A%20 raisin%20in%20the%20sun notes

Copyright 2005 by M. Baltsas/ RevisedCopyright 2005 by M. Baltsas/ Revised
2008 All Rights Reserved.2008 All Rights Reserved. 11
A Raisin in theA Raisin in the
SunSun
Class NotesClass Notes

Lorraine Hansberry 1930Lorraine Hansberry 1930--19651965
Lorraine Hansberry was born in theLorraine Hansberry was born in the
Woodlawn neighborhood.Woodlawn neighborhood.
The family then moved into an allThe family then moved into an all--
white neighborhood, where theywhite neighborhood, where they
facedfaced racial discriminationracial discrimination..

Lorraine Hansberry 1930Lorraine Hansberry 1930--19651965
Hansberry attended a predominantly whiteHansberry attended a predominantly white
public schoolpublic school while her parents fought againstwhile her parents fought against
segregationsegregation..
This experience later inspired her to write herThis experience later inspired her to write her
most famous work,most famous work, A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the Sun..
Attended theAttended the University of WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin--MadisonMadison
and worked on the staff ofand worked on the staff of FreedomFreedom magazine.magazine.
Died of pancreatic cancerDied of pancreatic cancer

BackgroundBackground –– The PlayThe Play
Debuted onDebuted on BroadwayBroadway in 1959.in 1959.
FFirst play written by airst play written by a blackblack womanwoman
to be produced onto be produced on BroadwayBroadway
Story is based upon a family's ownStory is based upon a family's own
experiences growing up inexperiences growing up in ChicagoChicago's's
WoodlawnWoodlawn neighborhood.neighborhood.
The title comes from the openingThe title comes from the opening
lines of "Harlem", a poem bylines of "Harlem", a poem by
Langston HughesLangston Hughes

The CharactersThe Characters
Mrs. Lena Younger (Mama)—
Matriarch of the family. She has
strong values and ideas about how
to run her family; these sometimes
conflict with those of her grown
children.
Walter Lee (Brother)— Mrs.
Younger’s eldest child. He wants to
start his own liquor business, against
his family’s wishes.

Beneatha—Walter Lee’s younger
sister. She plans to go to medical
school after college and has ideals
many people find difficult to
understand.
Ruth Younger Walter Lee’s wife,
who wants a tranquil home, but who
experiences difficulty in
communicating with her husband.
Pregnant, she is considering having
an abortion.

Travis Younger—Walter and
Ruth’s son. Both his parents want
him to aim for a life with more
advantages than they have been
able to provide.
Joseph Asagai—One of
Beneatha’s gentleman friends; a
fellow student at her school who is
originally from Africa. In the midst
of crisis, he shows Beneatha an
unexpected side of his personality.

George Murchison—Another friend of
Beneatha’s. Because he is rich, the family
urges Beneatha to marry him, but she is
not so sure this is what she wants.
Karl Lindner—A white man representing
a new-neighbor committee, who wants to
make a humiliating “deal” with the
Younger family.

Bobo—One of the men Walter wants to start a
liquor business with; he delivers some shocking
news to the family.
Mrs. Johnson—Nosy neighbor of the Youngers,
who cannot help hinting that there might be dire
consequences if the family moves to the new
neighborhood.
Walter Younger Senior—Deceased husband
of Mrs. Younger. How the money from his
insurance policy will be used is a source of
conflict for the Younger family.

ThemesThemes
The value and purpose of dreamsThe value and purpose of dreams
the need to fight racial discriminationthe need to fight racial discrimination’’
the importance of familythe importance of family

Major ConflictMajor Conflict
TheThe YoungersYoungers, a working, a working--classclass
black family, struggle againstblack family, struggle against
economic hardship and racialeconomic hardship and racial
prejudice.prejudice.

Rising actionRising action
Ruth discovers that she is pregnantRuth discovers that she is pregnant
Mama makes a down payment on a houseMama makes a down payment on a house
Mama gives Walter the remainingMama gives Walter the remaining
insurance moneyinsurance money
Walter invests the money in the liquorWalter invests the money in the liquor
storestore venture.venture.

ClimaxClimax
BoboBobo tells thetells the YoungersYoungers that Willy has runthat Willy has run
off with all of Walteroff with all of Walter’’s invested insurances invested insurance
moneymoney
AsagaiAsagai makesmakes BeneathaBeneatha realize that she isrealize that she is
not as independent as she thinks.not as independent as she thinks.

Falling actionFalling action
Walter refuses Mr. LindnerWalter refuses Mr. Lindner’’s offer to nots offer to not
movemove
TheThe YoungersYoungers move out of the apartmentmove out of the apartment
to their new house in the whiteto their new house in the white
neighborhoodneighborhood
BeneathaBeneatha finds new strength infinds new strength in AsagaiAsagai..

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