Raisin in the Sun

A detailed Summary of Raisin in the Sun

Many people are born into poverty, along with a society of ridicule and discrimination, in which people must encounter in order to overcome these struggles and accomplish their goals. In Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," money plays a large role in the Younger families path to a better future and life. Their struggle for money parallels the need to develop an identity and deal with a prejudice society. Everyone in the family needs money and feels it would lead them to a better future. Mama is least interested in what it can do and more interested in what each characters themselves can do. Walter Lee, Mama's son, appears to think that money can solve all his problems. Beneatha, the daughter, thinks that the money would be good for her because she could use it for her schooling and become a doctor. She could cure the sick and ill and almost play the role of God.

Mama's beliefs and ideals do not include the need for money. Her strong belief in God is all that she needs, in her mind, to get through the hard times that her family is facing.

"MAMA Now - you say after me, in my mother's house there is still God. In my mother's house there is still God" (Hansberry 51).

Though she wants her family out of the 2-bedroom apart

Walter Lee goes through a number of phases in order to reach his final stage of maturity at the end of the play. Walter often struggles with his identity and individuality as a person. He feels as if an empty life lies ahead of him with no future.

The most important thing to Mama is her kids. The money was going to be used to help Beneatha get into medical school so she could get a proper education. Throughout the play Mama wants to see Walter Lee grow into the man he has potential to be, so when he messes up like that she feels hopeless. Mama, however keeps her pride and dignity and hopes the her son can achieve success by keeping his pride and confronting the problem

"WALTER What I'm telling you is that we called you over to tell you we are very proud...this is my son, and he makes the sixth generation of our family...we decided to move into our house because my father -my father - he earned it for us brick by brick"(Hansberry 148).

"ASAGAI Mr. Asagai - I want very much to talk with you. About Africa. You see, Mr. Asagai, I am looking for my identity"(Hansberry 62).

"WALTER Sometimes I can see the future stretched out in front of me - just plain as day. The future, Mama. Hanging out there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me - a big, looming blank space - full of nothing"(Hansberry 54). Walter feels that with the money he can open up his own business and get control over his life. He puts all his ef

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Approximate Word count = 961
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History