Story+Analysis!

=A Raisin in the Sun=

Lorraine Hansberry
=__Analysis__=

Nostalgia:
Beneatha is the leading character for this theme, as well as her supporting character, Joseph Asagai. Both represent the civil-war culture status of the slaves: those who were deeply rooted in their African culture. Asagai fuels the African-centered ideals of Beneatha, who finds a new outlet in life through her love for African culture. She rejects the order of white society, and in this switch, rejects her suitor George Murchison. She does this because she claims that he has forgotten his native past and accepted everything that was white in American society. This is why she has a sudden interest for Joseph Asagai: he is an African sympathizer, respecting and practicing his native culture. Beneatha admires this in him, and further wants to find out about her own. Asagai is Beneatha’s outlet into Africa, something that the white-washed Murchison could not do. Beneatha’s nostalgia for the past apparently puts her in a good situation for her love life (because she is supposedly happier with Asagai), but gives her a bad taste with her family, who wish to assimilate in white culture (with their moving into Claybourne Park). Beneatha is clearly a nonconformist in the play, and shows it through her nostalgia to return to her cultural “teachings” of her long-distanced past.

Assimilation
Afrocentrism is the perfect word to describe the personality and character of Beneatha who is a very independent woman, who is stubborn, independent, and very dedicated to her culture which she very highly prizes. The definition of afrocentrism is “the expression of pride in one's African heritage” and like in the story that takes place in the late 1950’s we see the recurring theme of the black culture being looked down upon and being suppressed by those who think themselves to be superior. Thus in //A Raisin in the Sun// we see this taking form in assimilation of a large number of African Americans who felt that to ascend in the social ladder they had to act and carry through with their lives in a fashion that mimicked and followed the American lifestyle. A prime example of this is George Murchison, especially after Beneatha speaks about the assimilationist Negro, “someone who is willing to give up his own culture and submerge himself completely in the dominant. . . oppressive culture," George Murchison defends himself by stating, "Here we go! A lecture on the African past! On our Great West African Heritage! In one second we will hear all about the great Ashanti empires; the great Songhay civilizations and the great sculpture of Benin and then some poetry in the Bantu. . . . Let's face it, baby, your heritage is nothing but a bunch of raggedy-assed spirituals and some grass huts.” Hansberry had very important heritage and thus expressed her pride in a way in which she defended the culture, customs, and civilization, of her ancestors as she criticized the phenomenon that was taking place in the United States, //assimilation//.



Symbolism:
The play's title, //A Raisin in the Sun//, alludes to the African American's struggle to survive in a world dominated by an Anglo society. The sun symbolizes the long standing white society, and the the raisin symbolizes black culture. Just as a raisin would shrivel in the sun, the blacks of America are faced with extreme difficulcties when it comes to trying to be a part of White Society.

//A Raisin in the Sun//, is taken from a line in the poem by Langston Hughes, //A Dream Deferred//. The raisin is like a dream that the Younger family aspires to achieve. The raisin shrivels in the sun, as the dreams vanish. The Younger family wanted to use the money for what they always desired. However, like a dream that fades away, the money was fundamentally wasted. What each member wanted to use the money for turned out to amount to nothing, and their dreams were never fulfilled.

Family
Throughout the novel the over all theme of a family lifestyle and living is presented. This is presented in that the family acts as all families do in today’s world. There are no perfect families that never fight or argue. It is seen how the death of a family member can cause complete and utter chaos within the family. In the same situation all other families would have done the same thing. It is all about trying to figure out a common idea to put the money to good use, and for a use that is for the best for the family. The whole novel is based on this idea of family, and trying to figure out what is best for the family. In the end the family figures out what is important for the family and for the rest of their lives.



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