The main topic of this paper are the hopes, the fears and the dreams of black US citizens. Given the experience during an exchange program in the US this research paper will focus on the black American Dream.
The first two chapters give a plot overview and a characterization of the main characters from Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun".
Before answering the question about the black American Dream in chapter 5, chapter 4 will give some background information on Lorraine Hansberry's life and political engagement.
The paper concludes with a contrastive analysis on Langston Hughes "Harlem" and Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun".
Table of Contents
1. Choice of Topic
2. Plot Overview
3. Characterization of the main characters with special emphasis on their hopes and dreams
3.1 Lena Younger
3.2 Walter Younger
3.3 Beneatha Younger
4. Lorraine Hansberry’s biography and political engagement and its impact on the play
5. The black American Dream- a dream deferred?
6. The common ground between Langston Hughes “Harlem” and Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”
Objectives and Research Focus
This research paper examines the hopes, fears, and the pursuit of the American Dream among black US citizens as depicted in Lorraine Hansberry’s play "A Raisin in the Sun." It investigates how social barriers and racial discrimination impact the realization of these dreams, while analyzing the literary and biographical connections between the playwright's life and the Younger family's struggles in 1950s Chicago.
- Analysis of the Younger family's aspirations versus their reality.
- Evaluation of the American Dream in the context of the black experience.
- Examination of Lorraine Hansberry’s political influence on the play.
- Comparison between Langston Hughes’ poem "Harlem" and the themes of the play.
- Discussion of systemic obstacles such as poverty and racial segregation.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Lena Younger:
Lena Younger, for the most part called “Mama”, is the head of the Younger family after her husband Walter passed away only recently. In the stage directions, she is described as a “woman in her early sixties, full bodies and strong”1. Mama has grey hair, a dark-brown skin and her face is marked by all the hardship she had to endure all her life, yet she kept a certain kind of beauty and dignity over the years. Moreover, her carriage gets something out of her African roots. 2
Mama is a very loving and caring person; helpfulness and the urge to share in her family’s joy and sorrow are consequently a basic part of her nature. In addition to that, devoutness and Christian ideals are the two things with whom she accounts her decisions and her behavior:3 this character trait of hers is vividly illustrated when Mama refuses to entrust Walter Lee the money from the life insurance, not because she thinks he is poor businessman, but due to her attitude to morality that running a liquor store is flagrant. 4 This rather conservative view causes conflicts with her two children, but especially with Beneatha who sees herself as an emancipated young woman who does not need God in her life.5
Summary of Chapters
1. Choice of Topic: The author explains her personal motivation for choosing this research topic based on her experiences as a foreign exchange student in the US.
2. Plot Overview: This section provides a detailed summary of the main events in "A Raisin in the Sun," focusing on the Younger family's conflicts regarding a life insurance check.
3. Characterization of the main characters with special emphasis on their hopes and dreams: This chapter analyzes the primary aspirations and personality traits of Lena, Walter, and Beneatha Younger.
4. Lorraine Hansberry’s biography and political engagement and its impact on the play: This part explores the author's background and how her real-life experiences with racism and political activism shaped the narrative.
5. The black American Dream- a dream deferred?: The chapter discusses the definition of the American Dream and contrasts it with the reality faced by black citizens in America.
6. The common ground between Langston Hughes “Harlem” and Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”: This section investigates the thematic parallels between the play and Langston Hughes' seminal poem.
Keywords
A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry, American Dream, Black History, Social Inequality, Civil Rights, Younger family, Langston Hughes, Harlem, Racial segregation, Upward mobility, Identity, Feminism, Chicago, Dreams deferred
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the hopes, fears, and struggles of black US citizens as portrayed through the characters in Lorraine Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun."
What are the primary themes explored in the work?
The core themes include the American Dream, racial discrimination, generational conflicts, the pursuit of self-fulfillment, and the impact of societal segregation.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to determine how the "black American Dream" differs from the traditional American Dream and how systemic obstacles obstruct the aspirations of black families like the Youngers.
Which scientific or analytical methods were applied?
The paper utilizes a character-based analysis, biographical research on the author, and a comparative study between the play and Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem."
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the plot, detailed character portraits, the influence of Hansberry’s life on her writing, and the historical context of the American Dream.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Relevant keywords include A Raisin in the Sun, American Dream, racial segregation, upward mobility, and identity.
How does Hansberry portray the conflict between generations in the Younger family?
The conflict is shown through differing perspectives on morality and ambition, particularly between Mama's traditional, faith-based values and the modern, secular aspirations of her children.
In what way did Lorraine Hansberry's personal life influence the play?
Hansberry drew upon her family's experiences with housing discrimination and racial hostility, which mirrored the struggles of the fictional Younger family.
What is the significance of the poem "Harlem" for the play?
The poem provided the title for the play and serves as an epigraph, highlighting the central concern of what happens when hopes are repeatedly pushed aside due to social injustice.
- Quote paper
- Annika Fußbroich (Author), 2015, Hopes and dreams of black US citizens as portrayed in Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/308067
