Summary:
A Raisin in the Sun was first produced in 1959 and anticipates many of the issues which were to divide American culture during the decade of the 1960s. Lorraine Hansberry, the playwright, was an unknown dramatist who achieved unprecedented success when her play became a Broadway sensation.
A Raisin in the Sun was first produced in 1959 and anticipates many of the issues which were to divide American culture during the decade of the 1960s. Lorraine Hansberry, the playwright, was an unknown dramatist who achieved unprecedented success when her play became a Broadway sensation. Not only were successful women playwrights rare at the time, but successful young black women playwrights were virtually unheard of. Within its context, the success of A Raisin in the Sun is particularly stunning.
One of the first ideas mentioned in this play, A Raisin In the Sun, is about money. The Younger's end up with no money because of Walter's obsession with it. When Walter decides not to take the extra money he is offered it helps prove Hansberry's theme. Her theme is that money can't buy happiness. This can be seen in Walter's actions throughout the play.
I always saw Beneatha's character being somewhat of a naïve school girl who went to school everyday and then returned home trying to parade the knowledge she possessed around in front of her family. After watching the movie, I see her more now as an individual searching for herself. She tries so many things in the movie, from her guitar lessons to horse back riding instructions, just to find out what it is she can accomplish. This is actually more helpful when reviewing the play because this kind of character isn't as immature and ignorant as I took her to be in the play. She actually views education as a way to better herself instead of just looking better to others.
Although they can't spend the money how they wanted, Walter and Beneatha still manage to succeed in being happy. Asagai proposes to Beneatha and she accepts. It is assumed that they will have a very happy life in Africa. Because there is no more money left, Walter decides to sell the house to the Mr. Lindner, a representative from the white neighborhood Clybourne Park. However, as Walter talks to Mr. Lindner, he undergoes a sudden change of conscience, showing that he is a dynamic character. Walter says, "We called you over here to tell you that we are very proud and...We don't want your money." (Act III) This very different from his money-hungry attitude displayed near the beginning of the play. He no longer values money as the solution to all of his problems, but realizes that certain intangible things, such as family, are more important.
This play is, to some extent, a tragedy. By Aristotle's definition, a tragedy consists of a tragic hero who suffers a great downfall due to some tragic flaw in his or her character. In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter can be viewed as a tragic hero. Near the beginning of the play, he is ecstatic because he finally has the chance of achieving his dream of becoming rich by opening a liquor store. However, his carelessness proves to be a tragic flaw when he gives away the money. Although this seems devastating, Walter sheds his obsession for material objects and gets a new sense of pride, so actually more is gained than lost. This makes the story much less tragic.
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