A Raisin in the Sun - Literary Review (print)

Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" is a compelling drama, incorporating relevant racial issues of the time period into the text as well as tensions within the family. Hansberry grew up in the 1930's amongst racial discrimination and segregation in Chicago. Her background and life play into the plot of the play in that racial discrimination and segregation impact the Younger family. The play is the story of a black family, the Youngers, who work hard at what they do and house 3 generations in a run down apartment complex. After the death of Mr. Younger, the family has inherited 10,000 dollars in insurance money. The newly acquired money sparks conflict amongst the family members over how the money should be spent. It is eventually spent on a new house for the family. The remaining money is unknowingly spent by Walter on his dream investment in a liquor store, but is stolen by an untrustworthy friend. The play provides a wide spectrum of characters, including mama, Walter, Beneatha, Ruth, and Tyler Younger. A main issue in the play is racial segregation housing in Chicago. When the Youngers controversially buy their house in a white neighborhood, the white neighbors become aggravated and try to pay them to move away. As noted by the title, the play gets its name from Langston Hugh's poem, A Dream Deffered. This comes from the many dreams pursued by characters in the play and what happens to these dreams. I liked how the plot in this play developed and seemed to swing between good scenarios and bad scenarios constantly, keeping readers on edge. Also, it was a good depiction of the conflicts going on at the time. This play could come to interest a wide range of people. I would recommend it to those interested in the racial conflicts of the 1900's.