"A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry is a powerful play that delves into the struggles and dreams of the Younger family, an African American family living in Chicago in the 1950s. The play explores themes of the American Dream, race relations, family dynamics, and the impact of societal pressures on individual aspirations. Through well-developed characters like Walter, Ruth, Beneatha, and Mama, the audience witnesses the challenges faced by the family after receiving an insurance payout and the choices they must make to secure a better future. The play is known for its emotional depth, relatable themes, and poignant portrayal of the African American working-class experience.

Characters:

The characters are well-defined and multifaceted, reflecting the struggles and aspirations of a working-class African American family.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is characterized by authentic dialogue and detailed stage directions, capturing the characters' realities and emotions.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on the Younger family's tensions and dreams as they await a life insurance payment, revealing personal aspirations and social issues.

Setting:

The play is set in mid-20th century Chicago, capturing the challenges faced by an African American family.

Pacing:

The pacing expertly maintains tension and keeps the audience invested in the unfolding drama.

This is the most complete edition of A Raisin in the Sun ever published. Like the American Playhouse production for television, it restores to the play two scenes unknown to the general public, and a ...

Notes:

A Raisin in the Sun premiered on Broadway in 1959, making Lorraine Hansberry the first Black woman to have a play produced on that stage.

The play explores themes of racial discrimination, family dynamics, and the pursuit of the American Dream, which are still relevant today.

It is based on the poem 'Harlem' by Langston Hughes, where the imagery of a dream deferred is likened to a raisin drying in the sun.

The Younger family, the main characters in the play, faces economic hardship and struggles with their dreams amid societal pressures.

Lorraine Hansberry was only 29 years old when she wrote the play, showcasing her remarkable talent and insight into the African American experience.

The play not only addresses the aspirations of an African American family but also highlights conflicts within the family regarding cultural identity and assimilation.

The character Mama symbolizes traditional values and resilience, while Walter Lee represents the struggle against societal limitations.

The play was groundbreaking in its honest portrayal of African American lives on stage, something that had not been done before in American theater.

The original production faced challenges, including edits to scenes due to concerns about content and audience reception.

A prominent feature of the play is its rich dialogue, which encapsulates the characters' complexities and their interactions with broader social issues.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of racism, economic hardship, abortion, and family conflict.

Has Romance?

While the play has romantic elements, such as Beneatha's relationships, it is not primarily focused on romance.

From The Publisher:

The 1961 film version of A Raisin in the Sun, with a screenplay by the author, Lorraine Hansberry, won an award at the Cannes Film Festival even though one-third of the actual screenplay Hansberry had written had been cut out. The film did essentially bring Hansberry's extraordinary play to the screen, but it failed to fulfill her cinematic vision.

Important changes in dialogue and exterior shots, a stunning shift of focus to her male protagonist, and a dramatic rewriting of the final scene show us an artist who understood and used the cinematic medium to transform a stage play into a different art form-a profound and powerful film.

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About the Author:

Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965) electrified the theatrical world with her first play, A Raisin in the Sun, which won the New York Critics Circle Award for the 1958-59 season. Before her tragic death from cancer at the age of 34, she had…

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A Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansberry