Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun :: essays research papers

Ronils Review of A Raisin in the Sun. This is probably the first play I've ever seen that I REALLY HEATED. A Raisin in the Sun The Madison Repertory Theatre has produced many plays by African American playwrights recently, such as last year's From the Mississippi Delta, but their most recent, Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is certainly one of the veryWorst. The play starts in a darkened living room. Ruth Younger wakes her family on a Friday morning. Her father-in-law has recently died, and the family is awaiting the arrival of the insurance money. Her husband, Walter, has plans to use it to buy a liquor store, but wife doesn't believe he belongs in business. Beneatha, Walter's sister daughter, hopes to use the money for her tuition for medical school. Walter's mother, Lena (Mama), plans to use the money for a house for the family. On top of all this, Ruth has discovered that she is pregnant. In an effort to find a true identity, Beneatha has shunned her mother's religious beliefs and has taken an interest in Asagai, a Nigerian student. Asagai brings her a tribal drum recording and a robe from his country. Beneatha is also being pursued by another suitor. George Murchison, a student belonging to the upper class also has an interest in her, and regards her embracement of African culture as childish. After the money arrives, Mama leaves to "take care of some business." When she returns, she announces just what it was that she did do: she has bought the family a house...in Clybourne Park, an all-white neighborhood. Mama then entrusts the rest of the money to Walter, to invest in his sister's education, and to put the rest into a savings account under his name. Walter promises his son Travis a great future, and promptly invests it in his liquor store. While packing, the family is visited by Karl Linder from the Clyborne Park Community Improvement Association, and a white man. Linder explains that the Younger family might not be welcomed in Clybourne Park, and might be better off living in a black neighborhood. "It has nothing to do with racial prejudice," he explains. To make matters worse, Bobo, Walter's friend comes to say that the third member of their team, who had been entrusted with all the money is gone. Period. In desperation, Walter calls Linder to buy the house back, but after a talk with