A Raisin In The Sun Script Analysis
Christopher Dueñas
Professor Smith
THE: 2000
31 May 2011
A Raisin in the Sun: Written Script Analysis
A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, is a playwright and also produced into a film production. The name of the play comes from a poem by Langston Hughes, which refers to a raisin in the sun as a dream that “dried up,” or was never accomplished. The genre of this play is a tragedy, because the protagonist meets defeat in his greed with money and the family finds enlightenment from their new home. This playwright takes place in Chicago, around the 1950’s, during the civil rights movement. In both the play and film, I have noticed several similarities and differences that modified this production.
A family, who struggles to make ends meet in south side Chicago, recently lost their father. In the exposition, we see Walter, the protagonist, talk about his future investments in a liquor store while Ruth makes breakfast. In the meantime, Mama and her children are expecting a check from her husband’s life insurance, worth $10,000, which is just enough for Walter to invest with. Walter and Ruth argue about his plans, explaining to him that that money does not belong to him and rejects any conversation having to do with it. Life for this family is complicated with poverty and poor communication. Everyone in the household is expecting a slip of paper to change their lives.
The complication of the play begins when the audience finds out that Ruth is pregnant. More conflicts arise when Mama receives the check, puts a down payment on a house, and gives the remaining amount to Walter to put into Beneatha’s schooling and for him. But selfishly, Walter puts the remainder of the check towards his liquor store investment, which come to find out in the climax, was a huge scam. Along with Walter’s regretful mistake, a man with The Clybourne Park Improvement Association has proposed an offer to the family by writing them a check to not move into their new home in Clybourne
Professor Smith
THE: 2000
31 May 2011
A Raisin in the Sun: Written Script Analysis
A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, is a playwright and also produced into a film production. The name of the play comes from a poem by Langston Hughes, which refers to a raisin in the sun as a dream that “dried up,” or was never accomplished. The genre of this play is a tragedy, because the protagonist meets defeat in his greed with money and the family finds enlightenment from their new home. This playwright takes place in Chicago, around the 1950’s, during the civil rights movement. In both the play and film, I have noticed several similarities and differences that modified this production.
A family, who struggles to make ends meet in south side Chicago, recently lost their father. In the exposition, we see Walter, the protagonist, talk about his future investments in a liquor store while Ruth makes breakfast. In the meantime, Mama and her children are expecting a check from her husband’s life insurance, worth $10,000, which is just enough for Walter to invest with. Walter and Ruth argue about his plans, explaining to him that that money does not belong to him and rejects any conversation having to do with it. Life for this family is complicated with poverty and poor communication. Everyone in the household is expecting a slip of paper to change their lives.
The complication of the play begins when the audience finds out that Ruth is pregnant. More conflicts arise when Mama receives the check, puts a down payment on a house, and gives the remaining amount to Walter to put into Beneatha’s schooling and for him. But selfishly, Walter puts the remainder of the check towards his liquor store investment, which come to find out in the climax, was a huge scam. Along with Walter’s regretful mistake, a man with The Clybourne Park Improvement Association has proposed an offer to the family by writing them a check to not move into their new home in Clybourne