Lorraine Hansberry's play is one of the most famous literary works of the late 50s, which raises the issues of racism, racial discrimination, and cultural identity of African Americans. The author touches on the social problems of the postwar period, and most of these problems relates to the African-American cultural heritage. Hansberry describes the life of an ordinary African American family living in the south of Chicago. The family members' relationship and the response to the opportunity to achieve something more reveals the basis of the plot and the perspectives of the play. The play's problematics affect mainly the issues of racial discrimination and social classes. Hansberry shows how much American society changes people, affects their self-esteem and cultural identity by means of the actions of her characters and their relation to each other and to material goods. Moreover, some scenes involving the specific characters make understand the implicit problems that are associated with the adaptation to a hostile society and the struggle for their rights.
Undoubtedly, the play is A Raisin in the Sun is a unique example of the social and interpersonal drama. Indeed, A Raisin was the first play on Broadway written by an African American, but moreover, it was also "the first Broadway play directed by an African American, Lloyd Richards" (Lipari 85). The actions in the play take place in conventional manner. The author describes the usual routine of the family, who lives in a poor area along with another family in the neighborhood. Soon, one of the key situations changes the plot of the play, thus revealing the problems in more detail. Walter finds out the death his father, who was insured for $10,000. This event has disturbed the whole family members, and yet, it has played a very important role in the lives of the characters. Reading the play gives a better understanding of all the racial problems faced by black Americans for many years. In fact, the family lived in a designated district where the poor black families lived and have to work just to survive. But some of them have another viewpoint on life. For instance, Walter Lee "say colored people ain't never going to start getting ahead till they start gambling on some different kind of thing in the world — investments and things" (Hansberry 500). Their wages are very low, which does not allow them to break out of persistent poverty, not to mention getting any education and future prospects. The senior members of the Younger family can afford only one thing — i.e. to hold the low-paid positions, where one has to work hard and earn little. These problems of employment are due to racism, which was distributed throughout the United States, especially in Chicago (e.g. "series of Mason-Dixon lines") (Gordon 121). Walter works as a driver, and his wife Ruth and her mother-in can work only housekeepers. Naturally, such the professions and the wages suppose that Walter and Ruth are unable to provide for their children and, therefore, all members of the family have to live in poverty. However, Beneatha is the only member of the family who really tries to make a difference and do not forget about her cultural identity. She knows the essence of the events: "And then there are all those prophets who would lead us out of the wilderness [] —into the swamps!" (Hansberry 498). She tries to get an education; she attends the college and is constantly engaged in self-development with the aim to study the biology, as she believes that biology is the most important science of all. She plans a trip to Africa, where she will be able to help his relatives as a doctor.
The main problems of racism can be seen at the very beginning of the play, where the reader gets acquainted with the family members and their characters, self-esteem level, residence, and place of work. Then, of course, a conflict of interests of each member of the family arises, which is due to the insurance, a part of which was stolen. This situation changes everything, as "the check becomes a magic wand for the family" (Saber 456). The loss of the money from Walter father's death insurance can also be attributed to the racial issues. One of the officials was sure that the black members of the society did not deserve to get the full benefits. In fact, Hansberry describes the common situations in the life of the Afro-American family, but there are the social and racial overtones in each of them, which points to discrimination. The head of the family, Walter Lee, wants to succeed in materially; he wants the best for his family, and therefore the investment are an important business for him: "Invest big, gamble big, hell, lose big if you have to" (Hansberry 529-530). Walter is the most developed character: the author depicts him torn between two desires. On the one hand, he wants to realize the American dream and to give the family an opportunity to develop in the future, and on the other, he tries to observe the family traditions, taking into account the cultural values of his people.
The Younger family is unlucky also because the south Chicago's racism has manifested everywhere and for a long time. Walter is the head of the family, and the rest of its members rely on him. His decision to move to a larger house is the key for survival, though it is often contested. The women in his family are subjected to him, and this fact is due to their culture. Here, of course, one can talk about the gender issues, but as seen from the perspective of the plot and the play, the problem was not so important to the author, although it was discussed. The main issues of the play focus on the acquisition of new housing by the Younger family. Mr. Karl Lindner is an experienced estate agent and a representative of the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, who inclines the head of the family to buy a real estate in the white area. In this situation, the racial problem becomes even more apparent. Lindner sarcastically comments on Walter's desire to move "the whole business is a matter of caring about the other fellow" (Hansberry 553). However, the families from "the white district" do not want to live next door to the black family. For them, it is not acceptable and even humiliating. This situation is also due to the fears for the safety of their property and life. The purchase of a family home by the Youngers reveals, perhaps, one of the most important aspects of the problems of the whole play. This problem is definitely related to the racial discrimination and social inequality. Racial discrimination is shown through the intrapersonal and interracial relations of the whites to black families and their reaction to the Youngers' move to their district. Walter's mother insists on buying a house in a white neighborhood, as the property prices in the black neighborhoods were far higher than in whites. Hence, the Youngers and the play as a whole are "caught within an intractable dilemma": i.e. to stay where they are or to leave (Foertsch 410). Thus, the real estate agent fools the buyers, using the racist attitude of the majority of the white residents of Chicago. The racial discrimination affects each family member differently. Of course, it affects Walter primarily, because his family members wait for his decisive actions on the issue of a future life improvement. In addition, Ruth shares with her husband all his ideas. Walter's mother takes racism in her own way; she is ready to resist the whole white society that does not consider African Americans people. Mama is confident that Mr. Lindner tries to fool them and insists on buying a home in the white area.
At the same time, the play has a deep symbolism. Based on the age of each member of the family, one can trace how these issues affect each of them. Here, the reader can see how each member of the family is ready to deal with this confrontation. Mr. Lindner's offer is the proposal that comes from the whole white community, who despises black people, not counting them worthy to be a part of American society. Linder strongly urges Walter to change his mind and do not move to the place where nobody wants to see them. The agreement would mean humility and fear. But here, with the help of a few final dialogues of Walter and Mama, the author builds the main symbol of her work. This symbol can be described as a symbol of the struggle. The family becomes a single whole in the finals and proclaims a fight for their rights: "We don't want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors. And that's all we got to say about that" (Hansberry 575). They are ready to confront the racism and class society in its very epicenter of Chicago. The move of the Younger family is a turning point in the struggle for the rights of African Americans.
Conclusions
In cocnlsuion, the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry has the deep problematics and the implicit conflicts. The author of the play touches on the social problems that have been relevant in the post-war period. The main problems of the play are aimed at exposing the issues of racism and class inequality that were ubiquitous in the United States. The Younger family lives in a poor Chicago neighborhood in which they are the only black family. Having the opportunity to change their lives, they decide to move into the first place in the more prosperous district, where only white Americans live. Their choice is accompanied by a number of obstacles, but they are still able to overcome them and thus destroy the certain limitations, which influenced each black family in Chicago. The move of the Younger family is a symbol of the struggle of African Americans for their rights.
Works Cited
Foertsch, Jacqueline. "Against The "Starless Midnight Of Racism And War": African American Intellectuals And The Antinuclear Agenda." Philological Quarterly 88.4 (2009): 407-430. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Aug. 2016.
Gordon, Michelle. "Somewhat Like War": The Aesthetics Of Segregation, Black Liberation, And "A Raisin In The Sun." African American Review 42.1 (2008): 121. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 10 Aug. 2016.
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin In The Sun. London: Bloomsbury, 2015. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 10 Aug. 2016.
Lipari, Lisbeth. "Fearful Of The Written Word": White Fear, Black Writing, And Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun Screenplay." Quarterly Journal Of Speech 90.1 (n.d.): 81-102. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 10 Aug. 2016.
Saber, Yomna. "Lorraine Hansberry: Defining The Line Between Integration And Assimilation." Women's Studies 39.5 (2010): 451-469. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 10 Aug. 2016.
