Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a realistic fictional drama in which the play’s title and the characters represent the play’s theme. The play focused on Black America’s struggles to reach the American Dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness during the 1950’s and 1960’s . The idea of everyone having the chance to achieve a better life should exist for all. Hansberry created her title by using a line from Langston Hughes’ poem “A Dream Deferred.” The original poem was written in 1951 about Harlem. Hughes’ line from the poem claimed that when dreams are deferred they can dry up like a raisin in the sun. This meant that they can die and end. Hughes’ poem further suggested that when dreams and goals are denied to be pursued, …show more content…
Walter’s American Dream was of equal opportunity; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He was going to achieve this dream by investing on a liquor store with his friends that also want to invest and get money. His dream was deferred because he had no money to start with. Walter said, “yeah. You see, this 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” (33). Walter really wants to invest into this liquor store, but the problem is that the ten thousand he is mentioning, he does not have it. Walter’s American Dream was of getting out of his dead end, low paying job. He was going to achieve this dream by becoming an owner of the liquor store he plans to invest on. This dream was also deferred because he was black and racism during the time period was bad. Walter said to his son, “no-but after tonight. After what your daddy gonna do tonight, there’s going to be offices-a whole lot of offices” (108). Walter was saying that he does not have an office now, but after what he’ll do, he will have plenty. He does not give up on his dream, and he keeps trying to reach it. Walter’s American Dream was of escaping the Chicago ghetto. He was going to achieve this dream by moving to a new home. This dream was also deferred because of racism …show more content…
Lena’s American Dream was of keeping her husband’s legacy. She was going to achieve this dream by reminding her children of what their father would do in a situation. Her dream was deferred because her children would not do what she would tell them. Lena said to Walter, “and I’m waiting to hear you talk like him and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them. I’m waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain’t going to give up nary another one… I’m waiting” (75). Lena wants Walter to be like his father, to follow his examples, to do what he has taught him, but Walter did nothing. Lena’s American Dream was of owning a house with a garden. She was going to achieve this dream by using the insurance money from her husband’s death for a new home. Her dream was deferred because she was black, so she could not get a good job her whole life, and society tried to keep her in the black sections. Lena said, “but Lord, child, you should know all the dreams I had ‘bout buying that house and fixing it up and making me a little garden in the back-and didn’t none of it happen” (45). Lena has dreamed about having a house with a garden for a very long time, and it never happened. With the insurance money from her husband’s death she tried to get the house of her dreams. Lena’s