Raisin In The Sun Compare and Contrast

Raisin In The Sun Compare and Contrast A Raisin in the Sun is a play about the Youngers family who lived in the South Side of Chicago during the 1950s. During the first scene the Youngers’ are waiting for the check from the now dead Mr. Youngers’ life insurance policy totaling $10,000. Each character/family member has a different idea about what should be done with the money. The main characters within the story include Mama, Walter Lee (Mama’s son), Ruth (Walter’s wife), and Beneatha (Mama’s daughter). Mama wants to buy a house in a nicer neighborhood with the money which was the dream her husband and her shared. Walter would like to invest in a liquor store with friends. Ruth is backing Mama’s idea. Beneatha would like to invest in her future by attending medical school. When the money is finally received Mama puts a down payment on a house in an all-white neighborhood. Someone from the neighborhood, Mr. Lindner, tries to make an offer to the Youngers to get them to not move into the new home. The family refuses. At the end of the story the family finally leaves their cramped apartment and moves into their new home which is basically the American dream. The play was written and produced by Lorraine Hansberry in 1959. There are several movie versions however for the purpose of this assignment I will be using the 2008 movie version written by Paris Qualles and Lorraine Hansberry, directed by Kenny Leon and starring Sean Combs as Walter. In both the play and movie versions, there are multiple similarities. The movie did a great job describing the overall message of the stage play. One similarity is the characters pursuit of their individual dreams. In the story no character was able to achieve their independent dreams. In the end, they realize the dream of a family is the most important because it unites them all. For example, Walter is shown as desperate to get a better life for him and his family. He struggles with having to work for others who make a lot of