Term Paper on "Social Historical or Cultural Raisin in the Sun"

Term Paper 6 pages (1784 words) Sources: 2 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Hansberry

The play a Raisin in the Sun was a groundbreaking literary work. The play, written by Lorraine Hansberry, explores the life and times of an African-American Family. The purpose of this discussion is to provide an interpretation of this literary work. The discussion to follow will add to and support the interpretation so that the sources may lead to a different, better-informed understanding.

Lorraine Hansberry

Raisin in the Sun first premiered in 1959 at a time when a significant percentage of the United States was still legally segregated. To understand the play a raisin in the sun, one must have some understanding of the life and times of the writer Lorraine Hansberry, because in many ways the lay is autobiographical.

Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago in 1930 to educated parents ("Context"). While growing up in South Side Chicago she attended schools that were segregated and she lived in a black neighborhood. At this time segregation was not mandatory or a law in Illinois but the city was very much segregated amongst racial lines ("Context"). With these things being understood, Lorraine Hansberry's family eventually moved to an all white neighborhood and as a result of this move they faced many struggles including threats ("Context"). Eventually these threats cause Hansberry's father to seek legal action against those involved in the threatening behaviors.

According to one article the title of the play was taken from a Langston Hughes poem "Harlem" written in 1951, in which he refers to a dream differed as a raisin in the sun ("Context"). Hansberry uses this analogy to address to plight of Black Americans throughout the play.

Raisin in the sun

As a result of her experiences as a child, Hansberry creates a play that addresses some of the issue that she and her family witnessed. The play, set in the 1950's, tells the story of the Youngers Family living in an apartment on the Southside of Chicago as they are about to receive a $10,000 check from the insurance policy of Mr. Younger (Hansberry). All of the members of the family have ideas concerning how the money should be used (Plot Overview). Mama, the widow of Mr. Younger wants to use the check to purchase a home for the entire family (Hansberry). However, her children Beneatha and Walter want to use the money for other purposes. Beneatha believes it should be used for her school tuition and Walter believes that opening a business with the money would be best. Beneatha also views moving into a home as an attempt to become a part of the white world (Plot Overview). Walters' wife Ruth agrees with Mama and thinks the family should purchase a home (Plot Overview).

It is apparent throughout the play that Mama has always dreamed of owning a home. She views home ownership as a way to move her family out of the despair of the neighborhood and the apartment in which they lived. On the other hand, Walter believes if he can open a liquor store the family will not have to struggle any longer and they will still be able to eventually purchase a home. In addition Ruth finds out that she is pregnant and contemplates an abortion because she believes that the household can not afford another person.

It is also apparent throughout the play that Beneatha struggles somewhat with her racial identity. She is obviously torn between the reality of the black struggle in America and her African roots. This struggle created in her a detachment or disdain for what she perceives as the "white world." Beneatha want her family to see the world the way that she sees the world. Beneatha also has two men that are interested in having a relationship with her. One man George Murchison does not have the conscientiousness that Beneatha wants in a mate (Hansberry). It seems to her that George is oblivious to, or does not understand the racist overtones and undertones that exist in society. The other man is from Nigeria and wants to marry Beneatha. By the end of the play it is not clear whether or not Beneatha decided to become his wife.

Ultimately, the family reaches a slight compromise and Mama takes a portion of the money and makes a down payment on a house in Clybourne Park an all-white neighborhood. Walter also gets a portion of the money ($6,500), but looses it when a friend that is supposed to help him with the business steals the money (Plot Overview). The neighbors in Clybourne Park discover that the Youngers are a black family and attempt to give them their down payment back in hopes that they will not move into the neighborhood. Nevertheless, the Youngers do move into Clybourne Park by the end of the play. However, the play leaves many questions unanswered as the play ends with the family moving into their new home.

Overall, the play depicts the truth of a Black American Family living in a society that viewed them as second class citizens. The Youngers were actually a symbol of the struggles and adversity that segregation caused and what these obstacles could do to the human spirit. The play also showed the clear differences between generations and within the same generation. Mama believed that owning a home would provide the family with the stability they needed and provide them with a new start. However her brother believed that making money would give the family stability and would be the answer to ending their struggles. On the other hand, Beneatha viewed home ownership as an attempt to fit into a world that was neither welcoming nor tolerant of people with black skin.

Societal and Cultural significance of a Raisin in the Sun

This particular play was important for several reasons. One of the primary reasons for the play's importance is the manner in which it portrayed black American's. Until this play black Americans were always typecast in stereotypical roles. A Raisin in the sun was the first successful play to actually depict the everyday life of Black people living in America.

The play was also important because of the social conditions that were present at the time the play debuted. Although there was a great deal of economic prosperity in the country at the time, there was also a great deal of racial tension; eventually this tension would develop into one of the most substantial social movements of the 20th century. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote the following of a Raisin in the Sun

Set against a backdrop of overt racism and pervasive housing discrimination in the 1950s, Hansberry's play manages to recover and sustain ethical idealism amid conditions, personal and societal, that would make fatalistic surrender understandable. It does so without sentimentality and in spite of the unresolved conflicts and uncertainties that are left over at the play's end, which remain Hansberry's legacy to the continuing struggle for racial justice and decency in America (Emerson, 1993)."

Indeed, this particular play showed the real struggle of family life for Black Americans. It also showed the hopes and dreams of the family and illustrated the triumphant human spirit which seeks to succeed even when there are many obstacles.

This play and other artistic endeavors by African-Americans set the stage for the civil rights and feminist movements that took place in the 1960's. The play laid the foundation for showing the humanity of black people; prior to this play black people were often viewed as content or animalistic. These depictions were detrimental because they helped to perpetuate the idea that black people were not fully human. This play helped to destroy this idea.

The play was able to assist in the destruction of this notion because it was viewed by both white and black audiences and achieved critical acclaim. The white audiences saw, for the first time, the true feelings and aspirations of many black people living in America. This allowed many white viewers to understand the common humanity and the need for equality in all aspects of American life. Additionally black audiences saw their story told through the eyes of another black person. This was important because the plight of black American was often ignored and became the source of a great deal of tension.

The play was actually part of an awakening that led to the civil rights movement which shaped the 1960's. A Raisin in the Sun and other works by various black artists depicted black people and their plight in a way that could not be ignored. In her own way Lorraine Hansberry allowed her literary work to speak to the masses in a way that could be understood by people regardless of race. As such the civil rights movement was influenced by her work and her efforts to bring attention to the racial divides that existed in America at the time.

In addition to the civil rights movement, a Raisin in the Sun also assisted the feminist movement. The play discussed issues such as… READ MORE

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