“A Raisin In the Sun” By Lorraine Hansberry
“A Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry highlights the idea of the American Dream and how it gave each individual family a goal to achieve. The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can live in a situation of financial stability, comfortability and success. “A Rasin in the Sun” tells the story of an African American family in Chicago in the 1950’s which was a time when attaining the American Dream was more of a challenge for African American families. During this time period of segregation, African American families were more prone to poverty and financial struggles due to society being built on oppressing them and making the goal of the American dream immensely harder to reach. This idea of striving for the American dream is portrayed through the Younger family. The American Dream had always come across as something people are entitled to although, for many it was almost impossible. The 10,000 dollar check the family was going to receive gave them a glimmer of hope and was seen as a gateway to opportunity and felt like a step closer to attaining the American Dream. Each family member had their own individual hopes, dreams and thoughts about how the check could possibly help them enter a new environment.
Everyone in the family is limited to opportunity due to living under societal confinements. Every character has felt the wrath of being held back from the American dream, even the youngest family member, 10-year-old Travis, is worrisome about having enough money just for grade school. Travis anticipating the check to come in the mail, to me, shows just how significant money is to this family. The book shows how some of the characters are very driven by money. Walter is an example of one who believes that this check could be it for him and his family. He believes with this check he has the power to kickstart a business and he believes starting a business will help him and his family achieve the American Dream although it is a big risk and would require the check in entirety. In the book Walter is described as “erratic.” This description most definitely suits Walter considering his ideas, and moods are unpredictable and spontaneous. Walter has attempted to put his plans into action but was continuously let down. The fact that Ruth is so hesitant about Walter going forward with opening his business shows a lot. It shows that she would feel more comfortable staying in their current situation because she has been shown that most of the time the end goal cannot be met. Ruth tries to shut down any talk of acting on Walter’s dreams to start something new. Ruth being a woman also plays a role as to why she is so persistent on not acting on the opportunity. During their time period, being an African American woman meant it was even harder to do things you hoped to do. Women were looked upon as inferior and incapable. During this time period they were not allowed to do something so simple as to own a credit card. Considering the circumstances, it is reasonable for Ruth to be so hesitant. As much as the family is not exactly living the American Dream currently, their loyalty, and love to one another seems to give them purpose, and hold them together. Mama seems to act as the glue that holds everyone together. Walters father also seemed to see his family as his purpose and muse. This idea is demonstrated in a quote from him in Act 1. “Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams- but he did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile.” (Hanberry page 46) During the 1950’s, the time period of segregation prohibited opportunity for people of the black community. The family being held back from their full potential of living out their dreams is a burden in all aspects of their lives. So much so that Ruth, Walter’s wife receiving news that she is pregnant, feels more of a hardship than something to be celebrated. Travis is already experiencing all of the hardships at such a young age and Benetha (Walter’s younger sister) believes it is unfair to bring another child into their situation of poverty. Based on their circumstances, and the time period, having another child seemed impossible right alongside their aspiration to achieve the American dream.
This time period tremendously impacted those including the Younger family and people living under similar circumstances. Lorraine Hansberry wrote this play according to the time period so readers could put into perspective the struggles that people facing oppression endured. This play encapsulates how it feels firsthand from this fictional family to be living in the 1950’s and trying chase your dreams.
Question 1) Who do you think Lorraine Hansberry’s intended audience was, or who was she possibly trying to reach with this play? Why would she try to reach this audience?
Question 2) Do you believe the American Dream has gotten more attainable? Or has history repeated itself in your eyes?
POSTS
POSTED ONFEBRUARY 5, 2023EDIT”OLIVIA’S BLOG POST”
Olivia’s blog post
“A Raisin In the Sun” By Lorraine Hansberry
“A Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry highlights the idea of the American Dream and how it gave each individual family a goal to achieve. The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can live in a situation of financial stability, comfortability and success. “A Rasin in the Sun” tells the story of an African American family in Chicago in the 1950’s which was a time when attaining the American Dream was more of a challenge for African American families. During this time period of segregation, African American families were more prone to poverty and financial struggles due to society being built on oppressing them and making the goal of the American dream immensely harder to reach. This idea of striving for the American dream is portrayed through the Younger family. The American Dream had always come across as something people are entitled to although, for many it was almost impossible. The 10,000 dollar check the family was going to receive gave them a glimmer of hope and was seen as a gateway to opportunity and felt like a step closer to attaining the American Dream. Each family member had their own individual hopes, dreams and thoughts about how the check could possibly help them enter a new environment.
Everyone in the family is limited to opportunity due to living under societal confinements. Every character has felt the wrath of being held back from the American dream, even the youngest family member, 10-year-old Travis, is worrisome about having enough money just for grade school. Travis anticipating the check to come in the mail, to me, shows just how significant money is to this family. The book shows how some of the characters are very driven by money. Walter is an example of one who believes that this check could be it for him and his family. He believes with this check he has the power to kickstart a business and he believes starting a business will help him and his family achieve the American Dream although it is a big risk and would require the check in entirety. In the book Walter is described as “erratic.” This description most definitely suits Walter considering his ideas, and moods are unpredictable and spontaneous. Walter has attempted to put his plans into action but was continuously let down. The fact that Ruth is so hesitant about Walter going forward with opening his business shows a lot. It shows that she would feel more comfortable staying in their current situation because she has been shown that most of the time the end goal cannot be met. Ruth tries to shut down any talk of acting on Walter’s dreams to start something new. Ruth being a woman also plays a role as to why she is so persistent on not acting on the opportunity. During their time period, being an African American woman meant it was even harder to do things you hoped to do. Women were looked upon as inferior and incapable. During this time period they were not allowed to do something so simple as to own a credit card. Considering the circumstances, it is reasonable for Ruth to be so hesitant. As much as the family is not exactly living the American Dream currently, their loyalty, and love to one another seems to give them purpose, and hold them together. Mama seems to act as the glue that holds everyone together. Walters father also seemed to see his family as his purpose and muse. This idea is demonstrated in a quote from him in Act 1. “Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams- but he did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile.” (Hanberry page 46) During the 1950’s, the time period of segregation prohibited opportunity for people of the black community. The family being held back from their full potential of living out their dreams is a burden in all aspects of their lives. So much so that Ruth, Walter’s wife receiving news that she is pregnant, feels more of a hardship than something to be celebrated. Travis is already experiencing all of the hardships at such a young age and Benetha (Walter’s younger sister) believes it is unfair to bring another child into their situation of poverty. Based on their circumstances, and the time period, having another child seemed impossible right alongside their aspiration to achieve the American dream.
This time period tremendously impacted those including the Younger family and people living under similar circumstances. Lorraine Hansberry wrote this play according to the time period so readers could put into perspective the struggles that people facing oppression endured. This play encapsulates how it feels firsthand from this fictional family to be living in the 1950’s and trying chase your dreams.
Question 1) Who do you think Lorraine Hansberry’s intended audience was, or who was she possibly trying to reach with this play? Why would she try to reach this audience?
Question 2) Do you believe the American Dream has gotten more attainable? Or has history repeated itself in your eyes?
Work cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Modern Library, 1995
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Hey Olivia, I think that Hansberry did a good job of putting the readers into the perspective of not only the Younger family as a whole, but each member separately. I think we have all thought to ourselves what the best use for the check is and have thought about every option presented. It is interesting that you bring up Ruth’s hesitance on backing her husband with the business opportunity and makes me wonder if her lack of power in society is what is causing her to not want to pursue a business or if it is Walter who is draining her hope. In Act 2, when Ruth and Walter go on a date there is a switch in her attitude, and she appears much more full of life. “Lord, that man- done changed so ‘round here” (Hansberry 111). This is after Mama tells him she has saved part of the check for him and Beneatha. It seemed as though once Walter was happy, everybody’s mood was better making me wonder the power he holds over the families happiness.
Terrence LeGrady Response
I love how you explain the “American Dream” and how it has always been seen as something inherent to being American, but to some facing serious issues such as racism, the idea of the American Dream seems that much harder too reach. Your analysis of “A Raisin in the Sun” reminded me a lot of a book we had to read around freshman year of high school, called “Of Mice and Men” written by John Steinbeck, which is another novel that focuses very heavily on the notion of the “American Dream” and how it is a lot more unobtainable than most believe. In this story we are presented 2 characters who have dreams to make money and own a home, but are faced with challenges that impede on their efforts, ultimately falling into ruin. While we don’t yet know what is to come of the Younger family, we see them in a very similar predicament. I personally believe the idea of the “American Dream” is unbelievably important to understanding the overall theme of “A Raisin in the Sun” because, as you said, every characters dreams are impeded by that notion. To me, Walter most clearly shows the idea of a dream differed, but in your analysis you point out aspects of Ruth’s life as well, which heavily ties into the money problem and the overarching theme of dreams deferred. Overall, I love the idea of relating the “American Dream” to each character of “A Raisin in the Sun” because it perfectly shows all of their problems through a lens most of us are very familiar with.
Hi Olivia, I really like that you emphasized how the family being money driven has affected Travis. I think it really shows how much money means to the family when a ten year old child is aware of their financial status. In Act 1 Travis asks Ruth “Check coming tomorrow, huh?” (Hansberry 28). Ruth tells him not to worry about money, but he most likely picks up on it from his father. I think it is interesting how you said that having another child seemed impossible just like the idea of achieving their American Dream. I think this correlates very well because it seems that both of these concepts require money. Neither of them seem in reach without that check.
I think Lorraine Hansberry’s intended audience was black and white people. Hansberry wanted to present the realities of life for black people during this time period. In the introduction, by Robert Nemiroff, he states “the first play by a black (young and unknown) woman, to be directed, moreover, by another unknown black “first,” in a theater were black audiences virtually did not exist” (Nemiroff 6). Hansberry knew going into the theater that her audience would consist of mostly whites, but also blacks here and there.
I believe the American Dream has become more attainable as society has changed, as well as the ways of the government system. However, in certain situations it can seem as though we are going back in time with how situations get handled. Based on what I know about the current society it has become easier to get jobs and earn your way to achieving your American Dream.
Hi Olivia, your blog was amazing and I agree with all of it. I love the fact that you brought up how money is affecting them as a whole in their whole lives. The money is also affecting their family relationship, especially Ruth and Walters. The check was affecting Walter mentally probably the most out of everyone in that family. With him struggling mentally with that check, that puts the whole family in a bad mood whenever he is. Ruth is most certainly exhausted with how she is living and it’s ruining her relationship with Walter. In Act 1 scene 1 on page 32, Waler states towards Ruth, “You tired, ain’t you? Tired of everything. Me, the boy, the way we live–this beat-up hole—everything? Ain’t you?” Walter understands Ruth’s feelings with their whole situations in their lives. The money is more or so ruining the family’s relationship with each other. I believe that the american dream is still attainable, but people in society today have different thoughts of what the American Dream actually is. More people in today’s generation are looking beyond the fact that their lives could be more than just the 9-5 job.
Hi Olivia! I really enjoyed your blog post and your personal insights on the play. I feel that Hansberry really digs deep into each character and gives the audience a personal connection to each character. I believe Hansberry is trying to reach all Americans trying to tell them that we have an issue here in our country. We have a systemic issue rising and we need to fix it. However, this issue is taken place back int he 1950s. In todays day and time it is possible for anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion etc to achieve the American dream. It is more than attainable today than in the past. The American Dream means something different to everyone. To me the dream is to be a teacher and live comfortably. To others it might be more than a base salary. But that is the American Dream, you can be anything you want in this world as long as you work hard.
Hi Olivia,
Raisin in the Sun is an excellent play as we were reading it. It tells the story of the Younger family (African American) living together in a small apartment on Chicago’s south side. Also, we know that its set in a Post-war era, and after the war this family struggles with poverty and their decision to move to a single-family home. This play was brought to Broadway and was shown to the WHITE BROADWAY AUDIENCE. It showed them the struggles of the daily lives of African Americans. The themes that this play offers to the audience are; discrimination, assimilation, black pride, gender, and sacrifice. The biggest theme that gets to me is the sacrifice that each family has in the play. But I really enjoyed your blog post I love how you describe characters and their interactions with each other. Lorraine Hansberry really gives us insight into each character and their personal connections with each other. I’m excited to read more about this play. See you on Tuesday!
Question 2) Do you believe the American Dream has gotten more attainable? Or has history repeated itself in your eyes?
In my opinion, I think that the American dream is a convoluted notion. I think the idea that anybody can make it in America, is setting people up for disappointment, especially when there are added barriers for some people. I don’t think that those barriers are gone today, they may be set up differently, and more subtle or hidden, but they are still there just underlying. History does consistently repeat itself, but I believe that in this case there was no need for repetition, the systemic racism and consistent misogyny in our country never really went away. I do think that in some cases/places in America, the American dream has become more attainable, but a lot of the time this is not deliberate, and is just because of luck.
Hi Olivia, I like how you mention in your blog post the American Dream and how “A Raisin in the Sun” does a good job explaining a story of an African American family in the 1950s where achieving the American Dream was a struggle. The $10,000 check that Mama was receiving was hope for the Younger family to reach the American Dream. Mama says to Walter “….. I paid the man thirty-five hundred dollars down on the house. That leaves sixty-five hundred dollars. Monday morning, I want you to take this money and take three thousand dollars and put it in a savings account for Beneatha’s medical schooling. The rest you put in a checking account- with your name on it. And from now on any penny that come out of it or that go in is for you to look after” (Hansberry pages 106-107). I believe that when the check did come and Mama shared how she wanted it split showed us that she does want to support Walters goals in life and Beneatha’s schooling.
I believe that Lorraine Hansberry’s intended audience was African Americans and white people. I believe that African Americans were Lorraine’s Hansberry’s intended audience because it was a way for her to share a story that other African Americans could relate to. I think that Lorraine Hansberry also intended audience was white people because it was a way for her to share the stories of what African Americans had to go through back than to white people and give them knowledge of what life was like in the past for African Americans.
I believe that the American Dream has gotten more attainable but I believe that the American dream now is very different than it was in the 1950’s. Back than the American Dream was to own land, own a home, have some money, be treated as equally and more. I feel like today the American dream is not the same as it was in the 1950’s. To me I see the American Dream as being rich and having a nice house with nice cars.
Hi Olivia,
I enjoyed your blog post and how you evaluated the “American dream”. When it comes to your question of who exactly the intended audience of Hansberry’s work is, I believe it to be anyone that is in some position of power. When at first one might assume it is simply to show white Americans of the African American experience, there are also notes of feminism throughout the work as well as criticism of masculinity. We can see that Walter will constantly blame “colored women” for not allowing him and black men in general to succeed despite having more societal power. Because of this I believe that it also applies to many men that even though they face oppression on racial bases, can still hold privilege in regards to their gender. He will still be able to do more for simply being a man than his wife would be able to despite the fact that they are both African American. The points this out and it’s due to this fact that the audience is intended to be simply more than just the White Americans in power but all those that are in some sort of potion of privilege regardless of what it is.
Hi Olivia! I really enjoyed your blog post and thought your analysis of the characters and their views on the check was very insightful. I also think you asked very interesting discussion questions that prompted me to think deeply- for my response I would like to focus on the second of them. “Do you believe the American Dream has gotten more attainable? Or has history repeated itself…”- I think the question itself is a very important one to ask, especially in today’s social political climate. I believe that the American Dream has truly never been attainable for the mass of the American population. So many groups of people, such as people of color, the LGBTQ+, and women, are still marginalized today, and laws are still actively being passed to harm them. We are the land of the free yet so many people don’t have basic human liberties that should come with life, and until we as a nation fix the fissures in our foundation, we will never be able to accomplish the American Dream.