The Themes Of Family In John Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

In A Raisin in the Sun Hansberry’s narrative is a very touching story. The use of each character and how she takes you through their lives is incredible. I think that Hansberry’s life as a child had a great influence on this piece of literature. One online source stated that when Lorraine was just a little girl she personally had experience of moving into a white neighborhood, just like her story. (Chicago Public Library) I think she wrote this narrative with her personal experiences and also of people around her. She uses themes throughout her narrative to help guide the reader throughout the story. However, in my opinion the strongest theme throughout Hansberry’s narrative is family. In the beginning of her narrative, it starts out by

Walter is stubborn and pigheaded and spent the rest of the money. It ends up backfiring at him and all the money is stolen by a friend. At this climax of the story it shows the family being under a lot of stress and hardship because of Walter’s actions. However because they are a family they were able to overcome this hardship. When Beneatha is ranting negatively about Walter, Mama comes out and says “There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing. Have you cried for that boy today? I don’t mean for yourself and for the family ‘cause we lost the money. I mean for him; what he been through and what it don’t to him. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most; when they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain’t through learning-because that ain’t the time at all….” (528) Here at the climax of the story Mama is clearly bringing back the theme of family. Mama even though Walter made a huge mistake and it was extremely selfish, she still supports him. Mama is still teaching her family on how to be a family through such hard times. The family is what is holding all of them together. Moreover, after family as a theme is evident in the rising action it is also displayed in the

At the end when Walter thinks he has no choice but to sell the house back to the white man, family prevails! Walter says to Lindner “What I am telling you is that we called you over here to tell you that we are very proud and that this is-this is my son, who makes the sixth generation of our family in this country, and that we have all thought about your offer and we have decided to move into our house because my father-my father-he earned it. We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes-but we will try to be good neighbors.” (529) At the very last second he changes his mind because he realizes how important family is. Walter finally becomes the man that Mama wanted him to be, one who knows that family prevails everything else. Walter lives up to his expectations, of being proud of his family. He lets his own selfish dreams go and finally views his life as not just one person, but of everyone together as a family. Mama on page 530 says “He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after rain…” Mama here is stating how proud she is of her son finally. This is also a reflection of Lorraine’s personal life. “Hansberry 's father worked with the NAACP and the Urban League to challenge segregation, and he ran for Congress through his attempt to break down the barriers of racism continued in the political arena when he ran for Congress.” (African American Registry)