Group 4

Major Themes:

• Gender constructs
• Greed
• Community
• Family
• Fear
• Racism
• Struggle

A Raisin in the Sun

The play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry highlights the time period in American History that preceded the National Civil Rights movement.  A few of the many themes surrounding the atmosphere in this time period included those of gender constructs, community, racism and greed.  Gender constructs in this time were extremely patriarchal.  Women were not yet integrated into the mainstream workforce yet, especially African - American women.  Besides simple domestic labor, such as cleaning houses or caring for children, women were not expected to have career goals, which spoke to the stigma of unintelligence and inferiority of women during that time.  This is exemplified in the text as an intelligent and capable young woman, Beneatha, is questioned and looked down upon about her ambitions of becoming a doctor; “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor...go be a nurse like other women-or just get married and be quite…” (Hansberry, 38).  The oppression that all women faced during this time period was unjust and ignorant, and forces the reader to reflect on how far women have come present day, but also evokes the everlasting reminder of how far women have left to go.

A Raisin in the Sun is about a family’s struggle in Chicago.  Lorraine Hansberry ‘s title originates from one of Langston Hughes poem, which states, “What happens to a dream deferred?  Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”  This play was released at a time in which the American people were ready for change. A Raisin in the Sun offers insight to what that change is going to be.  This play also reveals the larger question of what holds a family together?  Throughout the play, Lorraine Hansberry shows us that it is love and dignity that hold this family together and allow this family to move forward with their lives.  Hansberry brilliantly investigates the central idea that African Americans are human, which has never been portrayed on a broadway stage.  And by doing so, Lorraine Hansberry allows African Americans to see their full humanity.

As A Raisin in the Sun, exposes what real black life is like during the Civil Rights Era, it is important to understand the dynamic of black families, the Youngers in particular. As they have moved from the South to the North pursuing a new life, it is difficult for the individuals within the black community to understand the difference in way of life. For example, as Walter and his mother argue about money, one comes to realize how ideals change according to circumstance. As Walter insists that money is life, Mama responds, “ So now it’s life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life-now it’s money. I guess the world really do change..” (Hansberry 74). Walter insists, “ No-it was always money, Mama. We just didn’t know about it.” At this poignant point in the book Walter makes an excellent point, though he is often portrayed as unrealistic and obstinate. Life has changed for African American people. Their sole focus was freedom, because they were constrained by slavery in the past, but that is challenging for Mama to see as she belongs to an older generation. Also, in Walter pointing out that money has always been life but African Americans just didn't know about it, he realizes that slavery was all about money in the first place. However, even though he dreams to be a powerful businessman, his dream is deferred because of his lack of education and poor economic background in addition to racism. This is the cause of a lot of Walter’s frustration and many other blacks. Though they are free, they still feel constrained by their blackness and an obviously racist society and are not treated equally.