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A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry Final

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Literature
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Istanbul University
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Abstract
Introduction: A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by well-known African American writer
and activist, Lorraine Hansberry. The play centres an African American family, the
Youngers, in their small apartment in the ghettos of Chicago in the 1950s. The story revolves
around a $10000 dollar insurance check the family receives after the head of the household,
Big Walter, dies. A Raisin in the Sun tackles many themes relevant to Hansberry’s time,
including racial discrimination, money and economic oppression and gender roles.
Discussion: Lorraine Hansberry’s life was rich with political education and many of her
experiences growing up influenced her creative works. This essay explores her early life in
Chicago and the strides she made after the move to New York as she became part of the
Harlem Renaissance. The success of A Raisin in the Sun placed Hansberry in the public eye,
and she used this opportunity to be vocal about her ideas. This essay further explores how
these ideals played out in her work through the themes presented in the play and the ideals
held by its characters.
Conclusion: Lorraine Hansberry was a notable artist but an even more inspiring woman. She
used her skill to reach and teach audiences through her characters and stories. In all her
writing and acts, one could tell that she truly had a commitment to social change.
Introduction
The title of the play is from Harlem (A Dream Deferred), a poem by Langston
Hughes, “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun… or does
it explode? (Hughes, 1951). A Raisin in the Sun is a play about an African American family,

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the Youngers, living in South Chicago in the 1950s. Their lives are about to change. At the
opening of the play, the family is about to receive $1000 in insurance money after the death
of Mr Younger. The story follows the dreams and setbacks the family experiences as a result
of their differing opinions and their circumstances of oppression. The play has an ambiguous
ending. The Youngers are excited to move into their new home, but the move brings about a
lot of uncertainty for their future and how they will be treated in a white community.
The themes explored in the play were pertinent to the era of its release. It addresses
the social circumstances of the 1950s (Wilkerson, 1986). Topics like racial discrimination,
money, dreams, identity, and feminism all find a voice through the characters of the play.
Hansberry’s had a very realistic way of portraying her characters. She play maintained
integrity and portrayed the humanity of the Younger family (Wilkerson, 1986). This is likely
because she found inspiration for it in her own life and upbringing. During her short life, she
was celebrated for her work and voice for the struggles of Black Americans. She made her
Pan-Africanist, anti-colonial, and radical feminist views very public in both her works and in
her numerous media appearances and writings (Carter, 1980). She even raised money for
various Civil Rights groups throughout her life.
Her rich political education and curious mind led to the creation of A Raisin in the
Sun, her first and most successful piece. The play deals with the ordinary struggles of an
ordinary working-class African American family, which is perhaps what makes it so
evocative. The characters are carefully crafted to represent opposing views and conflicting
decisions something that engages the audience and has them interrogate the merits and
failing of each.
The life and politics of Lorraine Hansberry

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Name: Instructor: Course: Title: Abstract Introduction: A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by well-known African American writer and activist, Lorraine Hansberry. The play centres an African American family, the Youngers, in their small apartment in the ghettos of Chicago in the 1950s. The story revolves around a $10000 dollar insurance check the family receives after the head of the household, Big Walter, dies. A Raisin in the Sun tackles many themes relevant to Hansberry’s time, including racial discrimination, money and economic oppression and gender roles. Discussion: Lorraine Hansberry’s life was rich with political education and many of her experiences growing up influenced her creative works. This essay explores her early life in Chicago and the strides she made after the move to New York as she became part of the Harlem Renaissance. The success of A Raisin in the Sun placed Hansberry in the public eye, and she used this opportunity to be vocal about her ideas. This essay further explores how these ideals played out in her work through the themes presented in the play and the ideals held by its characters. Conclusion: Lorraine Hansberry was a notable artist but an even more inspiring woman. She used her skill to reach and teach audiences through her characters and stories. In all her writing and acts, one could tell that she truly had a commitment to social change. Introduction The title of the play is from Harlem (A Dream Deferred), a poem by Langston Hughes, ...
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