What is the theme in a raisin in the sun

It is a play about distress, futility, and tragedy, but also about hope and pride and what kind of conviction and commitment it takes to bring hope out of hopelessness, courage out of fear, and idealism out of fatalism (Morrin 15). Lorraine Vivian Hansberry (1930-1965) wrote her play, A Raisin in the Sun, in 1959. Its title is taken from "Harlem (Dream Deferred)", a poem by Langston Hughes. "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up? Like a raisin in the sun?" The poet is asking what would happen to our dreams if we gave up on them and did not try to make them real. They would be like grapes when they are left in the sun as no longer the fruit filled with juices. "[A raisin in the sun] is the story of two generations whose dream deferred…show more content…
Dreams and dreams deferred, racism, and self-identity are the main three themes illustrated by Hansberry in the play. One of the play's major themes is dreams and dreams deferred. Everyone in the family has his own dream to look forward. When the family received the ten thousand dollars, the insurance money of Mama's husband, they all want the money to achieve their dreams. Problems arise when their dreams clash together. Everyone wanted the money for himself and nobody else. Walter wants the money to open a Liquor Store. Beneatha wants them to pay for her Medical School to be a doctor. Mama wants to buy a new house (Morrin 16). Mama is angry because she does not want money to destroy her family's happiness. Mama's dream was to move out of their tiny apartment into a new big house where they could all live happily. "Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams." (I.i.18). Mama believes that her dreams are value nothing if her kids are not happy, thus she offers Walter the rest of the money after buying her new home. Racism is one of the main themes of African-American Literature. Throughout the play, Hansberry criticizes the racial climate of America in the 1950s. The main action that shows racism in the play is the desire of the Youngers to move to a neighborhood for whites. When Mama bought a house in the Clybourne Park with the money of their father's insurance, they were worried about this…show more content…
Lindner, a courier from the Clybourne Park neighborhood, to convince them to take a sum of money and leave the new house. Lindner says that he's going to tell them "the way [they] do things out in Clybourne Park."(II.iii.67). this illustrates the fact that he and his white neighbors thinks of themselves as separate from the Youngers, or the blacks. He clearly states the racism present in Clybourne Park. This shows how hypocrite he is, he believes that the blacks has their "own communities" (II.iii.68). that they can live far away from the whites. Lindner's logic is really hypocritical and racist. He tells Walter that he cannot force those whites to love them or even to accept them, but he's trying to convince the Youngers to change their minds and abandon their dreams (James 34). What Mr. Lindner did makes Beneatha so angry. She wondered "What they think [they] going to do – eat ‘em?" (II.iii.71). But quickly Ruth answered "No, honey, marry ‘em." (II.iii.71). Ruth here suggests that racialism is a result of the fear of interracial marriage. As some whites were very concerned about interracial marriage as it is like a threat to their

Themes:

1.The Value of Dreams

The play has three central themes, the first being the pursuit of dreams. Throughout the play, each of the Younger’s has a dream they wish to obtain. For instance, Walter wishes to become rich and respectable, a goal he attempts to reach by starting a business. “I got a dream...I got to take hold of this here world, baby!” (Pg. 1876) Walter tells Ruth everyday about his dream, and his desperation grows as the play progresses; “Do you know what this money means to me? Do you know what this money can do for us? Mama- Mama- I want so many things…” (Pg. 1895 Beneatha also has a dream of becoming a doctor, something she struggles with. In the play she loses sight of her dream after getting involved in a reawakening of her African heritage and anti-assimilationist ideals. “I wanted to cure. It used to be so important to me. I wanted to cure. It used to matter. I used to care.” (Beneatha pg. 1926) Her dream of becoming a doctor is a central part of her character, similar to the other Younger’s. Both Ruth and Mama have a dream of owning and living in a real house. While Ruth wants the house more than anything, Mama also wants a garden for her flowers and her children to be happy. “Praise God! Oh Walter...a home...a home” (Ruth Pg. 1905) “well, I always wanted me a garden like I used to see sometimes at the back of the houses down home” (Mama Pg. 1886) While the Younger’s pursue their dreams in different methods, the play highlights the necessity of having goals in life.

2. The Importance of Family

Another theme of the play is the importance of family. The motivations for the actions of each of the Younger’s was largely due to family duty. Walter may have had selfish desires of being rich, but part of his need to have more from life was to ensure that his family had everything they wanted. He wanted the best for his family, a desire which was shows multiple times such as when he told Travis “Tell me, what it is you want to be- and you’ll be it…. Whatever you want to be- Yessire! You just name it, son…. and I hand you the world.” (Walter Pg. 1914) Mama also wanted to see her family happy, which she consistently reminds her kids. For example, when Mama bought the house her only goal was to help the family despite it being in a white neighborhood, “Son-I just tried to find the nicest place for the least amount of money for my family” (Mama Pg. 1906) This theme of family is important to understanding the motivations behind each of the characters, that despite their mistakes and hardships, they are a single unit that acts together.

3. Fighting Racial Discrimination
The third main theme in the play is about racial discrimination and its effect. While the family struggles with internal and external conflict, this theme is hinted at but not fully understood till the family buys a house in an exclusive white community. My Lindner is a symbol for racism, and acts as a representative from the new neighborhood. The family’s reaction to his offer also shows their reaction to the racism occurring at this time period. In the end, they choose to move to the neighborhood and not accept the money, and therefore are making a stand against racial discrimination, an important element that the play was trying to convey to the audience. “What i am telling you is that we called you over here to tell you that we are proud and that..We don’t want your money.” (Walter Pg. 1933) By fighting the discrimination directly, the Younger's demonstrate the need to assert your pride over injustices like racism rather than allowing yourself to become a victim of discrimination.

Important Symbols/Meanings:
The author establishes symbols throughout the play to enhance the theme. For example, Ruth’s eggs that she makes for Walter everyday represent her support for her husband. Walter laments about how Ruth does not support his dreams, but her making eggs for him symbolizes her method of supporting him, through a predictable, mechanical way. “See-I’m trying to talk to you ‘bout myself-and all you can say is eat them eggs and go to work” (Walter Pg. 1876) The eggs Ruth makes for him daily show that she supports Walter the way a wife typically would, by providing food and care, rather than communication and verbal support. Mama’s plant is another symbol in the play. She talks about how her plant has sprouted despite the fact that it never has enough light or nourishment, and this is similar to how her kids grew up; they never had enough money, but Mama’s care allowed them to grow anyway. Her plant is a symbol, for her care for her family. “The spirited all right, my children. Like this little old plant that ain’t never had enough sunshine or nothing…” (Mama Pg. 1886) Mama’s plant is also a representation of her dream to own a house, specifically having a yard with her own garden. “Well, I always wanted me a garden like I used to see sometimes at the back of the houses down home. This plant is close as I ever got to having one.” (Mama Pg. 1886) Larger themes are represented through symbols as well such as racial discrimination. The character Lindner symbolizes the racial prejudice, and acts as an obstacle for the Youngers. He is a representative from the white community the family is moving to, and symbolizes the racism towards African Americans at this time. Another symbol is Beneatha’s hair, which represents her cultural acceptance. After being influenced by Asagai, Beneatha feels strong ties to her African culture and embraces it by changing her hair to the “natural” look. “How can something that’s natural be eccentric?” (Beneatha Pg. 1898) This cultural acceptance counteracts in a sense the racial discrimination present in the play.

Contrasts in the Play:

There are various contrasts established by the playwright, but one of the most obvious is between the rich and the poor. This is seen through different actions done by the characters of the play such as the conversation he had with his wife to give their son the fifty cents he needed to take to school asking her, “How come you always try to be so pleasant?” (Pg.1875) It also shown through comments made by Walter like when he was talking to George saying, “Don’t you see no stars gleaming that you can’t reach out and grab? You happy?-- You contented son-of-a-bitch--you happy? You got it made? Bitter? Man, I’m a volcano. Bitter? Here I am a giant--surrounded by ants! Ants who can’t even understand what it is the giant is talking about.” (Pg.1901) This shows the bitterness Walter has towards those who are rich because they have it “made,” everything will work to their favor, since they are wealthier. Another not so obvious contrast is between the educated and uneducated people in the play. This is seen through the relationship between Walter and Beneatha because they both do not understand the decisions the other one makes. Walter tells her, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people--then go be a nurse like other women--or just get married and be quiet--” (Pg.1878) This helps to show the contrast that Walter doesn’t believe his sister needs to become educated because she doesn’t have to be a doctor and they can’t afford it. Walter even criticizes his sister stating, “Girl, I do believe you are the first person to successfully brainwash yourself. Damn, even the N double A C P takes a holiday sometimes! I can just see that chick someday looking down at some poor cat on an operating table and before she starts to slice him, she says … “By the way, what are your views on civil rights down there?” … ” Another contrast can be seen between Walter and his wife, Ruth, based on their personalities. Walter, throughout the play, is portrayed as a very hopeful and ecstatic person who concentrates a lot on the future. He tries to explain to his wife to tell his mother, “Yeah. You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five thousand and we figured the initial investment on the place be ‘bout thirty thousand, see. That be ten thousand each.” These lines show how hopeful Walter is and that he wants to get money from Mama to improve their life situation. Ruth, on the other hand, is seen as a more sensible and realistic woman focused on her family. Unlike Walter she tells Mama, “Now that’s your money. It ain’t got nothing to do with me. We all feel like that.” (Pg.1881)

This video ties a song to a main character from the story that matches their dream. For Walter, the song is Billionaire by Bruno Mars. For Beneatha, it's ABC by the Jackson 5 and for Mama it's Home by Phillip Phillips.

In this video, we sing to "We are Family" by the Sister Sledge to tie to the theme of family.