A Raisin In The Sun- Unit Test

CHARACTERS- How they relate to each other, and their roles?

In A Raisin in the Sun, the Younger family struggles to achieve their dreams while facing financial stress and racism. Lena Younger (Mama) is the strong, moral leader who wants to buy a house and keep the family united. Her son Walter Lee Younger wants to invest the insurance money in a liquor store so he can feel successful and provide for his family, which causes conflict with Mama and his wife, Ruth. Ruth tries to support Walter while holding the family together and worrying about their future. Beneatha Younger, Walter’s sister, dreams of becoming a doctor and searches for her cultural identity, encouraged by her boyfriend Asagai and contrasted by George Murchison, who represents wealth without pride. Travis, Walter and Ruth’s son, symbolizes hope and the future, while Karl Lindner represents the racism the family faces when trying to move into a better neighborhood.

PLOT -  Know what happens in all three acts

Act I – The Dreams Begin

• The play takes place in a small, crowded apartment in Chicago.

• The Younger family is waiting for a $10,000 life insurance check from Big Walter’s death.

• Each character has a different dream:

  • Walter Lee wants to invest in a liquor store to make money and be successful.

  • Mama (Lena) wants to buy a house with a yard.

  • Beneatha wants to become a doctor and explore her identity.

  • Ruth feels exhausted and worried about money and her marriage.

• Ruth finds out she is pregnant, which adds stress.

• Conflict grows, especially between Walter and Mama, about how the money should be used.

Act II – Dreams Clash

• Mama uses part of the money to buy a house in Clybourne Park, a mostly white neighborhood.

• She gives Walter the remaining money, trusting him to handle it responsibly.

• Walter plans to invest it in the liquor store with friends.

• Beneatha struggles with her identity and relationships (especially with Asagai).

• Karl Lindner visits and offers the family money NOT to move into the neighborhood.

• Walter’s dream collapses when he finds out his business partner ran off with the money.

• The family feels defeated and ashamed.

Act III – Pride and Resolution

• The family considers giving up the house because of money troubles.

• Walter plans to accept Lindner’s offer, which would mean giving up their pride.

• In a powerful moment, Walter stands up for his family’s dignity and rejects the offer.

• Mama is proud of Walter for finally acting like the man of the house.

• The family moves forward with the plan to move, holding onto hope despite uncertainty.

THEMES- what are the messages in this play?

Dreams & the American Dream

The play shows that everyone has dreams, but achieving the American Dream is harder for Black families because of racism and poverty. Each character’s dream is different, and conflict happens when those dreams clash.

Racism & Discrimination

The Younger family faces housing discrimination when Karl Lindner tries to stop them from moving. The play shows how racism limits opportunities and tries to control where Black families can live.

Pride, Dignity & Self-Respect

Walter’s biggest struggle is learning that dignity is more important than money. The play teaches that standing up for yourself matters more than wealth.

Identity & Culture

Beneatha’s journey shows the importance of understanding and embracing one’s cultural identity instead of conforming to society’s expectations.

Gender Roles

The play challenges traditional gender roles, especially through Beneatha, who wants a career, and Ruth, who struggles under expectations placed on women.

MOTIFS- Define this term and give examples

A motif is a repeated idea, symbol, image, or action in a story that helps develop the theme (message).

Dreams, Redlining, Poverty, Sexism:

Dreams

Dreams are a recurring motif shown through each character’s goals, such as Walter’s desire for financial success, Beneatha’s dream of becoming a doctor, and Mama’s hope of owning a home, highlighting the importance of hope and ambition.

Redlining

Redlining appears as a motif through the family’s struggle to move into a white neighborhood and Karl Lindner’s attempt to stop them, showing how housing discrimination limits Black families’ opportunities.

Poverty

Poverty is a constant motif seen in the family’s small apartment, money arguments, and dependence on the insurance check, emphasizing how financial hardship affects choices and relationships.

Sexism

Sexism appears through expectations placed on Ruth and Beneatha, and through Walter’s belief that men should be the main decision-makers, highlighting gender inequality and limited roles for women.

SYMBOLS- Consider mamas plant… any other plants? Explain.

Mama’s Plant

Mama’s plant is the most important symbol in the play. It represents the Younger family’s hope, dreams, and resilience. Even though the plant struggles to survive in poor sunlight, Mama continues to care for it, just like she cares for her family despite poverty and hardship. The plant shows that dreams can survive even in difficult conditions.

Are there other plants?

There are no other literal plants in the play. However, the idea of growth is repeated symbolically:

• The new house represents growth and a chance for a better life.

• Travis symbolizes the future and what the family’s “growth” is for.

• Beneatha’s dreams of becoming a doctor show personal growth and independence.

Together, these ideas connect back to Mama’s plant and reinforce the symbol of nurturing dreams so they can grow.

The poem “Harlem” (often called “Dream Deferred”)- how does it relate to the play? WHY is this poem included with this play?

Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem,” also called “Dream Deferred,” relates directly to A Raisin in the Sun because both explore what happens when people’s dreams are delayed or denied. Each member of the Younger family has a dream—Mama wants a home, Walter wants financial success, and Beneatha wants to become a doctor—but racism and poverty keep pushing these dreams out of reach. The poem asks whether a delayed dream dries up, sags, or explodes, which connects to Walter’s anger and frustration when his dream seems impossible. Lorraine Hansberry includes this poem because the play shows the real-life consequences of deferred dreams and suggests that when dreams are finally acted on, they can lead to growth, dignity, and change.

What did you learn about “A Raisin In The Sun”? What do YOU have to say about it?

From A Raisin in the Sun, I learned that dreams are important, but they can be delayed or challenged by things like racism, poverty, and family conflict. The play shows how each character has a different dream and how those dreams can cause tension, especially when money and opportunity are limited. What stood out to me most was Walter’s growth—he learns that dignity and self-respect matter more than money. I think the play is powerful because it shows realistic struggles that many families face and reminds us that standing up for yourself and staying united can lead to change, even when the future is uncertain.

What is the difference between people who see the future as a circle vs. as a line? How do YOU see the future (HINT: Refer to Asagai’s speech in Act III . Consider the difference between realists vs idealists.. optimists vs pessimists…hmm…)

People who see the future as a circle believe that history repeats itself and that progress is slow or even impossible, which often leads to realism or pessimism. In A Raisin in the Sun, this view suggests that no matter how hard people try, they may end up facing the same struggles again. People who see the future as a line believe that progress is possible and that each generation can move forward, even if setbacks happen along the way. Asagai represents this idealistic and optimistic view when he talks about change happening over time and believes that struggle can lead to growth. I see the future more as a line because, like Asagai, I believe that even though setbacks and unfairness exist, people can still make progress through hope, effort, and resilience rather than staying stuck in the same cycle forever.

How does Walter reclaim his integrity for himself and his family? Why is this essential?

Walter reclaims his integrity at the end of A Raisin in the Sun by refusing Karl Lindner’s offer to buy the family out of the new house. Even though accepting the money would solve their financial problems, Walter chooses dignity, pride, and the well-being of his family over quick profit. This decision shows that he has grown from being focused only on money to understanding that self-respect and standing up for his family’s rights are more important. It is essential because it completes his character arc, demonstrates the play’s theme that dreams must be pursued with integrity, and gives the family—and the audience—hope for a better future built on courage rather than compromise.

Who’s Lena Younger (Mama)?

The matriarch of the Younger family. She is strong, religious, and deeply values family, dignity, and dreams. She uses her late husband’s life-insurance money to buy a house, believing it will secure a better future.

Who’s Walter Lee Younger?

Mama’s son and Ruth’s husband. He dreams of financial success and independence. Frustrated by poverty and racism, he wants to invest in a liquor store but struggles with responsibility and pride.

Who’s Ruth Younger?

Walter’s wife and Travis’s mother. She is hardworking, tired, and practical. Ruth wants stability for her family and supports the move to a better home.

Who’s Travis Younger?

Walter and Ruth’s young son. He represents the future of the family and the reason the adults want a better life.

Who’s Beneatha Younger?

Mama’s daughter. She is intelligent, outspoken, and wants to become a doctor. Beneatha explores her African identity and challenges traditional views on gender and culture.

Who’s Big Walter Younger?

He is Mama’s late husband and Walter Lee’s father. Big Walter worked very hard his entire life but died young. The $10,000 life-insurance check the family receives after his death is what drives the main conflict of the play. He represents the sacrifices of the older generation and the foundation of the Younger family’s dreams.

Who’s Bobo?

Walter’s friend and business partner. He brings the news that the liquor store money was stolen, showing the consequences of misplaced trust.

Who’s Willy Harris?

Walter Lee’s friend and supposed business partner. He runs off with the liquor store investment money, causing Walter to lose the insurance money. He never appears on stage but is important because his actions create a major conflict.

Who’s Joseph Asagai?

A Nigerian student and Beneatha’s boyfriend. He encourages Beneatha to embrace her African heritage and challenges her ideas about identity and purpose.

Who’s George Murchison?

A wealthy, assimilated Black man who dates Beneatha. He values material success and looks down on African culture, clashing with Beneatha’s beliefs.

Who’s Karl Lindner?

A representative of the white neighborhood association. He offers the Youngers money not to move into their new house, symbolizing institutional racism.

Who’s Mrs. Johnson?

A nosy neighbor who warns the Youngers about moving into a white neighborhood and reflects fear and internalized racism.