Summary
‘A Raisin in the Sun’, Lorraine Hansberry’s play, tells the story of an African-American family’s pool of encounters at the Washington Park, a subdivision of the Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago. The lower-class family is in the process of improving their living standards through an insurance payout after the death of their breadwinner- the father. Correspondingly, they use the money for such endeavors as moving into a White Middle-Class neighborhood. A part of the money is given to a son of the family who attempts to quadruple the money so that it can support their ambitions. Unfortunately, the son loses all the money in his investments leaving the family in a state of despondency, but determined to succeed nonetheless. Despite the misfortune, the family proceed with their plans to relocate to the neighborhood. The family of five (Ruth and Walter Younger, Walter’s mother Lena, Beneatha (Walter’s sister), and Travis (Walter and Ruth’s son)), abandon their former dilapidated apartment for the relatively posh neighborhood. The play ends with the family leaving in their new home but distraught, despondent, and with an uncertain future. The author applies various literary techniques to develop and convey the message.
Setting and Characterization