A Raisin In The Sun Character Analysis

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Recommended: Social differences between 1920 and 1950 in the US

AP English Literature and Composition

MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET

Title: A Raisin In the Sun
Author: Lorraine Hansberry
Date of Publication: 1951
Genre: Realistic Drama
Biographical Information about the Author

Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on May 19, 1930. She grew up as the youngest in her family. Her mother was a teacher and her father was a real estate broker. They eventually moved into a white part of town where they were persecuted and were ordered by the court to move. Their case went all the way to the supreme court. Hansberry decided to attend the university of Wisconsin to study painting, but quickly changed to study writing. After two years she dropped out and decided to move to New York. In New York she started working for a newspaper, she worked as a part time waitress, and a cashier. She still wrote in her free time until she quit all her jobs to focus just on writing. Around 1957 she wrote the play, A Crystal Stair, which was changed to A Raisin In the Sun. In 1963 she became a strong supporter of civil rights. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died on January 12, 1965.

Historical Information about the period of publication
A Raisin in the Sun was published in 1951. This was the year that WWII was officially ended. There was a strong presence of racism and segregation during this time. Segregation had not been ruled unconstitutional until 1954, 3 years after this publishing of A Raisin in the Sun. During this time men mostly worked blue-collar jobs while few women held jobs such as secretaries. Women were still viewed as housewives and men were saw as the main provider for their families.

Characteristics of the Genre

A Raisin in the Sun is considered to be realistic drama. It is consider...

... middle of paper ...

...caring, smart
Setting Significance of opening scene

The play is set around the late 1940s and throughout the 50s on the south side of Chicago

In the opening

Significance of ending/closing scene

Symbols

Mama’s plant symbolizes how she loves her family and how she wants their dreams to come true. She takes care of the plants like she takes care of her family and dreams of a house with a garden.
Benethas hair is another symbol. In the beginning her hair is straight. Later, she decides to cut it and style it more naturally. This shows her will to find her identity

Old AP Questions
1987 1990 1991 1992 1994 1996 1999 2007 2009b

Possible Themes

Family will help you get through anything if you stick together.
Always have dreams and goals and strive to achieve them.
Racism should not be tolerated, but fought against.

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