A Raisin in the Sun
Summary
A Raisin in the Sun is notable play focusing on racial oppression, the American dream, and human need. The story begins with the family waking up, it appears to be a rather average morning until the audience learns that the Younger Family is expecting a life insurance check for the passing of the former patriarch of the Youngers. It becomes evident that this money has begun to swallow up and consume much of the family's thoughts, despite their continual attempts to put it out of their minds. To exemplify the importance of this, Hansberry presents the aged and shabby apartment where they live.
The check is written out to Mama, Walter's mother, and each of the members of the family have their spoken or unspoken intentions for the money. Mama wants the family to maintain pride in their heritage and family, while Walter feels that he can use the money to found a liquor store and make more money. Beneatha, Walter's younger sister, is attending university to become a doctor-- something very uncommon for a an African American woman to do for the setting of the play-- and expects that some of the money would help her significantly on her road to education. Walter's wife, Ruth, simply desires peace and a renewed relationship with her husband but is very pessimistic in contrast to the rest of the family who is plagued with immense dreams. The youngest of the family, Travis-- Walter's son-- is assumably the most unsure of what use the money does but recognizes the implied joy and power that the money might provide. Individually, each of the family members struggles to cope with the prospective restitution.
The family clashes, the money creates contention between family members and causes them to fight among each other. It even comes to the point where Ruth, who during the exposition of the play discovers she is pregnant, threatens to abort her child. This marks one of the darkest moments of the family, where each of the characters are filled with despair and see limited hope. Finally, the check comes. $10,000, an especially large amount in this post-WWII setting, and each of the Youngers reacts in awe. Suddenly, by stark contrast, they act joyous and begin to do things that mend relationships between the family because, for the moment, they feel totally care free. Walter dances in the living room with Ruth, they go out to the movies-- and the family is overcome with a temporary relief.
To combat potential contention, Mama simply puts the money away and explains that she will decide what to do with it. After a few interactions, several notable visits of men dating Beneatha, or Bennie. These characters juxtapose the way the Youngers live. They are college students who regularly travel and attend shows and concerts. These African American students express much of the culture for the day and manner by which even African American elite would treat the less fortunate of their race. Altogether, these interactions create insight into the culture of the setting in Chicago.
Finally, Mama decides what to do with the money without telling the family. She puts down a notable sum, but the whole check, on a house in Clybourne Park-- a prominently white neighborhood. They opposition because the community does not want Negroes to move there. There is also enough to give some to Bennie as well as Walter for his business venture. Nevertheless, Walter, taking the whole sum, loses the remainder of the money to an associate of his. With about a third of the money, the family simply decides to go on after extreme conflict. He faces the consequences of losing such a sum. The story, then, concludes with the family moving into their new home and finding momentary joy in the experience and hardship that they faced-- but realize life is still better now than before and that their dreams are still possible.
The check is written out to Mama, Walter's mother, and each of the members of the family have their spoken or unspoken intentions for the money. Mama wants the family to maintain pride in their heritage and family, while Walter feels that he can use the money to found a liquor store and make more money. Beneatha, Walter's younger sister, is attending university to become a doctor-- something very uncommon for a an African American woman to do for the setting of the play-- and expects that some of the money would help her significantly on her road to education. Walter's wife, Ruth, simply desires peace and a renewed relationship with her husband but is very pessimistic in contrast to the rest of the family who is plagued with immense dreams. The youngest of the family, Travis-- Walter's son-- is assumably the most unsure of what use the money does but recognizes the implied joy and power that the money might provide. Individually, each of the family members struggles to cope with the prospective restitution.
The family clashes, the money creates contention between family members and causes them to fight among each other. It even comes to the point where Ruth, who during the exposition of the play discovers she is pregnant, threatens to abort her child. This marks one of the darkest moments of the family, where each of the characters are filled with despair and see limited hope. Finally, the check comes. $10,000, an especially large amount in this post-WWII setting, and each of the Youngers reacts in awe. Suddenly, by stark contrast, they act joyous and begin to do things that mend relationships between the family because, for the moment, they feel totally care free. Walter dances in the living room with Ruth, they go out to the movies-- and the family is overcome with a temporary relief.
To combat potential contention, Mama simply puts the money away and explains that she will decide what to do with it. After a few interactions, several notable visits of men dating Beneatha, or Bennie. These characters juxtapose the way the Youngers live. They are college students who regularly travel and attend shows and concerts. These African American students express much of the culture for the day and manner by which even African American elite would treat the less fortunate of their race. Altogether, these interactions create insight into the culture of the setting in Chicago.
Finally, Mama decides what to do with the money without telling the family. She puts down a notable sum, but the whole check, on a house in Clybourne Park-- a prominently white neighborhood. They opposition because the community does not want Negroes to move there. There is also enough to give some to Bennie as well as Walter for his business venture. Nevertheless, Walter, taking the whole sum, loses the remainder of the money to an associate of his. With about a third of the money, the family simply decides to go on after extreme conflict. He faces the consequences of losing such a sum. The story, then, concludes with the family moving into their new home and finding momentary joy in the experience and hardship that they faced-- but realize life is still better now than before and that their dreams are still possible.