American Dream Definition of Terms

1979: 1585 states that “A Raisin in the Sun is a play about distress, futility, and tragedy, but also about hope and pride and what kind of conviction and commitment it takes to bring hope out of hopelessness, courage out of fear, and idealism out of fatalism”. Those statements refer to The Youngers, especially Walter and Mama who has motivation to bring a bright future for the family’s life, their effort can be clearly seen when they try to fulfill all family’s needs. Another writer Tammy Burris in Reuben’s article PAL: Perspectives in American Literature - A Research and Reference Guide - An Ongoing Project writes that “Her Hansberry’s writings reflected her fight for black civil rights, and her views against racism, and sexual and statutory discrimination. Due to her short life her legacy left only a few works but all with dramatic effect on all, no matter race or color, who came in touch with them” http:web.csustan.eduenglishreubenpalchap8hansberry.html. A realistic play like A Raisin in the Sun according to Stanley Hochman in the Encyclopedia of World Drama 1984: 444 is “a realistic portrayal of a black family struggling to maintain its pride and identity”. It is clearly seen from Walter’s characterization as an African-American in pursuing his family’s hopes to be successful and equal with the whites and also from Beneatha’s characteristics who is struggling to be a doctor in the middle of white community. 10 The same idea is also raised by Paul P. Reuben in his article PAL: Perspectives in American Literature - A Research and Reference Guide - An Ongoing Project , he notes that Hansberry’s purpose was to show ‘the many gradations in even one Negro family’, the characters suffer, hope, dream, and triumph over the enormous barriers erected by the dominant culture. http:web.csustan.eduenglishreubenpalchap8hansberry.html That statement shows that Hansberry depicts the life of the Youngers’ character. She describes the life of African-American family who always live under the whites’ oppression as the dominant culture. The play A Raisin in the Sun gives the portrayal of real life and also tells about moral values as Oscar G. Brockett 1995: 583 wrote in his book History of the Theatre , A Raisin in the Sun is “a compassionate drama about a hardworking black family in Chicago whose dreams are shattered but whose values mature in the process”. Generally, many immigrants place a great hope in America; they expect everything the best in that country. It also happens to the Youngers in the play A Raisin in the Sun . The play wants to show that besides describing the condition of the African-American family, Youngers whose dreams seem hard to be fulfilled; it also tells about how finally someone tries to reach his maturity. It can be seen from Walter’s character in the end of the story where his maturity leads his family into a better life. That idea is also supported by Robert Nemiroff in The Explicator in Guth and Gabrielle, 1997: 1587, Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun is one of the plays that, 11 For at the deepest level it is not a specific situation but the human condition, human aspiration and human relationship-the persistence of dreams, of the bonds, and conflicts between men and women, parents and children, old ways and new, and the endless struggle against human oppression, whatever the forms it may take, and for individual fulfillment, recognition, and liberation-that are at the heart of such plays. Some criticisms above show that A Raisin in the Sun covers social issues and racial issues during the 1950s. Most of them tell about how the Youngers can still survive under the white oppression as the dominant culture. However, this play also covers the feminist issues at that time. As Emilie Browne said in her article, Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun challenges the stereotype of 1950s America as a country full of doting, content housewives. The women in this play, Mama, Ruth and Beneatha, represent three generations of black women who, despite their double fronted subordination, continue to dream of a better tomorrow. Although the aspirations of these women differ in subject, they all involve the furthering their roles as women, whether it be owning a house, paying for a childs education or attending Medical School. http:www.gradesaver.comclassicnotestitlesraisinessay1.html That statement shows that Hansberry describes Mama Mrs. Younger as the representative of an ideal mother who does everything for the family. Hansberry describes how Mama’s role not only as a mother but also as a father in the family. It can be seen in how she places and functions her self as the head of the family whom always tries to improve the family standard of living. Hansberry also describes Beneatha’s struggle in reaching her dream to become a doctor. She is considered as one of the examples of modern feminist. 12