Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

895 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of the raisin in the sun

Lorraine Hansberry does an excellent job of exploring the ideas of dreams in her play A Raisin in The Sun. Beneatha has a dream of becoming a doctor and Walter has a dream of owning a liquor store. All of these plans for the future are things that today’s people, especially youth, can connect to. Through her writing, Hansberry shows that many dreams get deferred with time and usually leave an impact on the dreamer. One of the biggest dreams that is portrayed in this play is Walter’s dream of owning a liquor store. Through Walter, Lorraine Hansberry shows that the most desired dreams can be put off. Walter has wanted to open a liquor store for a long time, but just couldn’t find the money to make it happen. His verbalized reason for his dream is to provide more for his family, but, of course, he also wants to do something bigger and more important with his life. Walter has found that being …show more content…

In the end of the play, we find out the reasoning for her dream in a conversation between Beneatha and Asagai. Beneatha explains a childhood story that made her so passionate about being a doctor. After a friend of hers had been hurt and stitched up by the doctors she said she couldn't get over, “That that was what one person could do for another, fix him up- sew up the problem, make him all right again. That was the most marvelous thing in the world...(page 133)” she said, “I wanted to do that (page 133).” Unfortunately, near the end of the play, Beneatha loses her devotion to follow her dream. Her dream gets deferred because she realizes that there will always be bad in the world. No matter how many people she fixes up, there will always be people doing bad. Beneatha’s deferred dream has an impact on her because she let the words of Water and her circumstance get in the way of continuing to pursue her dream. In a way, she loses her underlying strength in this part of the

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Kitchenette Building And A Raisin In The Sun

    409 Words  | 1 Pages

    “We wonder. But not well! Not for a minute! Since Number Five is out of the bathroom now, we think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it” (Brooks 11-13). The speaker indicates that even if someone has a dream, they cannot really consider pursuing it, for it is not as important as the basic necessities. Instead, they replace the dream with a practical desire: getting into the bath before the water becomes cold. This demonstrates that the speaker believes that it is essential to take care of basic human needs before fantasizing about unrealistic ideas. Beneatha, on the other hand, is determined to accomplish her dream of becoming a doctor. Unlike the speaker in “Kitchenette Building,” Beneatha strives for a dream that seems far-fetched. She is not satisfied with just the basic needs, so she yearns to do something important with her life. In fact, one of her nicknames is “One for Whom Bread-Food-Is Not Enough” (Hansberry 65). Unlike the speaker of the poem, Beneatha refuses to let her dream die just because of her family’s unfortunate financial situation. Furthermore, Beneatha’s ambition does not fit into the gender stereotypes of the time period. “Ain’t many girls who decide ‘to be a doctor’”

    Read More

  • Optimism or Pessimism in A Raisin in the Sun

    851 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beneatha on the other hand is more of a realistic character. She is optimistic some days and pessimistic on others. Beneatha is optimistic in the sense that she is a colored woman living in the ghetto and still, she strives and dreams to be a doctor.

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun Ruth's Dream

    472 Words  | 1 Pages

    Beneatha’s dream is revealed because nearly everything Beneatha does is because she wants to be a doctor. Beneatha’s barrier is that she is dependent on others to fulfill her dream. In act 3, Asagai says: “But did you earn it? Would you have had it at all if your father had not died?” (135). Beneatha begins to understand that the money was never hers. Asagai declares in act 3: “Then isn’t there something wrong in a house – in a world – where all dreams, good or bad, must depend on the death on the death of a man?” (135). After Asagai says this, Beneatha realizes she can’t depend on her father’s life insurance to become a doctor. Ruth and Beneatha both have major barriers keeping them from their

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun - Money

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Walter loses his "sister's school money," the consequences are widespread and Beneatha sees that dream diminish before her eyes. She sees her slipping through Walter's fingers and finds her lifelong goals changing. From the days of her childhood, she has longed "to be a doctor" and "fix up the sick." While her family and friends do not understand Beneatha's dream, she continues longing for the education she needs to create a successful life she desires rather than one where she is waiting "to get married.

    Read More

  • Comparing A Raisin In The Sun And Ibsen's A Doll House

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    She shares that not only would she be able to get married as well as become a doctor, she would get to live in Africa. Her mother does not say no, but she kind of “brushes off” the news Beneatha shares with her as if it is not an option. Her brother, Walter, tells her to forget about it and marry rich. Neither her mother or brother are supportive in this moment. Hansberry ends the play shortly after this moment, so it is unclear what Beneatha’s final decision was. Was she independent enough to liberate herself from her family’s hold? Or did she remain trapped and dependent by their expectations of what her future should look like?

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun Values Analysis

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adventure is the first value that Beneatha and I share. I am always interested into traveling and going to different places, which is same with Beneatha. I love to go to different countries and especially to England because I love their accent and I like to speak like British people. Thus, Beneatha has the same value she loves traveling. In the play, she wanted to go to Africa to the extent that when Asagai asked her if she wanted to

    Read More

  • Characters Dreams Deferred in Raisin In The Sun

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beneatha’s dream is to become a doctor. She believes that her dream was deferred when she was born since she is coloured and a female. Although she fights this, her dream is deferred even more when Walter looses the money which she needed to get into medical school.

    Read More

  • Raisin In The Sun Loosing Quotes

    1180 Words  | 3 Pages

    As was shown in her earlier conversation with Mama about marriage and her later conversation with Asagai of moving to africa with him. When Beneatha comes to realize that her brother Walter has possession of the money responsible for paying her studies. She blames him for his poor investment choice and question his manhood.’’Chairman of the Board!…I look at you and I see the final triumph of stupidity in the world!‘’ Beneath (ACT 3 ) . When the money is stolen Beneatha closes all her doors and is set on 1 way of thinking. Beneatha claims that she suffers in the hands of others she yet, has not realized her ability to improve her circumstances as it is shown in this quote. ‘’Asagai, while I was sleeping in that bed in there, people went out and took the future right out of my hands! And nobody asked me, nobody consulted me they just went out and changed my life! ‘’ Beneatha (ACT 3).Once the money is gone Beneatha comes to realize that she was far from independent, she has had to rely on the insurance money from her father's death and the investments made by her brother to realize that her dream of becoming a doctor has had a great impact on her. When she realizes her dependence she gains a new perspective. Benethat know realizes that she can earn her dream on her own. As in the last scene in the play she hints on accepting Asagai's offer. Beneatha learns what consideration and appreciation means. Her relationship with Walter improves and she learns to understand the true meaning of

    Read More

  • Theme Of Feminism In A Raisin In The Sun

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    She is determined to find her fullness as an individual and to not be defined by the man she marries. Walter constantly criticizes Beneatha’s dream of being a doctor. He treats it as though his dream is no longer feasible. He’s portrayed by Hansberry as being fairly pathetic and helpless. It seems like he needs women to help him move into manhood.

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    545 Words  | 2 Pages

    (37). Without currency Beneatha’s dream wouldn't be possible when Walter lost the money she realized it may not be achievable: BENEATHA. … I wanted to cure. It used to matter. I used to care.

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    This conflict causes her to become more tiresome physically and emotionally. Beneatha has always thought of herself as superior to others like her name my show. She is a non-traditionalist and doesn’t think like her family. She wants that money to help her with school although she doesn’t portray this like Walter. Lastly, Ruth is the quiet one who hardly shows her emotions.

    Read More

  • Walter Lee's Dreams in A Raisin in The Sun

    1409 Words  | 3 Pages

    Evidently, Walter Lee?s judgment becomes significantly impaired and all because of his dreams. In the world today, people still struggle with the same problems and desire the same things Walter does. Success is a seemingly huge necessity. In the course of ones life, each person is destined to face personal conflicts and contradictions. These problems, with the ability to overcome them is truly how to achieve greatness. As Mr. Langston Hughes questions so powerfully in his poem, ?What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?? With the help of Walter Lee Younger, the answer becomes evident. Dreams never dry up? they just change.

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun American Dream Essay

    502 Words  | 2 Pages

    His frustration is because of the family’s financial situation, but also the fact that no one thinks he can make a name for himself. Eventually, he realizes that the liquor store dream isn’t possible because his “friend” runs away with the money he was going to put down. Walter learns that home is the goal because not only will it make his mother happy but will also create a better world for his son to live in. On a different note, is the American dream now about getting an education? During the 1930’s, not only was it rare for a woman to go to medical school, it was rare to see a woman getting educated at all, let alone an African-American woman.

    Read More

  • Raisin In The Sun Walter Analysis

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everybody has a dream of being successful; they want to be the best they can. In the rain in the sun, Walter's dream was to be a successful business owner like Bill Gates to become a powerful wealthy business owner. To have a popular business all starts with an idea, then you want that idea to come to life. Entrepreneurs want their ideas to be long lived and have a bright future that many generations will continue to use. It’s not easy to start a new business, it is a lot of time and money and that is what most people struggle with.

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun – Mama

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beneatha is Mama's youngest child. She aspires to become a doctor. Mama wants Beneatha to become what she wants so she decided to put aside some of the insurance money for Beneatha's schooling. Beneatha struggles as a young independent woman who has yet to find her identity. She finds herself trying new hobbies and dating two very different men. During a conversation with one of those men, Asagai, Beneatha is forced by Asagai to realize that she is not very independent at all. In fact she has been depending on the insurance money to get her through school. After this realization, Beneatha gains thoughts on how to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor (Kohorn). She presents her mother with her decision of getting married and how she "plans to find her roots in Africa" with Asagai (Silver).

    Read More

More about Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

Open Document