is set in a Chicago Southside apartment, â€Å"sometime between World War II and the present [1959]† (Hansberry 919). Walter is physically described as â€Å"a lean, intense young man in his middle thirties, inclined to quick nervous movements and erratic speech habits—and always in his voiceRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Beneatha In A Raisin In The Sun1487 Words   |  6 PagesCharacter Analysis â€Å" A Raisin in the Sun† is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry about the life of an African American family during the era of segregation. The play starts off with the Younger family receiving a 10,000 dollar check from Mr. Younger’s insurance policy. The family argues over what they are going to do with it. Mama wants to buy a house with it, Walter wants to invest in a liquor store, and Beneatha wants to use the money to go to medical school. The contrast of the characters’ personalities