Lorraine Hansberry's “a Raisin in the Sun”

Leticia South

Professor Karen Golightly

English 102

06 December 2015

Lorraine Hansberry's “A Raisin in the Sun”        

Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is set sometime in the 1940’s to 1950’s. They are living somewhere in the Southside of Chicago. The Younger family lives in this tiny apartment, with five people living in it so space is really limited. This is a two-bedroom apartment, the first room is shared with Mama and Beneatha and the second is Ruth and Walter Lee room which leaves Travis on the couch. This apartment and amenities are shared between two families. Most of the settings in the apartment takes place in the living room. This place is so small there is always some kind of problems between someone. Especially when Ruth finds out she pregnant and there is really room for another person. Mama then debated to buy a new house in Clybourne Park.  Since this setting is during a time of racial discrimination, that everyone thought was left in the South. Since the city didn’t have laws about segregation, there was some informal discrimination going on.

The Characters of this play are; Lena Younger(Mama) She is the mother of Walter and Beneatha. The main thing she wants to do is make sure her family is taken care of. She received a$10,000 insurance check from her husband death. She plans to buy a nice house for her family. Walter Lee Younger is married to Ruth and his son name is Travis and I his sister is Beneatha. When he found out his mom was getting money he wants to open a business, which he thinks he will become a better person if he has that business. Beneatha Younger is the youngest and she is in college planning to become a doctor. Since she was the only person in the family to go to school, she knows everything. Ruth Younger is Walter wife and Travis mother she is the mediator of the family she doesn’t do or say much. Then Travis Younger is the child of Walter and Ruth he the kid that antagonize everyone against each other. Mr. Lindner is the spokesman for the Clybourne Park which their new house is located in. Linder is sent to make sure the Youngers don’t move into the white neighborhood, but offering them money.