A Raisin In The Sun…A Raisin In The Sun…~ ~ Lorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry

Another Perspective Another Perspective

Of Of

The American DreamThe American Dream

Inscribed on Hansberry’s Inscribed on Hansberry’s TombstoneTombstone

““I care. I care about it all. It takes too much I care. I care about it all. It takes too much energy not to care…The energy not to care…The whywhy of why are of why are here is an intrigue for adolescents; the here is an intrigue for adolescents; the howhow is what must command the living. is what must command the living. Which is lately why I have become an Which is lately why I have become an insurgent again.insurgent again.

From an August 1959 article in From an August 1959 article in The Village VoiceThe Village Voice

““In an almost paradoxical fashion, it disturbs In an almost paradoxical fashion, it disturbs the soul of man to truly understand what he the soul of man to truly understand what he invariably senses: that nobody really finds invariably senses: that nobody really finds oppression and/or poverty tolerable. If we oppression and/or poverty tolerable. If we ever destroy the image of the black people ever destroy the image of the black people who supposedly do find those things who supposedly do find those things tolerable in America, then the much touted tolerable in America, then the much touted “guilt” which allegedly haunts most middle-“guilt” which allegedly haunts most middle-class white Americans with regard to the class white Americans with regard to the Negro question would really become Negro question would really become unendurable.”unendurable.”

What happens to a dream deferred?What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry upDoes it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun?Like a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore –Or fester like a sore –

And then run?And then run?Does it stink like rotten meatDoes it stink like rotten meat

Or crust and sugar over –Or crust and sugar over –Like a syrupy sweet?Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sagsMaybe it just sagsLike a heavy load.Like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?Or does it explode?~ Langston Hughes~ Langston Hughes

CharactersCharacters

~ Walter Lee Younger~ Walter Lee Younger

~ Lena Younger (Mama)~ Lena Younger (Mama)

~ Ruth Younger~ Ruth Younger

~ Beneatha Younger~ Beneatha Younger

~ Travis Younger~ Travis Younger

~ Joseph Asagai ~ Joseph Asagai ~ George Murchison~ George Murchison

~ Bobo~ Bobo ~ Willy~ Willy

~ Karl Lindner~ Karl Lindner ~ Mrs. Johnson~ Mrs. Johnson

Themes and Such…Themes and Such…

The American Dream: what is “the better The American Dream: what is “the better life?”life?”

Gender Identity: Male and femaleGender Identity: Male and female• Generationally defining a “woman”Generationally defining a “woman”• What is “masculinity?”What is “masculinity?”

Afrocentrism: Does it play into Civil Afrocentrism: Does it play into Civil Rights?Rights?

Class tensions: racial and otherwiseClass tensions: racial and otherwise Assimilation Assimilation

Symbols…Symbols…

The Home (Apartment)The Home (Apartment)

Beneatha’s StruggleBeneatha’s Struggle

Mama’s PlantMama’s Plant

The Liquor StoreThe Liquor Store

DreamsDreams

And so we begin…And so we begin…

“ “Weariness has, in fact, Weariness has, in fact,

won in this room.”won in this room.”

How does this single sentence serve to set How does this single sentence serve to set up the ‘metaphorical significance’ of the up the ‘metaphorical significance’ of the play?play?

Mr. F’s Mr. F’s Fave Three QuotesFave Three Quotes

DAMN MY EGGS – DAMN ALL THE DAMN MY EGGS – DAMN ALL THE EGGS THAT EVER WASEGGS THAT EVER WAS

~ Walter, Act 1, sc. I~ Walter, Act 1, sc. I

What do EGGS have to do with the American What do EGGS have to do with the American Dream?Dream?

Mr. F’s Mr. F’s Fave Three QuotesFave Three Quotes

……The only people in the world who are The only people in the world who are more snobbish than rich white people are more snobbish than rich white people are rich colored peoplerich colored people

~ Beneatha, Act 1, sc. I~ Beneatha, Act 1, sc. I

How does George Murchison figure into the How does George Murchison figure into the American dream? What do you think American dream? What do you think Beneatha means by this?Beneatha means by this?

Fave quote #3Fave quote #3

Let’s face it baby, your heritage is nothing Let’s face it baby, your heritage is nothing but a bunch of raggedy-assed spirituals but a bunch of raggedy-assed spirituals and grass huts!and grass huts!

~ George Murchison, Act ~ George Murchison, Act II, sc. III, sc. I

Huh? What’s George trying to say?Huh? What’s George trying to say?

OK…just one moreOK…just one more

By the way, what are your views on Civil By the way, what are your views on Civil Rights?Rights?

~ Walter (to Beneatha), Act II, sc. Iii~ Walter (to Beneatha), Act II, sc. Iii

What are the differences between Walter What are the differences between Walter and Beneatha’s views…?and Beneatha’s views…?

Reality Check:Reality Check:Quotes you may NOT use!Quotes you may NOT use!

MamaMama: Oh—So now it’s life. Money is life. : Oh—So now it’s life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be lifeOnce upon a time freedom used to be life—now it’s money. I guess the world really —now it’s money. I guess the world really do change . . .do change . . .

WalterWalter: You wouldn’t understand yet, son, : You wouldn’t understand yet, son, but your daddy’s gonna make a but your daddy’s gonna make a transaction . . . a business transaction transaction . . . a business transaction that’s going to change our lives. . . .that’s going to change our lives. . . .

Still…NOT!Still…NOT! AsagaiAsagai: Then isn’t there something wrong in a : Then isn’t there something wrong in a

house—in a world—where all dreams, good or house—in a world—where all dreams, good or bad, must depend on the death of a man?bad, must depend on the death of a man?

MamaMama: There is always something left to love. : There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing.learned nothing.

WalterWalter: We have decided to move into our : We have decided to move into our house because my father—my father—he house because my father—my father—he earned it for us brick by brick.earned it for us brick by brick.

And…Just in case…And…Just in case…(dripping with sarcasm)(dripping with sarcasm)

A Raisin in the Sun Quotes. Find the A Raisin in the Sun Quotes. Find the perfect quote to float your boat. perfect quote to float your boat. Shmoop breaks down key quotations Shmoop breaks down key quotations from A Raisin in the Sun.from A Raisin in the Sun. Danger. Beware. Land mines ahead.Danger. Beware. Land mines ahead.

Raisin In The Sun…Socratic

Opening Question:

Through the lens of what we’ve read up to this point,

What is it about dried fruit and “the collision of dreams?”

Raisin In The Sun…Socratic

Opening Question:

How does a raisin figure into the Amstud

Literary Message about “A Dream

Deferred?”