Many Americans tend today to believe that a realist drama A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry is a brilliant example that clearly opens up and brings to public such important themes as economic hardship and racial prejudice. The author did perfectly her job, as she portrayed not only how important the family is, but also send the message to society that every individual should value and reach the set goals in life, despite racial discrimination, troubles, and obstacles on his way.
First and foremost, a united family is the most precious thing that every individual may have or experience in the lifetime. The Youngers is a typical African –American family,who lived in South Side of Chicago. Mama, who may be considered as a head of the family strongly believes that her children must understand how important is the family and throughout the play, she teaches them essential family rules. Mama’s dream is connected with the house, where her children, Walter and Beneatha may have a happy life and will eventually learn how to function together, as each of them is a little part of the strong family. Mama states that “There is always something left t to love. And if you did not learn that, you learned nothing” (Hansberry, 573). Basically, what Mama is trying to say that, nevertheless the fact that her family almost was ruined, but they manage to find the strength to overcome the range of unpleasant trials, such as the loss of insurance money and Beneatha’s hatred towards her brother. Love towards one’s family made them put family’s wishes before their own and showed them the right way, to value the family.
What is more, the play also opens up such important theme the purpose and value of dreams. The story is quite complicated as each character has its own dream and wants to spend the insurance money on it. The protagonist of the story Walter wanted to invest the money in a liquor store, in other words, run a business that would bring enough amount of money to afford things for his family. Walter was convinced, that his wife, Ruth, who was quite pessimistic, kept him from achieving his main goal. The main problem was that Walters family all the time struggled to survive, he tried to do his best, while Ruth did not support him. While Beneatha’s dream was to be a doctor and to do something good for society. She was an intelligent woman, not like anyone in her family, and it was very important for her to become a doctor and to determine one’s identity. But, by the end of the story, the understood that Mama’s dream to buy a house was the most consequential, as the house in this story is a mofit, that unites the family.
The last, but not the least important theme is racial discrimination. The house, which they decided to buy is in Clybourne Park, where mainly white people lived and they were more than prejudiced to black individuals. These people did not want the Younger’s family to live in their neighborhood. Firstly they wanted to bribe the family, then they were reinforced by a black anti-assimilation movement which was based on prejudice and racial discrimination. Walter sends the clear message to Clybourne society “We do not want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors” (Hansberry, 575). In other words, Walters’s words and authors intention were to prove that discrimination may be fought if people try to defend one’s beliefs and dreams. Furthermore, Lorraine Hansberry depicted a strong family that stood up their rights and managed to reassert one’s dignity in the depiction of the Younger family’s move from Chicago house to new one in Clybourne Park. Common sense seems to dictate that people must not be afraid when they deal with discrimination, as human’s skin color is not a reason to humiliate those people, as well as dishonorable and disrespectful treatment towards them.
All things considered, the story is more than true to life, as all individuals have a right to have a better life, or at least to strive for it, nevertheless the poverty, racism or family conflicts. The story prolongs the idea of equality between Negro community and white residents, and the new house in Clybourne Park may be considered as a start of the new relationship between two races. Lorraine Hansberry created an amazing play, she did not forget to describe mother’s care towards her children, religion, and love that helped the family to make a decision that had not only united the whole family but also gave the chance to start a new life. In addition, the story ends with the symbol of the play, Mama’s plant, that symbolizes family’s hope and represents the start of better future, without prejudice. This amazing story is about humanity, and despite all the criticism, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend anyone to read it.
Works Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Modern Classics, 2001. Print.
