A Raisin in the Sun Response- Laura Glucksman
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry has lots of elements that shine light on problems that happened and are still happening in American history. The play shows problems like racial inequality, gender in equality, views about other countries, and the problem with money.
Racial inequality is a recurring theme throughout the play. The Younger family, who are African American, are unwanted in a neighborhood that is occupied by mainly white people. When Karl Linder brings up the offer to the Younger family, he is not being straightforward with what his intentions on visiting the family are. He knows that his intentions are wrong but he is doing what society wants him to do. Hansberry was showing that some white people were pushed by their cohorts to act and they knew what they were doing was wrong. The family is so unwanted they are willing to pay the family enough money that they will make money on the house. Hansberry shows that segregation will be an ongoing problem because the time frame of this play, according to Hansberry, was “sometime between World War II and the present.” This time frame shows that Hansberry is trying to say that not much has happened since the Civil Rights era. Also, the roles the characters play in the play shows race discrimination against black people. For example, Walter Lee Younger is a white man’s driver. It is an extremely demanding job. Ruth Younger and Lena Younger work in people’s houses. All of these jobs require them to work for other people, and they do not have opportunities to move up the work ladder. Another example of racial discrimination in the play is when Mrs. Johnson tells the family about the bombing of a house occupied by a black family. It shows that white people were not willing to change their views on racial equality and treated their neighbors terribly simply based on the color of their skin.
Women are treated poorly in the play as well. First, Walter just wants his wife Ruth to not state her opinion. He wants his opinion to be the only opinion that is heard in their conversations. Also, Beneatha wants to be a doctor. Her family does not encourage this since she is an African American woman. They want her to marry a man that is rich. Also, Ruth and Lena Younger work in houses for their jobs. This is showing the stereotype that women do housework while men do the important work. Interestingly, Hansberry makes Mama, Lena Younger, the strongest character in the play. She always seems to have the right answers while the other characters do not. Even though Lena Younger is the strongest character in the play, she is not very informed about Africa. She thinks that there are mission trips to save every part of it. Hansberry is showing that people need to be more educated about the world they live in instead of living in their own small worlds. Money is a huge part of the play because the Younger family receives a check that is worth a fortune, and while it might seem that this would make their lives perfect, it this does not. This shows that money is not everything.
I loved reading this play. It addresses many issues of fairness and inequality that are still important today.