A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry English 11

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the SunLorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry

English 11

Lorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry

• Born in Chicago, Illinois May 19, 1930Born in Chicago, Illinois May 19, 1930

• Attended the University of Wisconsin in 1948Attended the University of Wisconsin in 1948

• Two years later she dropped out of college to pursue her Two years later she dropped out of college to pursue her dream as a writer in New York Citydream as a writer in New York City

• Attended classes at the New School for Social Research Attended classes at the New School for Social Research

• Obtained an editorial job for Obtained an editorial job for Freedom Freedom magazinemagazine

• Freedom Freedom magazine was run by Paul Robeson, a famed magazine was run by Paul Robeson, a famed African-American actorAfrican-American actor

• Hansberry married Robert Nemiroff, a Jewish student. Hansberry married Robert Nemiroff, a Jewish student. They moved to Greenwich Village.They moved to Greenwich Village.

Lorraine Hansberry cont.Lorraine Hansberry cont.

• While working, she wrote a serious play about African Americans• Its first title was The Crystal Stair. It later became A Raisin in the

Sun• The play opened March 11, 1959 on Broadway• She won the New York Drama Critics Award, she was the

youngest playwright honored• While working on her second play, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s

Window, she was diagnosed with cancer.• She died on January 12, 1965• Hansberry secretly divorced her husband, a year before her

death• He continued to edit and adapt her work for Broadway.• Plays: To Be Young, Gifted and Black (1969), Raisin (1974)

Lorraine Hansberry’s FamilyLorraine Hansberry’s Family

• Hansberry’s father was a successful real-estate Hansberry’s father was a successful real-estate businessman in Chicagobusinessman in Chicago

• Two of her uncles were professors at Howard Two of her uncles were professors at Howard University in Washington, D.C.University in Washington, D.C.

• Her father challenged segregated housing practices of Her father challenged segregated housing practices of Chicago, and moved his family into a previously all-Chicago, and moved his family into a previously all-white neighborhoodwhite neighborhood

Hansberry’s Influences: Langston HughesHansberry’s Influences: Langston Hughes

• Langston Hughes (1902-1967)Langston Hughes (1902-1967)• While working on the play, before she named it While working on the play, before she named it A Raisin in A Raisin in

the Sunthe Sun she took a line from Hughes’ poem, she took a line from Hughes’ poem, Mother to SonMother to Son and named it and named it The Crystal Stair.The Crystal Stair.

• When she finished the play, she changed the title to a line When she finished the play, she changed the title to a line from another Hughes’ poem called from another Hughes’ poem called HarlemHarlem and included and included the entire poem as the the entire poem as the epigraphepigraph in the play. in the play.

• Epigraph:Epigraph: motto or quotation that appears at the beginning motto or quotation that appears at the beginning of a work and relates to the theme.of a work and relates to the theme.““What happens to a dream deferred?/ Does it dry up/Like a What happens to a dream deferred?/ Does it dry up/Like a

raisin in the sun?”raisin in the sun?”

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the SunCharacter ListCharacter List

• Lena Younger (“Mama”) Lena Younger (“Mama”) - Walter and Beneatha’s mother - Walter and Beneatha’s mother and the matriarch. She is religious and moral. She wants and the matriarch. She is religious and moral. She wants to use her husband’s insurance money to buy a house and to use her husband’s insurance money to buy a house and fulfill her dream of moving the family up in the world.fulfill her dream of moving the family up in the world.

• Beneatha YoungerBeneatha Younger – Mama’s daughter, Walter’s sister. – Mama’s daughter, Walter’s sister. She is twenty years old and well-educated. She dreams of She is twenty years old and well-educated. She dreams of being a doctor. Her views differ from Mama’s conservative being a doctor. Her views differ from Mama’s conservative ideals. She is trying to find herself as a young black ideals. She is trying to find herself as a young black woman.woman.

• Walter Lee YoungerWalter Lee Younger - The protagonist. He is ~35 years - The protagonist. He is ~35 years old. He invests father’s insurance money into a liquor old. He invests father’s insurance money into a liquor business. He is a dreamer and schemer who wants to business. He is a dreamer and schemer who wants to gain wealth with a quick solution.gain wealth with a quick solution.

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the SunCharacter List Cont…Character List Cont…

• Ruth YoungerRuth Younger - Walter’s wife and Travis’s mother. She takes care - Walter’s wife and Travis’s mother. She takes care of the Younger’s apartment and works as a maid. She’s only 30 but of the Younger’s apartment and works as a maid. She’s only 30 but seems much older. She wants to rekindle her marriage to Walter. seems much older. She wants to rekindle her marriage to Walter. They are constantly fighting due to poverty and domestic troubles. They are constantly fighting due to poverty and domestic troubles.

• Travis YoungerTravis Younger - ~ 10-11 years old. Walter and Ruth’s sheltered - ~ 10-11 years old. Walter and Ruth’s sheltered young son. He has no bedroom and sleeps in the living room.young son. He has no bedroom and sleeps in the living room.

• Joseph AsagaiJoseph Asagai - A Nigerian student in love with Beneatha. He’s - A Nigerian student in love with Beneatha. He’s proud of his African culture. When he proposes to Beneatha, he proud of his African culture. When he proposes to Beneatha, he hopes she’ll return to Nigeria with him. hopes she’ll return to Nigeria with him.

• George MurchisonGeorge Murchison - A wealthy, African-American man who courts - A wealthy, African-American man who courts Beneatha. The Youngers approve of George, but Beneatha dislikes Beneatha. The Youngers approve of George, but Beneatha dislikes his willingness to submit to white culture. his willingness to submit to white culture.

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the SunCharacter List Cont…Character List Cont…

• Mr. Karl LindnerMr. Karl Lindner - The only white character. He is from - The only white character. He is from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association and asks the the Clybourne Park Improvement Association and asks the Youngers to reconsider moving into their all-white Youngers to reconsider moving into their all-white neighborhood.neighborhood.

• BoboBobo - One of Walter’s partners in the liquor store plan. - One of Walter’s partners in the liquor store plan. • Willy HarrisWilly Harris - A friend of Walter and coordinator of the - A friend of Walter and coordinator of the

liquor store plan. liquor store plan. • *Mrs. Johnson*Mrs. Johnson - The Youngers’ neighbor. Mrs. Johnson - The Youngers’ neighbor. Mrs. Johnson

takes advantage of the Youngers’ hospitality and warns takes advantage of the Youngers’ hospitality and warns them about moving into a predominately them about moving into a predominately white neighborhood. *She appears in the original script but white neighborhood. *She appears in the original script but her scene has been omitted in our version.her scene has been omitted in our version.

Source: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/raisin/characters.htmlSource: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/raisin/characters.html

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the SunThemesThemes

• ****DreamsDreams can save or destroy a person can save or destroy a person• DiscriminationDiscrimination• MaterialismMaterialism and money in themselves are worthless and money in themselves are worthless• Family-Family-The family is the most important relationship in The family is the most important relationship in

most people’s livesmost people’s lives• PridePride• It is better to fight with It is better to fight with dignitydignity than surrender in shame than surrender in shame• *Identity*Identity is formed by many factors and influences is formed by many factors and influences

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the SunPlotPlot

Act 1, Scenes 1-2Act 1, Scenes 1-2• The Youngers live in economic hardship, but each dreams of a better life in The Youngers live in economic hardship, but each dreams of a better life in

his/her own way.his/her own way.• Mama receives a $10,000 insurance check from the death of her husband. Mama receives a $10,000 insurance check from the death of her husband.

The family is trying to decide what to do with it. Beneatha and Ruth want The family is trying to decide what to do with it. Beneatha and Ruth want Mama to do with it what she wants, but Walter wants Mama to help him invest it Mama to do with it what she wants, but Walter wants Mama to help him invest it in a liquor store. Mama refuses to support the liquor store due to her religious in a liquor store. Mama refuses to support the liquor store due to her religious values.values.

• Asagai is pursuing Beneatha. She likes him better than George Murchinson b/c Asagai is pursuing Beneatha. She likes him better than George Murchinson b/c he supports her, but she does not want to get married until she has achieved he supports her, but she does not want to get married until she has achieved her dream of becoming a doctor. her dream of becoming a doctor.

• Ruth discovers she is pregnant and considers having an abortion since she Ruth discovers she is pregnant and considers having an abortion since she cannot bear to raise another child in poverty.cannot bear to raise another child in poverty.

• Walter cannot believe his wife would consider an abortion and is shocked at the Walter cannot believe his wife would consider an abortion and is shocked at the thought (Point: they have both changed and no longer understand one thought (Point: they have both changed and no longer understand one another).another).

• Mama is upset with Walter when he will not convince Ruth to keep the baby Mama is upset with Walter when he will not convince Ruth to keep the baby (she wants him to be the man his father was- the one she raised him to be).(she wants him to be the man his father was- the one she raised him to be).

• Walter forgets that Ruth loves him. He drinks as an escape.Walter forgets that Ruth loves him. He drinks as an escape.


Act II, Scenes 1-3• Beneatha puts on the Nigerian robes from Asagai in an attempt to "go

back to her roots"• Walter joins her in this imaginary game pretending he is an African warrior

(he is able to find inner strength and his place as the man and dominant figure in the family).

• George Murchinson arrives to pick up Beneatha and he and Walter begin to argue: Walter believes George may be rich and educated, but that his knowledge and fashionable clothes are worthless to society. He is resentful b/c George has everything without having to work for it (pg. 84) George simply disregards Walter, calling him bitter.

• After arguing with his wife as well, Walter softens (he can only show love & affection to others if he feels supported).

• Mama tells the family she has bought them a house in Clybourne Park, a white suburb: the others are excited but concerned, while Walter is bitter once again b/c his liquor store $ is gone

• Beneatha wants nothing to do with George since he does not make her Beneatha wants nothing to do with George since he does not make her feel valued.feel valued.


Act II, Scenes 1-3 (Cont.)• Mrs. Johnson is jealous of the Younger's opportunity to move; she warns them

that the papers have been reporting violent acts against 'colored folks who move into the wrong neighborhoods.'

• Mama gives in to Walter and gives him control of the remaining insurance $: he is to put $3000 in savings for Beneatha's education and then may do what he wants with the last $3500. He begins to dream again of a successful future as a businessman.

• The family is visited by the Clybourne Park "Welcoming Committee," Karl Lindner, the day they are scheduled to move.

• He offers to refund their money plus more if they do not move into the neighborhood.

• He says racial prejudice has nothing to do with it, but that people are more comfortable with their own people. Though he tries to come across as caring and helpful, his true motives are obvious.

• Bobo brings news that Willy Harris has taken off with his and Walter's liquor store $. Walter gave him all $6500.

• Mama is devastated and says her husband worked so hard for that $ and now it is gone. She beats Walter b/c she is so distraught.


Act III• Asagai tells Beneatha that it is unacceptable to give up on her dreams just

because her brother lost the $. He says it is up to her to carry on her dreams.

• Since she has become cynical and bitter, he tells her she must remain hopeful if she is ever going to make a difference.

• He asks her to go back to Nigeria with him, and asks her to think it over• Mama asks the family to unpack their things b/c there is no sense moving

anymore. Ruth is the only one who seems to still want to get out of the apartment and start a new life.

• Walter calls "The Man," Karl Lindner, with a plan to double their $ by taking him up on his previous offer.

• The others cannot believe he would stoop so low as to reverse the fighting of five generations of African Americans.

• Walter responds by saying Willy Harris taught him that those who debate right and wrong will always be "tooken" and that he has learned he can get ahead by taking advantage of situations and others if that is what needs to be done. (Note- Walter speaks in slave dialect)


Act III (Cont.)• Beneatha disowns her brother but Mama criticizes her for not

understanding what has led Walter to this point- Family should support each other and show love to protect each other from the outside world no matter what "There is always something left to love" (pg. 147) (implies that Beneatha's actions are worse than Walter's).

• When Lindner arrives, Walter changes his mind and demonstrates pride on behalf of his family and people. He tells Lindner they've decided to move into their house that his father earned and that they'd be good neighbors and not make trouble.

• Lindner is taken aback and asks Mama to talk sense into Walter. Mama is now proud to stand by her son.

• The family packs its things into the moving van as Mama and Beneatha argue (lovingly) over marriage again.

• Mama and Ruth agree Walter has finally come into his manhood.• Mama makes sure to bring her plant (symbolic- represents the dream

she's been nurturing for years).

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A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry English 11