Important themes in A Raisin in the Sun
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Important themes in "A Raisin in the Sun"
A Raisin in the Sun examines an African-American's family struggle to break out of the themes of poverty, dreams, racism, society, and various social themes that they are faced with. Lorraine Hansberry analyzes how race prejudice and economic insecurity affect a black mans role in his own family, his ability to provide, and his identity.
One of the major themes in this play is dreams and dreams deferred. When the Younger family receives the ten thousand dollar check in the mail, each member of the family has a different opinion on how it should be spent. This money comes from Mama's husband who passed away a few years ago. Everybody wanted the money for themselves and nobody else. Their dreams become dried up like a raisin in the sun. Not just dreams are dried up though; Walter Lee and Ruth's marriage become dried up also. The money would let Ruth and Mama fulfill the dream of owning their own house, and Walter would use the money to pursue the dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Beneatha has a dream to finish medical school to become a doctor, so she can cure people of what ails them...