Themes of A Raisin in the Sun

In the play, a central theme appears to be that of deferred dreams. As Ardolino (181) notes, "The title comes from Langston Hughes' poem, which compares a dream deferred too long to a raisin rotting in the sun." The Younger family has waited too long to realize their dreams. Living in a harsh and hostile society of racism, Mama Lena nurtures her troubled children as surely as she nurses her prize possession, a spindly plant that gets only fits of light from the apartment's one windo

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n theater. Mama's strength in nurturing her family will prevail, as Ruth ultimately chooses to have her baby. Mama also trusts Walter and gives him the money to buy his dream, but he is duped by a con man and loses the money. Despite this, Mama shows her powerful love that is the glue that keeps African American families surviving in harsh conditions when she forgives him. No matter how angry or upset one might be with her children, Mama maintains "there is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing" (Hansberry 129). The cramped, run-down tenement conditions of the Younger overcrowded apartment were also groundbreaking in their impact. The Youngers are about to move into their own house, a long-cherished dream, but the neighborhood to which they plan to move is all white. A Mr. Lindner arrives one day, sent by the neighborhood homeowner's association, to try to bribe the Youngers not to move into the neighborhood. Showing blatant efforts by whites to oppress and discrimination against African Americans was also groundbreaking in an era where segregation was still the norm. Walter, having lost the money Mama gave him, is tempted to take Lindner's offer. Mama's fierce
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Approximate Word count = 1264
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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