Timeless Themes A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

Having been brought up in the South during dangerous times of lynching, she relocates to the Northern part with the hope of finding peace and a better life. Despite the fact that Lena is ahead of time, her dreams remain anchored on the well being of her family rather than selfish interests. Lorraine Hansberry is an African American Playwright and writer who was born in Chicago, Illinois 1930.

The play explored the decision that uth had to make because her economic conditions dictated that she could not afford another child. In addition, Beneatha’s prospects of becoming a doctor and getting married were also explored in the play. This issue was extremely relevant at the time as some women were beginning to work outside the home.

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a raisin in the sun theme essay

Even though slavery had been abolished, colored people were not treated equally. The most significant scene which openly portrays racism, however, is the visit with Karl Lindner. Although he does not identify himself as racist, and although his tactics are less violent than some, he wants to live in an all-White neighborhood—and he is willing to pay the Youngers off to stay out of White neighborhoods. This type of racism is often dangerous because it is more easily hidden.

The https://writemyessaytoday.us/ Economic And Housing Discrimination In A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

The play A Raisin In The Sun essay highlights the dreams of each family member and their plans on how they intend to use the money from the death of Mr. Younger, Mama’s husband. Mama, or Lena, wishes to use the money to purchase a new home for the benefit of the family in which her daughter-in-law Ruth agrees. Beneatha or Bennie, her daughter, wants the money to pay for her medical school tuition, while Walter Lee or Walter, Mama’s son has a great interest in using the money to open a liquor shop.

a raisin in the sun theme essay

Throughout the development of America and the many people colonizing from all over the world who now call it home, African Americans have been discriminated against since the beginning. Though today’s outlook upon all races has become very accepting, it does not diminish the hardships and personal tragedies that took place among the history of millions of African Americans in slavery and their descendants. Because of the discrimination and negative stereotypical views that developed in the minds of those who……

Racial Discrimination In A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

Beneatha had to give up her independence and take a shot to her pride by marrying Asagai, so that she can pursue her dreams of becoming a doctor and curing others. Her passion of curing and helping others is also at risk because her marriage with Asagai is based on the foundation of her becoming a doctor and not love. This marriage breaks some important principals and pride that she has because she’s now having to depend on someone to pursue her passion of becoming a doctor and she has also fallen victim to a tradition which she despises. The society in her time often has a predetermined goal for a woman, which consist of roles such as becoming a housewife, secretary, nurse, or teacher. Being an intellectual, independent, prideful and strong person Beneatha feels that these roles are limiting and that she is destined for much more. This feeling of power gets to his head, which he convinces himself that he’s right and nobody around him can comprehend the ideas that he has in his head.

  • Beneatha berates those missionaries who, like Mama, are more concerned with changing the African’s religion than in overthrowing colonial rule.
  • In another part of the poem, “This is the old way, setting off firecrackers to drive away evil spirits, leaving the driveways red for good fortune…” (Lines 20-22), the quote tells the reader that newer ideas are being mixed with older ones.
  • “Just because it’s become less obvious doesn’t mean that it’s less harmful.” This statement is completely true many people die because of community racism.
  • Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ is a play about one family’s hopes and dreams in 1950s Chicago.
  • A Raisin in the Sun realistically presents the struggles of the oppressed class against a privileged majority working to maintain society’s status quo.

Walter himself serves as both protagoinist and antagonist of the play. In most of times, Walter represents as a symbol of the androcentrism who does mistakes which hurt the whole family greatly. However, in the bottom of his heart, he always wants to solve family’s problems.

Stereotypes In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun

Family life is not suited for everyone though, especially not for Beneatha Younger. Every so often, family can repulse an individual and they will find their true selves far away from home. The character Beneatha from Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, is a prime example of this. Beneatha had trouble discovering her own identity so she tried out a number of hobbies and activities. Throughout all of this, the only steady thing in Bennie’s life was her family and she relied on them heavily. By sticking close to her family and not venturing out as an individual, Beneatha could not answer the questions about the world she held close to her heart.

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