Drama Essay

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Drama essay

Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun” uses theme of dream in many ways. Every member of the household is living to fulfill their dream. the members of African-American family represents a broken home and encounters the socio-economic issues due to their financial deprivations. Irrespective of all the issues each member is inclined to fulfill their dream of escaping poverty. American theme is the central concept that depicts the desire of African-Americans to change their settings by improving their lifestyles. The dream of Walter is to start his won business and Ruth has a dream of making her family strong. The feelings and thoughts of every family member has relevance with the American dream of becoming better economically and socially. Dream is the most dominant theme that connects the family members and transmit sameness in their thoughts.

Historical perspective is essential to the playwright A Raisin in the Sun having roots in the African-American family. Hansberry’s early life has personal connections with the African background that has influenced her writing. She herself was born in the Southside of Chicago and learned many things about the black community due to her middle-class buckhound. The playwright s developed on the traditional issues faced by the Africans in the form of racism and socio-economic deprivations. Hansberry’s person experiences in Chicago allowed her to witness social inequality suffered by the African in American soil. Although she belonged to the middle-class and enjoyed some comforts compared to the poor blacks but she along with her family was restricted to ghettos. The author had grown with many of her friends who were poor and encountered even more complex issues becoming visible in social and economic injustices. Her connections with the people of lower background allowed her to learn the harsh realities of the black people that made her believe that race and ethnicity is one of the social ills for the minority population. The author’s family also experienced physical attacks when they moved to Chicago. Hansberry uses the African mindset for portraying the realities of the divided America. The playwright emerged before the civil Rights Movement of 1960s when blacks were fighting for their rights and were excluded from different parts of the society. The construction of Young family’s is base on the same historical perspective that reveals the tensions created by the unfair American society for the African population.

The playwright uses the literary device of symbolism for transmitting the themes of dream and struggles. Symbolism is visible in the play, “everyone objects to this plan, arguing that they have too much pride to accept not being able to live somewhere because of their race” (Hansberry). Pride symbolizes the desire of black people to live with pride and dignity. This reveals that they are willing to fight for their worth and rejects the white supremacy. The feelings of Walter states that he has not accepted his poor status and is inclined to change his life by doing something better. Symbol of dream is visible in the dialogue because it reveals the desire of Walter to get closer to his American dream. Change reflects his dissatisfaction with his status as he keeps on complaining about his financial issues throughout the play. Change also symbolizes desire of escaping from the black reality. This means Walter is not happy with his current state and desires to change his life by attaining something great. Symbolism of dissatisfaction is visible in Act 3 as the settings explains, “One hour later on moving day, everyone is still melancholy. The stage directions indicate that even the light in the apartment looks gray” (Hansberry). Melancholy symbolizes dissatisfaction and misery of the Young’s family based on African American cultures. Melancholy also symbolizes internal struggle of every house member, representing the deeper influence of black mindset. A black family is living in bad conditions with hope of attaining a better status by progressing financially. Their feelings symbolizes struggle to fight against oppressive circumstances because everyone believes that the reason for their deprivation is their African-American background.

Symbolism is discernible in Beneatha’s relationship with different boyfriends and dream of getting admission in a medical college. In the play her brother tells her about her financial constraints. But still she continues to live a dream of becoming a doctor and having a better future. Symbolism of insecurity is also apparent in the play as Beneatha keeps on changing her boyfriends. Her act of changing many boyfriends symbolizes her confusion and unhappiness, which is linked to her black background This again reveals her feelings of becoming better and improving her life. She is hoping to escape her poverty by becoming a doctor and attaining better status. Her desire of getting admission is to attain her American dream.

Themes of dream and hope are created by Hansberry in the play A Raising in the Sun for capturing the reality of the Southern Chicago where blacks struggled against oppression. The characters are used for presenting the historical perspective of African Americans before 1960s when race played dominant role in defining their statuses. Author’s personal connection with black oppression has allowed her to recreate the same realities that transmits the themes of deprivation and social inequality. Symbolism of escaping black reality is visible in the play that reveals hidden desires of Young’s family.

Work Cited

BIBLIOGRAPHY A Raisin in the Sun. By Lorraine Hansberry. 1959.