A study guide to Lorraine Hansberry's classic.

1. A Raisin In
The Sun
-Lorraine
Hansberry

2. HARLEM : THE
INSPIRATION

3. HARLEM
-LANGSTON HUGES
What happens to a dream .
deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten .
meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load
Or Does it explode?

4. Relation With the Novel
In the poem "Harlem", Langston Hughes talks about how dreams can
"stink like rotten meat" or be "crusted over like a syrupy sweet". The
characters in A Raisin in The Sun have dreams that are either stinky and
rotten or crusted over and syrupy sweet. Walter Lees Dream "dried up
like a raisin in the sun". His dream was to have a liquor store of his
own. Mama gave him $3500 towards the store and told him to put the
rest in the bank. He didn't listen and gave Willy Harris all the money
and he stole it all and destroyed Walters dream. Mamas dream "crusted
over like a syrupy sweet". She wanted a nice house that had a big
garden in it. Even though she did not get a garden she made the family
proud and got her dream house. Ruth's Dream was "crusted over like a
syrupy sweet". She wanted to leave that beat up and tiny apartment to
somewhere better and the family ended up in a two-story house in a
white neighborhood.

5. PLOT SUMMARY

6. Act I, Scene I
The Younger family lives in a cramped, "furniture crowded" apartment
that is clearly too small for its five occupants in one of the poorer
sections of Southside Chicago. Walter Lee wants to invest Mama's
$10,000 insurance check in a liquor store venture with two of his
friends. Because of her religious convictions against liquor drinking,
Mama is uninterested in Walter's dream of getting rich quickly with this
scheme. Ruth, Walter's wife, is so exhausted from overwork that she
too is unsympathetic to Walter's obsession with the money. Mama
makes it clear that part of the check will go toward Beneatha's
education in medical school. At the beginning of the play, money is the
focal point of everyone's conversation, leading to arguments and
creating a mood of conflict. Walter leaves for his chauffeur's job, and
Travis leaves for school. Ruth prepares for her job as a cleaning woman
as Mama reprimands Beneatha about her fresh talk. At the end of the
scene, Mama discovers that Ruth has fainted and fallen to the floor.

7. Act I, Scene II
The following morning, Saturday, is the day that the check is
expected to arrive. Beneatha and Mama are busy doing
weekend housecleaning when Ruth comes in, announcing
sadly that she is pregnant. Mama is upset when she realizes
that Ruth is contemplating an abortion. Joseph Asagai brings
Beneatha a gift of African records and some Nigerian robes.
After he leaves, Travis brings in the insurance check from the
mailbox, and Walter seizes this opportunity to discuss his
business plans again. Mama, however, ignores Walter in the
same way that Walter earlier ignored Ruth's attempts to tell
him about her pregnancy. Mama eventually has to be the one
to tell him about Ruth's dilemma and is surprised that his
desire for the money overshadows his concern for both Ruth
and his unborn child.

8. Act II, Scene I
Later that Saturday, dressed in her new Nigerian robes and headdress,
Beneatha dances to African music while simultaneously giving Ruth an
impromptu lesson in its significance. Walter comes in, after having had a few
too many drinks, and joins in Beneatha's ritualistic dance. The doorbell rings
suddenly, and George Murchison arrives for his theater date with Beneatha. He
gets into a heated debate with her over the history and heritage of black
people, all of which he belittles as insignificant, and then he antagonizes
Walter by dismissing Walter's attempts to discuss his "big" business plans with
him. After George's exit, Walter Lee and Ruth reminisce about their early days
together and contrast their early dreams and warm feelings for one another,
compared to now, when they seem to be slipping away from one another.
Mama returns unexpectedly and announces to Travis especially — and also to
Walter and Ruth — that she has put a hefty down payment on a house in an
all-white neighborhood. Ruth cannot contain her happiness at the thought of
their finally being able to move out of the overcrowded apartment. Walter,
however, is crushed by Mama's news; to him, Mama has "butchered his
dream."

9. Act II, Scene II
The scene opens a few weeks later, on a Friday night; packing crates fill the
Younger apartment in preparation for the move. Beneatha and George come in
from their date and after a brief disagreement, George leaves, puzzled. Mama,
still smarting over Walter's previous accusation that she "butchered" his dream,
decides to entrust Walter with the responsibility for the remaining money,
stipulating that he first deposit $3,000 for Beneatha's education. Filled with
renewed hope, Walter tells Travis about his dreams for the future and says that
he is about to embark on a new venture — a transaction that will change their
lives. In this scene, another character is introduced, a neighbor, Mrs. Johnson.
This character, however, was cut from the original stage production in order to
reduce production costs. The most recent editions (the complete version) of
Raisin includes this character, as did the American Playhouse presentation of
this play. When Mrs. Johnson enters, she brings the Youngers a newspaper that
tells of a bombing of a black family's home in an all-white neighborhood. Mrs.
Johnson's intent is clearly to belittle the importance of the Youngers' getting
away from the horrid conditions of their cramped apartment. Still, her warning
to the Youngers was a reality in 1959, when this play opened, and,
unfortunately, in some communities, even today

10. Act II, Scene III
This scene begins one week later. Ruth and Beneatha are in good
spirits; this is the day that the family will move to their new
neighborhood. Ruth tells Beneatha that on the previous evening, she
and Walter had gone on a date to the movies. Walter comes in and is
dancing playfully with Ruth when a white man comes to the door,
asking for Lena Younger. Walter tries on his new status as "head of the
household," telling the stranger that he handles his mother's "business
matters.“ The man, Karl Lindner, acting as representative of the
Clybourne Park Improvement Association, makes a very generous offer
to buy the Youngers' new home (in order to keep them from moving
into Clybourne Park). At first, Walter listens then tells Lindner to get
out. When Lena returns, they each try to shield her from the reality that
Lindner represents by giving her the housewarming gifts they'd
purchased. Soon afterwards, Bobo arrives to tell Walter that Willy ran
off with their money. Both Mama and Walter explode with feelings of
loss, anger, helplessness, and grief.

11. Act III
An hour later, having no knowledge of the Youngers' financial reversals, Asagai drops by the
apartment, hoping to help with the packing, but instead he is greeted by a changed Beneatha.
Seemingly, she is in shock. Very simply, she states, "He gave away the money." Her previous
positive idealism has been replaced by a loss of faith in humanity. The money that should have
financed her medical education is gone. She wants and expects sympathy from Asagai, but
instead, he upbraids her for her materialistic outlook. (Later, in her often quoted "measure him
right" speech, Mama too will challenge Beneatha's egocentric perceptions concerning the loss of
the money.) Beneatha listens, then agrees to consider Asagai's proposal of marriage, along with his
invitation that she move to Nigeria to practice medicine. Later, Walter comes in and begins
searching frantically for Lindner's telephone number while ignoring Beneatha's insults. Mama
suggests that they give up on their dream of moving and that they make themselves satisfied with
the apartment in which they are presently living, a suggestion that seems to upset Ruth more than
anyone else. Shortly thereafter, we learn that Walter has decided to accept Lindner's offer of
paying them generously not to move in. Aghast, the three Younger women watch Walter rehearse
an exaggerated servility with which he plans to greet Lindner. However, moved by Mama's word
about black pride, Walter changes his mind and disappoints Lindner. He tells him that he and his
family have decided to live in Clybourne Park.

12. PLOT ANALYSIS

13. Act I, Scene I
• Weary apartment, weary marriage
• “Another Bomb” headline shows violence in housing.
• Universal experience of poverty within black household.
• Black urban experience
• Shattered family dynamics
• The women of the play could see the destructiveness of
Walter's particular dream.
• Walter gender division

14. Act I, Scene II
• Mama’s effort to love and understand her children.
• Ideas about money highlight a significant generation gap
between mama and her children.
• Family is more important for mama than money.
• Mama feels the insurance money will never replace the loss of
her husband.
• Walter doesn’t measure upto Big Walter's example of
manhood.

15. Act II, Scene I
• Empowering heritage
• George Murchinson represents the world that the
Youngers can’t gain access to.
• Mama makes financial decision and sets up a legacy
for Travis.

16. Act II, Scene II
• Mrs. Johnson show a envious, and at the same time
scared mood while talking about Younger’s moving.
• She says Younger’s moving is wonderful but
something she won’t ever do.
• Mama realizes best gift she could give Walter was not
money but authority and agency.

17. Act II, Scene III
• Starts full of hope but ends with depression.
• Hansberry creates more tension by pitting the
Younger’s aspirations against powerful social force
intent on maintaining segregation.
• Linder tries awkwardly to be what he considers not a
racist.
• Beneatha knows the new way racism works through
evasion and vague phrases.
• Spirituals figure importantly in the scene as the
representation of hope and resilience.
• Walter fails to protect his father’s legacy.

18. Act III
• Sets the family members apart before pulling them together.
• Asagai’s idealism marks a sharp contrast to George
Murchinson’s.
• Mama ridicules her own goals.
• Walter descends in deep cynicism convinced that the crook,
thieves and the white racists are only ones who succeeds.
• Walter’s use of racist stereotypes of minstrel show indicates
the depth of his despair.
• The horror of this scene shifts only when Walter fails to put
on a show, instead he grows strong, courageous, and proud.
• Youngers don’t know what will happen in clyborn park but
Hansberry offers firm clues of the danger and hate they’ll
receive.

19. PLOT DIAGRAM

20. Plot Diagram
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Introduction
Rising Actions
Climax
Falling Actions
Resolution

21. The Plot
1. Walter, Ruth talk future plans; Travis goes to school
2. Ruth visits doctor, reveals her pregnancy to family.
3. Asagai visits, gives Beneatha Nigerian artifacts.
4. Mama, Walter learn Ruth may end her pregnancy.
5. Beneatha, Walter dance to a Nigerian folk song.
6. George Murchison visits the apartment.
7. Mama buys the home in Clybourne Park.
8. Lindner tries to buy back home; Walter's venture fails.
9. Walter tells Lindner Youngers will move into house.

22. CHARACTERS

23. Walter Lee Younger
Walter Lee Younger is the main character of the play A Raisin in the Sun that is a large and well-
developed life story of this person that is also known as “Brother.” As well as many other young
individuals in America, the fellow is full of passion and ambitions to follow his dreams and
implement them into the real life. He bursts with energy and is desperate in his lifelong fight with
poverty, various prejudices, and injustice in general. Younger sincerely believes that his future is
in his own hands and struggles to solve a great range of his financial and social issues with the
implementation of a successful business project. With the help of this business, he expects his life
to change significantly in a better way, providing a young man with all the things and
opportunities he could ever need. In this way, the business project is believed to make people
respect Younger, improve his social position, and gain the ticket to the world full of money and
luxury things. Nonetheless, despite all the struggles and a great desire to become a businessman, it
appears that the protagonist has no entrepreneurial skills to make his dreams come true. He
experiences a considerable lack of entrepreneurial skills and can not succeed in business. In
addition, he experiences a lack of education and can not support the conversation with people on
different subjects. One of these conversations is related to Prometheus, and Younger have no idea
who this man is. Thus, this character may be interpreted as a protagonist because the young man,
as well as Prometheus, is chained with difficulties that poison his life. In order to feel the relief,
Walter starts drinking alcohol and do unreasonable things, spoiling his life and relations with close
people.

24. Lena “Mama” Younger
Lena Younger, also known as “Mama,” is one of the strongest and motivating
characters of the play by Lorraine Hansberry. Despite the fact that the play tells a life
story of Walter Lee Younger, Mama appears to be a person that has a significant
influence on the development of the plot. This woman is quite poor and always
experiences a lack of money. Day after day, she has to work a lot and solve a great
number of problems in order to meet the ends and bring up her beloved children. At the
same time, she always raises her chin up, feeling proud for them. For sure, she has no
material wealth; nonetheless, she feels blessed and is happy with her family that is her
greatest treasure. In this way, it is not a surprise that her children are everything for her
and she dedicates her life to them completely. In her life, Lena Younger experienced a
significant number of difficulties and managed to survive the death of her baby and the
death of her beloved husband. All these difficulties made her strong and confident and
made her closer to God and church. Therefore, if there are some problems, Mama
addresses God first and asks for happiness for all the members of her family. In
comparison to educated and progressive Beneatha, Lena Younger is described to be an
old-fashioned woman who follows the standard pattern of a traditional woman. Thus,
she would forgive numerous cheatings of her husband in order to save the family and
considers the improper behavior of her family members to be some insufficient factor.
As a result, she tends to spoil the behavior of her grandson and is kind to all her
children despite they cause a lot of problems and difficulties.

25. Beneatha Younger
Beneatha Younger also known as "Bennie" is described by the author of the play as one of
the smartest girls with a significant number of personal and career opportunities in the
future. This character appears to be the most educated person in her family and, for that
reason, she feels herself to be different from others. Often, the members of her family do not
understand her and think of her as a rude and unpleasant person that is self-obsessed and
self-confident. Nonetheless, she usually makes reasonable decisions and never judges a book
by its cover. Thus, she prefers her admirer to a wealthy and influential boyfriend, surprising
all the close people of hers, and lives life according to her own rules, making people around
feel considerable puzzlement. Despite the fact that the financial opportunities of her family
are quite limited due to their low income, Beneatha Younger never thinks of money when
choosing her new hobby, would it be a horseback riding, an acting tutor, or music lessons.
For sure, her family could spend money on more reasonable things like food or clothes;
nonetheless, she is the person that is expected to become a doctor and fulfill the expectations
of her parents. For that reason, Beneatha has a prerogative of doing what she wants for any
price, even if this price is paid with the last money of her parents. Being well educated, the
girl refuses to follow the standard social norms and struggles to search for her true identity in
this world. For this girl, the relations with people around in quite difficult; however,
communication with Joseph Asagai changes the situation completely, and she becomes more
friendly and pleasant to others. At the same time, the relations with her mother and a brother
remains to be strained because of a significant number of differences between them.

26. Ruth Younger
Ruth Younger is a new member of the family who accepts their rules and struggles to
make friends with all of the Youngers. This is a tender and soft person who performs no
aggressive behavior and is grateful for every new day of her challenging life. Despite
the positive attitude to life, the everyday routine of Ruth Younger is quite boring and
monotonous. The author of the play describes this woman to be approximately thirty
years old and have no higher education. She dreams about things that are easy to
achieve and have no particular aim in her life. Ruth is presented as a type of person that
always wants to please everyone around and create a positive impression of her. As a
result, she is apologetic and does everything possible to omit conflicts and arguments
related to other people. In her relations with people, this woman tends to rely on logical
suggestions and follows pieces of advice given by other people. In this way, her
thoughts and dreams often belong to other individuals, and Ruth desperately follows
them even if they are predicted to influence her life in a negative way. Despite the fact
that she is always quiet and never raises her voice, she has a considerable strength deep
inside, being calm and strong during the difficult times of her challenging life. She has
to deal with a great number of problems; nonetheless, she manages to take all the twists
of her fortune with dignity and usually finds the right way out of any kind of problem,
would it be a family issue or a misunderstanding with some other people.

27. Travis Younger
Travis Younger is presented to the audience as a spoiled child who
always gets what he wants with any price. Thus, in the very first
episode of the play, he manages to force his father to give him some
insufficient amount of money, even despite the fact that his mother
refuses to do it because of the lack of funds. Because of his
grandmother known as Mama, who provides the boy with anything he
only thinks of, Travis has learned how to manipulate people in order to
get profit. Despite this negative feature, he is a good and grateful child
that is raised up in a house full of love and understanding. In this way,
it is possible to say that Travis has a happy childhood as he has lovely
parents and a grandmother and many friends who give him lots of
warmth and protection. From the early ages, this boy is smart enough to
survive in the ghetto neighborhood and get the respect of “street”
children. Therefore, it is not a surprise that he asks for permission to
earn his first money at the local supermarket, in this way, showing that
he cares about his family a lot.

28. Joseph Asagai
Joseph Asagai is a minor character of the play A Raisin in the Sun who struggles to
develop his relations with Beneatha. He always looks for her attention and makes
everything possible to spent to spend some time with her. He is persistent enough to
achieve his aim; nonetheless, his attention to the young and well-educated girl is not
overwhelming for her. Because the fellow knows what Beneatha likes, he presents her
with a great variety of useful and desired things, in this way, conquering her heart. The
feelings of Joseph Asagai to the girl are sincere, and, in the long run, she accepts his
offer to be more than friends. Being an ordinary student originated from Africa, the
fellow id full of charm, shows good manners and is known to be intelligent and well-
educated. Unlike George Murchison, his competitor for the heart of Beneatha, he
perfectly fits the Youngers because he has a lot in common with all the members of the
large and friendly family. At the same time, the author describes Joseph Asagai to be
too much idealistic and full of patriotism. Thus, he would sacrifice his life for the
sovereignty of his country as, according to him, the independence of the state is the
most important thing for its residents. Being old-fashioned, the fellow cares a lot about
the other people and tries his best to be helpful to them. For that reason, he became a
volunteer and performed as a conscious and patriotic resident. When Beneatha happens
to experience some difficulties, he supports her with a good piece of advice and helps
to find the proper solution to the issue. Besides, he usually supports her emotionally
and provides his shoulder when she needs it.

29. George Murchinson
George Murchison is the minor character of the play A Raisin in the Sun by
Lorraine Hansberry. He is presented to the audience as well educated and rich
fellow who like to show off with his academic achievements. That is why he
never misses a chance to make some literary allusion and perform his deep
knowledge in a range of academic subjects. At the same time, the information
presented by him is usually wasted by people as it is considered by them to be
irrelevant and overwhelming. In order to highlight his significance, George
tends to confront other people during conversations and forces them to feel
worse in comparison to him. Thus, he compels Beneatha’s pieces of
knowledge about Africa and shows no respect to people from this continent.
During the final argument before their break up, the fellow warns Beneatha, a
progressive young woman who does not follow the standard social patterns,
not to be one of those “new women” and reevaluate her intellectual
capabilities. For sure, it means the end of their relationship, and Beneatha
makes a decision to start building new relations with Joseph Asagai, a student
from Africa, who respects re feelings and supports in any kind of situation.

30. Karl Linder
Mr. Karl Lindner is presented by the author as the manor character of
the play. Lorraine Hansberry describes him as a person full of
contradictions. For example, when he is shy and confused to arrive in
the family household of the Youngers; nonetheless, later, this man says
disrespectful things to the members of the family in a polite and gentle
way. What is more, sometimes, he is not even aware of insulting other
people with his words, considering himself to be just an ordinary
courier who has to bring a message and take no part in any professional
issue. Being dedicated to his professional organization, Mr. Karl
Lindner sincerely believes in the accuracy of the messages he has to
deliver. In this way, it is possible to say that he is not aware of the full
scope of his messages and the aim of his work in general, often hurting
people with words. Despite all these facts, the Youngers treat him with
respect and try to consider him as an ordinary worker who has to
follow the orders of his organization.

31. Bobo
Bobo is another minor character in the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine
Hansberry. Despite the fact that this person is usually performed as a silly
fellow, he appears to be a true and sincere friend that is capable of doing much
more than people expect him to. Thus, when he comes to Walter in order to
deliver unpleasant information about the money, he communicates with people
in a polite way, trying not to cause additional harm with his words. As a
matter of fact, Bobo is a great explanation to the fail of the business project
developed by Walter. Being a good friend but a bad business partner and
cannot think of a proper development direction by himself, always relying on
Walter in every particular situation that demands some actions. As a result,
their money is gone, and Bobo cannot find words to tell his business partner
about the fail of the business plan. The social environment has a considerable
influence on this person, making him suffer from more and more personal
tragedies. Unfortunately, Bobo is not capable of escaping from this
environment and continues to live his miserable life in the challenging ghetto
neighborhood.

32. Willy Harris
Willy Harris is a minor character in the play who is never met by the audience.
The readers do not see him but know about him a lot of different facts.
Usually, these facts, as well as other pieces of information, are presented by
the other characters of the play, creating the general image of Willy Harris.
Feeling disrespect to Bobo and Walter, he leaves with their money, being
clearly aware of the fact that he robs people who are poor. Willy Harris
appears to be the smartest man in their band as he knows that their business
idea is good for nothing. He understands that the liquor store would not make
them rich and makes a decision to gain money by letting down his business
partners. The poverty forces this man to think of the easiest way to gain
money, and he steals them and runs away. Unlike Bobo or Walter, Willy would
never give his funds to some other person and considers his business partners
to be fools. Because this person is not religious and has no particular moral
principles, the opportunity of robbing his friends seems to be a great way to
gain some money and improve his financial situation.

33. Mrs. Johnson
Mrs. Johnson who is also known as Wilhelmina
Othella Johnson is the last minor character of the
play to be discussed. This character plays an
insufficient role and in included in the play for
comic relief. The playwright describes her to be an
angry and always unsatisfied neighbor who
regularly causes troubles to others. This person is
not sensitive to the feelings of other people and is
unpleasant, tending to ask a variety of personal
questions. Finally, this woman looks ridiculous
when she starts to offend the Youngers and say that
she hopes their house will be destroyed by bombs.

34. Character Map
• Mother Grandson
•
Wife Son Mother
White Segregationist
Sister
Suitor
Beneatha
Younger
Ruth
Younger
Travis
Younger
Mama
Karl
Lindner
Joseph
Asagai
Walter
Lee
Younger

35. Walter Lee’s Character
Development
Before
• He was a money loving brat
who was obsessed with the
fact how to get rich in a
quick amount of time.
• He was ready to give away
all of his pride to get back
the money Mama invested
on the house.
After
• He turned into a man worthy
of respect who always put
his family’s pride before
anything else.
• He stood up courageously
against Mr. Lindner and
gave importance to his pride
saying they will move in to
their new house no matter
what.

36. Mama’s Character Development
Before
• She had lost all of her faith
in Walter as Walter gave
away all the money they had
to a man “ whom Travis
wouldn't even trust with his
marbles.”
• She was unable to connect
with her children despite
trying to connect with them
very much.
After
• She regained her faith on
Walter when Walter told Mr.
Lindner that they were
proud blacks and they
would definitely move into
their new house.
• She was able to understand
what her children wants and
by doing so, she was finally
able to connect with them.

37. Ruth’s Character Development
Before
• She was an irritable lady
who was always fed up with
the surroundings and their
current situation of poverty
and poor status.
• Always had some marital
problems with Walter Lee.
• Wanted to abort the baby
she was expecting in the
sake of her family.
After
• She became cheerful and
happy when they started
moving in stating that they
are entering into a new stage
of their life.
• Restored her relationship
with Walter.
• Decided to keep the baby
after talking with Mama and
hearing they will shift.

38. Beneatha’s Character Development
Before
• She always blamed Walter for
any problems the family faced
including her not being able to
become a doctor.
• She thought herself as a
independent woman who will
be accomplishing everything
in her life only by herself and
won’t need anyone’s help to
achieve her goal.
After
• She understood the feelings
of Walter and started to
work like a responsible
younger sister.
• She understood that despite
what she said, she was
dependent upon her father’s
insurance money.

39. THEMES

40. Dreams, Hopes and Plan
In A Raisin in the Sun, the Younger family is given an opportunity to
actualize its various dreams, hopes, and plans when a $10,000 check
comes in the mail. The play explores the complications inherent in
turning dreams into reality. In particular, A Raisin in the Sun creates a
situation where the Younger family is asked to put its dreams on hold in
exchange for money, setting up the play’s central conflict.
Questions About Dream, Hopes, Plan:
• What’s your analysis of the poem “Harlem” by Langston Huges?
Why "a raisin in the sun"?
• Is there a possibility that any of the deferred dreams in A Raisin in
the Sun will explode, as so eloquently described in the epigraph?
• What is Mama’s dream for the family? How is it different or similar
to Walter’s dream for the family?

41. Race
A Raisin in the Sun depicts ordinary Americans who happen to be black – and
explores how the fact of their race inhibits them from accomplishing their
dreams. In other words, A Raisin in the Sun demonstrates how race can
complicate the American Dream. For the most part, however, race is a latent
backdrop in the play; this enables Hansberry to craft a universally appealing
tale and allows us to understand the precise influence of race in one family’s
life.
Questions about Race:
• What is the role of a race in A Raisin in the Sun? How could the story be
different if the characters weren’t African American.
• What is the significance of the fact that Mama and Big Walter lived in a
time when lynching was still a serious threat?
• Why does Walter blame his race for his misfortunes?
• What are the ways that Beneatha thinks about race? How are they different
from how the rest of her family sees race?

42. Pride
Pride is portrayed in an extremely positive light in A Raisin in the Sun. Since
the play is depicting people who have little else to their name, pride is a means
for them to hold on to their dignity and affirm their worth as human beings.
When a neighborhood representative shows up and offers to buy out their
house, the family doesn’t hesitate to kick him out. The novel frames this
decision as pride versus money, and although money does win out for a little
bit, the Younger family maintains its pride in the end.
Questions on Pride:
• What role does pride play in the Younger family? In which ways are the
Youngers proud? Who wins the "Proudest Family Member" award? Is this
a good thing?
• In A Raisin in the Sun, is pride something that is passed down from
generation to generation? Or is pride an individual quality? Or both?
• Why is pride so important to the Younger family?

43. Family
Family is portrayed in A Raisin in the Sun as an incredibly discrete unit
that must project a certain image in the world. Within the family,
relatives may quarrel, nag, and insult each other, but when guests come
over, certain proprieties must be observed. A Raisin in the Sun explores
these complex family dynamics. Furthermore, this theme intersects
with Dreams, Hopes, and Plans as children in a family inspire dreams
and keep them alive.
Questions on Family:
• How do the members of the Younger family show love for one
another?
• Does Walter question that his family loves him? What more does he
want from them?
• What’s the effect of having this story revolve around a family and
not, for example, a group of friends?

44. Poverty
Socio-economically, the Youngers are at the bottom of the ladder. This
not-so-great position affects Walter Younger the most. While his wife
and mother are reasonably accepting of their situation, and Beneatha is
more concerned with socio-political issues, Walter has an obsession
with money and views it as a transformative power. Due to his poverty,
money has a particularly strong hold on Walter’s psyche.
Questions on Pride:
• Imagine the $10,000 check never came. How would the lives of the
Younger family progress? (Or not?)
• Why is principle more important than money to the Younger family?
• To what extent does the Younger family’s socio-economic situation
influence the choices they make?

45. Suffering
The Younger family is cooped up inside a small apartment in the slums, barely
making ends meet with Walter, Ruth, and Lena all working menial jobs.
Throughout their sufferings, they keep dreams and pride alive. Their suffering
makes it much harder to turn down Karl Lindner’s offer to buy out their home.
Suffering imbues the play via the set design and the actors’ portrayals of their
characters – rather than being a blatant statement, suffering is treated as a fact
of the Younger family’s life.
Questions on Suffering:
• Which character(s) feels that they suffer the most? Who complains the
most?
• Would the family’s suffering be alleviated if they fulfilled their dreams? Or
is their suffering the product of more systemic influences?
• To what extent does the Younger family suffer because of race?

46. Dissatisfaction
What will all the suffering and sacrifice going on, it’s not
difficult to predict that the characters in A Raisin the Sun
are, for the most part, dissatisfied. This dissatisfaction
affects Walter Younger the most, however, because it
prompts him to undertake foolhardy actions. The rest of
his family, in contrast, has learned to deal with their
dissatisfactions in a more controlled manner.
Questions on Dissatisfaction:
• Who is most dissatisfied with their current situation?
Why?

47. The Home
A Raisin in the Sun takes places entirely in the Younger
family’s cramped apartment. Although it’s technically
their home, Mama dreams of shifting their home to a
bigger house because she believes owning their own,
larger space will create a better home.
Questions About The Home:
• What are the differences and similarities between
"house" and "home" in A Raisin in the Sun?
• How is the concept of "the home" used in A Raisin in
the Sun? To the characters in the play, what should
home look like?

48. Gender
Notions of masculinity and femininity are woven throughout the play. Walter, in
particular, feels his socio-economic situation much more strongly given that he’s
supposed to be the "man" of the family. He uses manhood as an argument for why his
wife should support him, why his mother should give him money, and why he needs a
better career. The play also represents various women: the traditional Mama, the
supportive Ruth, and the progressive Beneatha, who are alternately praised or
demeaned for their adherence or disobedience to traditional feminine standards.
Questions About Gender:
• If Walter wasn’t a man, would he feel still feel so bad about his economic troubles?
• What’s the effect of having Walter be the only adult male in the Younger
household? Would it change the dynamic of the play if Big Walter was still alive?
• How does Beneatha fight the expectations that both her race and gender place on
her?
• Walter accuses his wife of failing to support him in his dreams. To what extent is he
accurate? To what extent is that accusation grounded in gender?

49. Choices
Individuals in A Raisin in the Sun frequently assert their right to make choices
without consulting other family members. Ruth decides to put a down payment
on the abortion of unborn new child without telling anyone. Lena decides to
spend $3500 on a house for her family in a white neighborhood, also without
consulting anyone. Walter decides to invest in a liquor store over the
objections of his family, and Beneatha faces a choice between marrying for
financial stability or marrying for socio-political reasons. All of these choices
ultimately follow a money-versus-principle paradigm, which culminates in the
play’s final scene, where principle wins.
Questions About Choices:
• How are choices made in this family?
• Which do you consider to be the good choices in the play? Bad choices?
• What are the most important factors determining characters’ choices?

50. Sacrifice
In A Raisin in the Sun, incredible sacrifices are made for the
benefit of the family. Some family members are more willing
to shoulder sacrifice than others, however, which leads to
conflict. Accepting sacrifice for the benefit of the family is a
recurring theme throughout the play, culminating in its final
scene.
Questions About Sacrifice:
• Who sacrifices the most in A Raisin in the Sun?
• Is sacrifice seen as a positive, admirable attribute? Why?
By whom?
• What are people willing to sacrifice? What aren’t people
willing to sacrifice?

51. SYMBOLS

52. “Eat Your Eggs”
This phrase appears early in the play, as an instruction from
Ruth to Walter to quiet him. Walter then employs the phrase to
illustrate how women keep men from achieving their goals—
every time a man gets excited about something, he claims, a
woman tries to temper his enthusiasm by telling him to eat his
eggs. Being quiet and eating one’s eggs represents an
acceptance of the adversity that Walter and the rest of the
Youngers face in life. Walter believes that Ruth, who is
making his eggs, keeps him from achieving his dream, and he
argues that she should be more supportive of him. The eggs
she makes every day symbolize her mechanical approach to
supporting him. She provides him with nourishment, but
always in the same, predictable way.

53. Mama’s Plant
The most overt symbol in the play, Mama’s plant represents
both Mama’s care and her dream for her family. In her first
appearance onstage, she moves directly toward the plant to
take care of it. She confesses that the plant never gets enough
light or water, but she takes pride in how it nevertheless
flourishes under her care. Her care for her plant is similar to
her care for her children, unconditional and unending despite a
less-than-perfect environment for growth. The plant also
symbolizes her dream to own a house and, more specifically,
to have a garden and a yard. With her plant, she practices her
gardening skills. Her success with the plant helps her believe
that she would be successful as a gardener. Her persistence and
dedication to the plant fosters her hope that her dream may
come true.

54. Beneatha’s Hair
When the play begins, Beneatha has straightened hair.
Midway through the play, after Asagai visits her and
questions her hairstyle, she cuts her Caucasian-seeming
hair. Her new, radical afro represents her embracing of her
heritage. Beneatha’s cutting of her hair is a very powerful
social statement, as she symbolically declares that natural
is beautiful, prefiguring the 1960s cultural credo that
black is beautiful. Rather than force her hair to conform to
the style society dictates, Beneatha opts for a style that
enables her to more easily reconcile her identity and her
culture. Beneatha’s new hair is a symbol of her anti-
assimilationist beliefs as well as her desire to shape her
identity by looking back to her roots in Africa.

55. QUOTES

56. Page One
Mama: Oh—So now it’s life. Money is life. Once
upon a time freedom used to be life—now it’s
money. I guess the world really do change . . .
Walter: No—it was always money, Mama. We just
didn’t know about it. Mama: No . . . something has
changed. You something new, boy. In my time we
was worried about not being lynched . . . You ain’t
satisfied or proud of nothing we done. I mean that
you had a home; that we kept you out of trouble till
you was grown; that you don’t have to ride to work
on the back of nobody’s streetcar—You my
children—but how different we done become.

57. Page Two
Walter: You wouldn’t understand yet, son, but your daddy’s gonna
make a transaction . . . a business transaction that’s going to change our
lives. . . . That’s how come one day when you ‘bout seventeen years old
I’ll come home . . . I’ll pull the car up on the driveway . . . just a plain
black Chrysler, I think, with white walls—no—black tires . . . the
gardener will be clipping away at the hedges and he’ll say, “Good
evening, Mr. Younger.” And I’ll say, “Hello, Jefferson, how are you this
evening?” And I’ll go inside and Ruth will come downstairs and meet
me at the door and we’ll kiss each other and she’ll take my arm and
we’ll go up to your room to see you sitting on the floor with the
catalogues of all the great schools in America around you. . . . All the
great schools in the world! And—and I’ll say, all right son—it’s your
seventeenth birthday, what is it you’ve decided? . . . Just tell me, what it
is you want to be—and you’ll be it. . . . Whatever you want to be—
Yessir! You just name it, son . . . and I hand you the world!

58. Page Three
Asagai: Then isn’t there something wrong in a
house—in a world—where all dreams, good or
bad, must depend on the death of a man?
Beneatha: AND YOU CANNOT ANSWER IT!
Asagai: I LIVE THE ANSWER!

59. Page Four
Mama: There is always something left to love.
And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned
nothing.

60. Page Five
Walter: [W]e have decided to move into our
house because my father—my father—he earned
it for us brick by brick. We don’t want to make
no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we
will try to be good neighbors. And that’s all we
got to say about that. We don’t want your money.