A Raisin In The Sun Major Works Data Sheet

A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry's groundbreaking play, remains a cornerstone of American literature, exploring themes of race, class, family, and the pursuit of the American Dream. This data sheet delves into the play's major aspects, providing a comprehensive overview for students, educators, and enthusiasts alike.

A Raisin in the Sun: Major Works Data Sheet

I. General Information

• Title: A Raisin in the Sun
• Author: Lorraine Hansberry
• Genre: Drama, Realism
• Setting: Chicago's South Side, sometime between World War II and 1959.
• First Performance: March 11, 1959, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City
• Publication Date: 1959
• Publisher: Random House
• Awards: New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play (1959)
• Adaptations:
  • Film (1961), starring Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee
  • Musical (Raisin, 1973)
  • Television film (1989), starring Danny Glover and Esther Rolle
  • Television film (2008), starring Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad

II. Plot Summary

The play centers on the Younger family, an African American family living in a cramped apartment in Chicago's South Side. They are eagerly awaiting a $10,000 life insurance check from the death of Walter Younger Sr. Each member of the family has their own dreams and aspirations, and they hope to use the money to achieve them.

• Walter Lee Younger: Walter, the protagonist, dreams of opening a liquor store with his friends, Willy Harris and Bobo Jones, believing it will be his ticket to financial independence and respect. He feels emasculated by his dead-end job as a chauffeur and yearns for a chance to be his own man.
• Lena Younger (Mama): Mama, Walter's mother, is a deeply religious and pragmatic woman. She wants to use the money to buy a house in a better neighborhood, fulfilling her late husband's dream of providing a better life for their family. She also hopes to use some of the money for Beneatha's education.
• Beneatha Younger: Beneatha, Walter's sister, is an intelligent and ambitious young woman who dreams of becoming a doctor. She is exploring her African heritage and questioning the values of mainstream American society.
• Ruth Younger: Ruth, Walter's wife, is a weary and practical woman who works as a domestic. She is tired of living in poverty and longs for a decent home for her family. She discovers she is pregnant and considers abortion as a solution to their financial struggles.
• Travis Younger: Travis, Walter and Ruth's young son, sleeps on the living room couch. His presence highlights the family's cramped living conditions and the challenges they face.

As the play unfolds, tensions rise within the family as they clash over how to use the money. Mama, after much deliberation, uses a portion of the money to make a down payment on a house in Clybourne Park, a predominantly white neighborhood. This decision sparks conflict, as Walter feels his dreams are being thwarted, and the family faces racial prejudice from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association.

Walter, desperate to prove himself, convinces Mama to entrust him with the remaining money. He is supposed to deposit $3,000 for Beneatha's education and use the rest for his business venture. However, he is swindled by Willy Harris, who runs off with all the money.

Devastated by Walter's actions, the family is on the verge of despair. However, they ultimately decide to move to Clybourne Park despite the opposition, choosing to face the challenges together as a family. Walter, initially tempted to sell out to the Clybourne Park Improvement Association to recoup some of the lost money, ultimately finds his dignity and refuses to compromise their values.

III. Major Characters

• Walter Lee Younger: The protagonist of the play. A chauffeur who dreams of owning a liquor store and achieving financial success. He is ambitious, frustrated, and often impulsive. His desire for economic independence clashes with his family's values and aspirations.
• Lena Younger (Mama): The matriarch of the Younger family. A strong, religious, and pragmatic woman who wants to use the insurance money to buy a house and provide a better future for her family. She represents traditional values and the importance of family unity.
• Beneatha Younger: Walter's sister. An intelligent and ambitious young woman who aspires to become a doctor. She is exploring her African heritage and questioning societal norms. She represents the younger generation's desire for education, self-discovery, and social change.
• Ruth Younger: Walter's wife. A weary and practical woman who works as a domestic. She is tired of living in poverty and longs for a decent home for her family. She represents the struggles and sacrifices of women in the face of economic hardship.
• Travis Younger: Walter and Ruth's young son. He represents the future and the hope for a better life. His presence highlights the family's cramped living conditions and the challenges they face in providing for him.
• George Murchison: A wealthy and assimilated African American man who dates Beneatha. He represents the African Americans who have achieved economic success by conforming to white society. Beneatha finds him shallow and uninspiring.
• Joseph Asagai: A Nigerian student who is in love with Beneatha. He represents African pride and the importance of embracing one's heritage. He encourages Beneatha to reconnect with her African roots and to fight for social justice.
• Karl Lindner: A representative of the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. He offers the Youngers money to stay out of the white neighborhood. He represents the racial prejudice and discrimination that African Americans faced in the 1950s.
• Willy Harris: Walter's supposed friend and business partner. He swindles Walter out of his money, representing the corrupting influence of greed and the dangers of trusting the wrong people.

IV. Themes

• The American Dream: The play explores the elusive nature of the American Dream, particularly for African Americans facing racial and economic barriers. Each member of the Younger family has their own vision of the American Dream, and they struggle to achieve it in the face of adversity.
• Race and Racism: The play confronts the pervasive racism of the 1950s and its impact on African American lives. The Youngers face discrimination in housing, employment, and social opportunities. The play highlights the systemic inequalities that prevent African Americans from achieving their full potential.
• Family: The play emphasizes the importance of family unity and support in the face of hardship. Despite their conflicts and disagreements, the Younger family ultimately comes together to overcome their challenges. They learn to value their relationships and to prioritize their collective well-being over individual desires.
• Gender Roles: The play explores the traditional gender roles and expectations of the 1950s. Ruth and Mama are primarily responsible for domestic duties and childcare, while Walter feels pressured to be the family's provider. Beneatha challenges these traditional roles by pursuing her education and career aspirations.
• Identity and Heritage: The play delves into the search for identity and the importance of embracing one's heritage. Beneatha explores her African roots and questions the values of mainstream American society. Joseph Asagai encourages her to reconnect with her African heritage and to fight for social justice.
• Dreams and Aspirations: The play examines the power of dreams and aspirations to motivate and inspire individuals. Each member of the Younger family has their own dreams, and they strive to achieve them despite the obstacles they face. The play suggests that dreams are essential for human fulfillment and progress.
• Money and Materialism: The play explores the complex relationship between money and happiness. Walter believes that money will solve all of his problems, but he learns that it cannot buy him respect or fulfillment. The play suggests that true happiness comes from family, love, and purpose.

V. Motifs

• The Sun: The sun is a recurring motif in the play, representing hope, opportunity, and the promise of a better future. The Youngers dream of moving to a house where they can have a garden and enjoy the sunshine.
• Mama's Plant: Mama's plant is a symbol of her nurturing spirit and her hope for the future. She tends to it carefully, despite the lack of sunlight in their cramped apartment. The plant represents the family's resilience and their ability to thrive even in difficult circumstances.
• Beneatha's Hair: Beneatha's hair becomes a symbol of her evolving identity and her connection to her African heritage. She initially straightens her hair to conform to white beauty standards, but later embraces her natural hair as a symbol of African pride.
• The $10,000 Check: The $10,000 life insurance check is a catalyst for the play's events. It represents the potential for a better life and the conflicts that arise as the family struggles to decide how to use it.

VI. Symbols

• The House in Clybourne Park: The house in Clybourne Park symbolizes the Youngers' hope for a better future and their determination to overcome racial discrimination. It also represents the challenges and risks they face as they move into a predominantly white neighborhood.
• Walter's Liquor Store: Walter's dream of owning a liquor store symbolizes his desire for financial independence and respect. However, it also represents his materialistic aspirations and his willingness to compromise his values for financial gain.
• Beneatha's Medical Aspirations: Beneatha's dream of becoming a doctor symbolizes her desire to challenge societal norms and to make a positive impact on the world. It also represents the importance of education and opportunity for African Americans.
• Mama's Gardening Tools: Mama's gardening tools symbolize her connection to the land and her traditional values. They represent her desire to create a better life for her family and her belief in the power of hard work.

VII. Literary Devices

• Realism: The play is a work of realism, portraying the everyday lives and struggles of an African American family in Chicago. The dialogue is naturalistic, and the characters are complex and believable.
• Symbolism: The play is rich in symbolism, with objects and characters representing abstract ideas and themes.
• Irony: The play employs irony to highlight the discrepancies between the characters' dreams and their reality. For example, Walter's belief that money will solve all of his problems is ironic, as his pursuit of wealth ultimately leads to his downfall.
• Foreshadowing: The play uses foreshadowing to hint at future events. For example, Walter's obsession with money and his questionable business dealings foreshadow his eventual loss of the money.
• Conflict: The play is driven by conflict, both internal and external. The characters struggle with their own desires and ambitions, as well as with the challenges of racism and poverty.

VIII. Historical Context

• The Civil Rights Movement: The play was written during the early years of the Civil Rights Movement, a period of intense struggle for racial equality in the United States. The play reflects the hopes and aspirations of African Americans as they fought for their rights.
• Racial Segregation: The play depicts the reality of racial segregation in the 1950s. The Youngers face discrimination in housing and employment, and they are forced to live in a segregated neighborhood.
• The Great Migration: The play is set in Chicago, a major destination for African Americans during the Great Migration, a period of mass migration from the rural South to the urban North. The play reflects the challenges and opportunities that African Americans faced as they sought a better life in the North.
• Post-World War II America: The play is set in the post-World War II era, a time of economic prosperity and social change in the United States. The play reflects the aspirations of African Americans to share in the American Dream.

IX. Critical Reception

• A Raisin in the Sun was a critical and commercial success when it premiered in 1959. It was praised for its realistic portrayal of African American life and its powerful exploration of themes such as race, family, and the American Dream.
• The play won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play in 1959, making Lorraine Hansberry the first African American woman to win the award.
• A Raisin in the Sun has been widely studied and performed in schools and theaters around the world. It is considered a classic of American literature and a landmark achievement in African American drama.

X. Key Quotes

• "Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams – but He did give us children to make those dreams seem worthwhile." - Mama
• "Once upon a time freedom used to be life – now it's money. I guess the world really do change . . ." - Mama
• "So you be proud of something, son. And let that pride come from yourself. Not from the world. All right?" - Mama
• "I tell you, I am a man – and I think my wife should wear pearls!" - Walter
• "I want so many things that they are driving me kind of wild . . . Mama." - Walter
• "Sometimes it's like I can see the future stretched out in front of me – just as plain as day. Like, the end of the line." - Ruth
• "I am not an assimilationist!" - Beneatha
• "What you tell him a piece of cloth? An intellectual Negro is nothing but a white man in a black skin!" - George Murchison
• "Then isn't there something wrong in a house – in a world – where all dreams, good or bad, must depend on the death of a man?" - Asagai

XI. Study Questions

• How does the play explore the theme of the American Dream?
• What are the different perspectives on the American Dream represented by the characters in the play?
• How does the play address the issue of racial discrimination?
• What is the significance of the house in Clybourne Park?
• How does the play portray the roles of women in the 1950s?
• What is the significance of Beneatha's exploration of her African heritage?
• How does the play use symbolism to convey its themes?
• What is the historical context of the play, and how does it influence the play's themes and characters?
• What are the key conflicts in the play, and how are they resolved?
• How does the play contribute to our understanding of the African American experience?

XII. Further Resources

• Books:
  • A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
  • To Be Young, Gifted and Black by Lorraine Hansberry (autobiography)
  • Lorraine Hansberry: A Research and Production Sourcebook by Richard G. Scharine
• Articles:
  • Numerous scholarly articles are available through academic databases such as JSTOR and Project MUSE.
• Websites:
  • Websites dedicated to Lorraine Hansberry and A Raisin in the Sun can provide biographical information, critical essays, and production history.

This data sheet provides a comprehensive overview of A Raisin in the Sun, covering its major themes, characters, symbols, and historical context. By exploring these aspects, students and enthusiasts can gain a deeper appreciation for this important work of American literature and its enduring relevance to contemporary society. The play's powerful message of hope, resilience, and the importance of family continues to resonate with audiences around the world.