“That is the dream”   American Dream in Lorrain Hansberry’s  A Raisin in the Sun

Maher Mhayyal, Basaad

doi:10.21608/aafu.2018.46414

“That is the dream” American Dream in Lorrain Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Basaad Maher Mhayyal

College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Iraq

10.21608/aafu.2018.46414

Abstract

The concept of American Dream appeared in so many works in literature, including drama. Many playwrights tried to reflect that concept in their plays in order to give a clear picture of the American society.
Lorrain Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun (1959) clearly portrays this concept. It reflects the life of the Youngers, a typical African-American family of the period between World War II and the radical 60s who lived in a ghetto in Chicago’s Southside. It records the Younger’s struggles to find their place and purpose in this world without destroying the delicate relationships within their family.
The play clearly portrays the dilemma of an African American family accurately and realistically in which each member had a deferred dream, even little Travis although his dream was not directly stated. Their dreams become dried up like a raisin in the sun. Not just dreams are dried up though; Walter Lee and Ruth’s marriage became dried up also. Their marriage was no longer of much importance, like a dream it was postponed and it became dry. Their struggle for happiness dried up because they had to concentrate all of their energies on surviving. The play shows how a family had to overcome and learn life’s lessons the hard way. Through Walter, the play showed that sometimes dreams have to be let go and through Mama it showed that sometimes dreams have to be held on to. Through Beneatha, it was shown that things aren’t always how they seem. The family was able to overcome a major obstacle once they united.
This paper deals with Lorrain Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun .It consists of an abstract, an introduction, and one section that tackles the concept of American Dream in the play.

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