Themes Of The American Dream In A Raisin In The Sun

A Raisin in the sun shows the hardship many need to face in order to attain this notion of the American Dream. The book did more than then just show what everyone faced, she shows the struggles that many African American families had to face when trying to achieve the notion of the American Dream. She does this by showing the environment that many African American lived in when there was bombing in the neighborhood or when white people would force African American who finally bought a home, out. Lorraine also shows the struggles of the characters of the book like Walter who struggles with the decision he makes and the contradictions that stop him from achieving his goals of being wealthy or when Beneatha goes against the norms of society

The story of this play is simple and the majority of African-Americans faced such issues in the 1950’s, living on the south side of Chicago, struggles with poverty, dignity and dreams of a better life. Wanting better for your children and trying to fit in, while maintaining family values. A Raisin in the Sun is an excellent example of the relationship between family values and conflict. In this play it portrays: values and purpose of dreams, the need to fight for racial discrimination and the importance of family.

In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry you go back in time to when segregation was still aloud. In this play you meet a cast of people with dreams of a better life. The American Dream, to be specific. This dream is portrayed differently for each character, all of which impact the play. Two of these character

Many people believe that everyone has a different dream they want to achieve. If it is being on the varsity basketball team, becoming the manager at their job, or getting 4.0 grades all years of high school, they all practically sum up to the same point. The American Dream is gaining happiness or achieving a goal by working hard. During segregation, African Americans wanted freedom and equal rights for all people. They worked hard and fought for their rights. Now, some people believe that money and physical things are what make them happy, but that is not what makes you happy at all. What really makes you happy is having a dream to achieve and achieving it. Both time periods are still working hard for what they want to achieve, they just want to achieve different goals.

Mama concerns herself only with the fact that she and her family will own the house, and not have to dwell in the tired, old apartment on Chicago's Southside. In a sense, Mama's dream has "crust[ed] and sugar[ed] over like a sugary sweet" (Hughes Lines 7-8). Her dream has changed to fit the circumstances she must cope with. The character of Mama represents those who do not shrivel up and die just because their dream does.

The play A Raisin in the Sun was a fantastic book that had a lot of life lessons within. A Raisin in the Sun was written by Lorraine Hansberry. Lorraine Hansberry was born on May 19, 1930, and grew up in Chicago’s south side just like the characters in the play. This play was first produced on Broadway in 1959, and its success made Hansberry the first African American playwright to win the Best Play of the Year Award from the New York Drama Critics. This play falls under the genre of a dramatic tragedy. The name of the play came from a line for the poem called Harlem or Dream Deferred, written by Langston Hughes. In the poem Hughes asks, “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”. The theme for this unit is The Realization and Disillusionment of the American Dream. Rafael Cruz stated, “ Only in America can someone start with nothing and achieve the American Dream. That is the greatness of this country”. In the play the Youngers became disillusioned with the American Dream.

A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a play about an African-American family whose father passed away unexpectedly. With that passing came the money that is guaranteed when you invest in a life insurance plan. After receiving the money, Mama decided that she wanted to use some of the money to get out of their cramped apartment. When Mama attempts to put the down payment on the house, she is greeted by white members of a nearly entirely white neighborhood. They attempt to bribe her out of the area, because they did not want to live in the same area as Black-Americans.

The American Dream is a term that is often misunderstood. Some people think that it is about having the kind of money that creates security. As a matter of fact, it is about things much more straightforward and significant. It involves the freedom to pursue a life where a person can be respected and feel like a contributing member of society. Meaning, that the only limits and possibilities on a person’s ability to get ahead, have financial freedom, and gain the respect of others in his community come from the individual. In A Raisin in the Sun, the Younger family is subject to the prejudice against blacks, which keeps them from fulfilling their dreams. This was especially a problem in the 1960s, before the Civil Rights Movement established

A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, illustrates the timeless struggle for the furtherance of family values and morals with extreme clarity. The play follows the life of a small black family’s struggle to keep their dreams from tenants to owners alive.

Why was the American dream so important to some people or even families? Or some that don’t really care about it because they’re already living that American Dream. Hard work isn’t easy nobody said it was easy but putting the time to work hard will get anybody a better life its takes time for those results. What I think and feel about the American dream? Is if you want to live a better life then you should chase the dream and put the time & work but not only that you will have to go through tough times and fail many times. But if you still have the dream, then at the very end everything you worked for will pay off you will live it to the fullest no matter what. American dream is about you approach if you approach it with a positive attitude and willing to work until you reach the goal you will even you fail to the first time. You get back up and try and keep trying until you reach it.

“Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.” (Muhammad Ali) Racism was and continues to be rooted deep within the american culture. In the 1950’s the American dream was to be able to afford anything that your heart desires. Although racial tensions and Jim Crow laws hindered that from many families due to something as little as skin color. “A Raisin in the Sun” play/film is of a family facing many adversities due to this unfairness, but they persevere to be better. Our dreams will always differ from the person you ask, everyone will always have their own dreams. The opportunity to fulfill them is what this country strives to make

A Raisin in the sun shows the hardship many needed to face in order to attain this notion of the American Dream. The play did more than simply show what everyone faced, she shows the struggles that many African Americans families had to face when trying to achieve the notion of the American Dream. She does this by showing the environment that many African Americans lived in when there was bombing in the neighborhood or when white people would force African Americans who finally bought a home, out. Lorraine also shows the struggles of the characters of the play like Walter who struggles with the decision he makes and the contradictions that stop him from achieving his goals of being wealthy or when Beneatha goes against the norms of society by becoming a Doctor and trying to do activities that men usually do.While American Dream is quintessential to America because you’re able to go from nothing to something, this notion is unique to African-American since the society work against them even with having the same aspiration because of the prejudice they faced from the society.

“A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry is a Drama about a generous insurance check that could mean either a profit-making gain for the younger family or destroy the already suffering family. “The Younger family comprises of Mama, Beneatha, her son Walter and his significant other Ruth, and her grandson Travis.” (Synopsis) “The family has lived in the same cramped Chicago dump for quite a long time”.(Synopsis)Walter is a taxi driver and Ruth fills in as low maintenance house keeper. Mother has recently resigned as she is expecting a $10,000 check from her croaked fathers allotment. There are many themes of this play, but the one that stood out most to me is the theme hopes, plans and Dreams.The Younger family is given a chance to realize

The 1960s was a time in which America underwent great change and development. This change instilled an optimism in some African-American citizens for the future. Despite the fact that racism was still alive in America many had hopes and dreams for a better future. In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, ‘A Raisin In The Sun’ she greatly emphasizes that dreams can inspire and frustrate but ultimately their lasting effect can change the dreamer positively whether that be receiving a dose of reality and changing for the better or be it finally achieving dreams and goals.

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun encompasses all the ideals of the American Dream through her characters: Walter, who embodies the quest for an opportunity for prosperity, Beneatha who wants the freedom to be herself and embrace her African heritage, and Lena (Mama) who buys a home in a white neighborhood pushing the boundaries of social mobility during that time. The Youngers are in a state of poverty, because of this as suggested by Lloyd Brown “their deprivations expose the gap between the American Dream and the Black American reality” (241). However the Youngers attempt to close this gap, challenging the status quo in an effort to better themselves.