Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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The play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry explores a variety of themes such as family values, social inequality, gender roles, and religion. The primary focus of the play, however, is to exhibit the struggle that people endure on the pursuit of happiness while chasing the American Dream, a set of standards in which freedom contains the prospect for wealth and achievement, and a rising social mobility for the family and children achieved in a society with scarce barriers. Each of the main characters in the play has their own personal idea of what they consider to be a higher quality life. A Raisin in the Sun emphasizes the prominence of dreams regardless of the various overwhelming struggles of life. Although laws have been passed banning…show more content…
He is funding Travis with the best extravagances that he can afford to make sure his son never feels left out. Walter is hoping that eventually later in life, Travis will apprehend the sacrifices they endured. The only concern here is to wonder why Walter is looking at his wife when giving Travis money instead of looking at Travis himself. I would conclude that he is trying to make Ruth realize how he is going out of his way to be the better parent in a time of desperation. All in all, the theme of family values assists in correlating the other themes, such as social inequality and gender roles, in a unique manner that all ties together by the end of the play. The next significant theme symbolized in A Raisin in the Sun are issues with social equality; specifically, the Younger family’s conflict with racism. This issue appears throughout the play in a plethora of ways. The play was first presented in 1959 and forecasts many of the concerns that would later divide American society in the 1960's. The first issue the play deals with is a lack of economic opportunity for African American families. To begin, the…show more content…
The idea of the American Dream still exists in the modern age, whether it is chasing wealth, love, or fame, reaching the moon from a starting point on the ground is what has built America. The main focus of the play is about Walter trying to make an effort to become someone and create a better future for his family. The two most important dreams that the Younger family chases are becoming accepted by white society and being financially stable. The American Dream has lost its exact definition and that is because in order to accomplish the American dream you must define success based on your strengths, values and interests and pursue what makes you personally content. To the Younger family, religion, family values, and social equality concerning race and gender are all the most significant values to attaining an ordinary American
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