A Raisin In The Sun Stage Directions Analysis

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Playwrights use various techniques to create a comprehensive tale that isn’t in the traditional novel format. Plays are cooked up with a variety of specialized ingredients such as acts and scenes to establish setting, dialogue to showcase character interactions, stage directions to declare the tones and physical reactions of characters to situations, and comparable and contrasting characters to emphasize certain motifs and themes. Lorraine Hansberry uses all of these accompanied with her plot inspired by her own life experiences to paint a picture of the African Americans’ struggles in the mid-1900s in a notable play she titled A Raisin in the Sun.
The easiest technique common in plays is the use of dialogue. This is expressed in a way to help …show more content…

They are a way of manifesting the character’s thoughts and feelings into subtle actions, rather than stating how they feel or using finicky details through narration. The stage direction can quickly depict which character is talking, how they are communication, what gestures they make, and indicate who their words or thoughts are directed to such as “WALTER (to RUTH): I need some money for carfare” (Hansberry 498). Stage direction is an underestimated power the playwright possesses. Hansberry, for example, uses this puissant strategy to create a sudden gentle feel in Ruth even after a nasty argument with Walter when she writes “RUTH (looks at him, then warms; teasing, but tenderly)” (Hansberry 498). Regarding the same quote, Hansberry also reveals a certain boasting, “I-told-you-so” side of Ruth with the mention of her words being teasing and mockingly tender. Ruth also possesses a great amount of sympathy as she does not hold a grudge but speaks warmly and compassionately and helps Walter by providing him the money. Without the stage direction, it could be interpreted in ways the playwright did not intend. For example, Walter could be asking Beneatha for money or Ruth could’ve responded hastily with disgust and frustration. Stage direction not only clears up who is talking to who, but also alters the voice in a reader’s head to the way the playwright wanted

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