A Raisin in the Sun Test Cards

Walter

Drinks a lot, Ruth's husband. Made a deal with Willy and lost all the money. Does not believe in Benetha becoming a doctor.

Ruth

Mother of Travis, wife of William. Has a good relationship with Mama. Is very exhausted, but wishes for a better life for Mama especially.

Mama

Mother of Walter and Benetha. Grandma of Travis. Cares for her family. Also has that plant which symbolises how she supports her family.

Beneatha

Sister of Walter. Wants to marry Asagai due to his good personality, and wants to be a doctor.

Travis

Ruth and Walter's child.

Bobo

Walter's business partner, who wants to help with the liquor shop. Informs Walter when Willy runs away.

Willy Harris

The one who made the deal with Walter and ran away with all his money.

Joseph Asagai

Beneatha's love interest (her choice). He supports Beneatha's dreams of becoming a doctor, and wants to move her to Nigeria with him to help her fulfill her dreams.

George Murchison

A rich man who Beneatha's family wants for her to marry. Beneatha dislikes him, because of his stuck up personality.

Big Walter

Walter and Beneatha's dad. Currently deceased, but his hard work throughout his life provided the insurance check of 10K.

Karl Lindner

The white man who showed up at the Younger home in an attempt to bribe them into not moving by buying the house from them for more money than they spent on it.

Mrs. Johnson

The neighbor who advises them not to move due to discrimination.

Mama's plant symbolism

Shows how Mama supports her family, like how she tries to patch up the injured plant.

Beneatha's hair symbolism

Shows Beneatha's identity. Her natural hair is out when Beneatha is embracing her culture instead of being whitewashed.

Robes symbolism

Also a source of pride. They spark Beneatha's interest in her culture.

Insurance Check symbolism

Points out how the family members contrast dreams, and how they may conflict.

Light symbolism

Light represents growth and hope. They are stuck in a dingy, dark house, but when they move to their new place, there will be light, bringing hope to the family's future, just like how the plant needs light to thrive.

House

Progress, and finally accomplishing their dreams of a better life, despite how there can be conflict and issues that stem from race

overcoming discrimination

Theme of Sacrifice

Sometimes you have to compromise on your dreams: Due to conflicts in the family with goals, each member must sacrifice something so they can stay together as a family.

Theme of Resilience

Don't let small obstacles stop you from achieving your goals: Despite all the setbacks due to race and money, the Youngers are still determined to build themselves a better life by moving to a better home.

Theme of Growth

Hardships can make people better/allow them to grow: Walter matures into a proper man at the end.

Internal Conflict

• Walter Lee’s pride vs. his desires: Walter Lee battles with his pride when deciding to give up his house for money.

• Mama choosing between traditions and progress: Benetha being a doctor is odd because she is a girl, and her kids don’t believe in god, and Walter wants to sell alcohol

• Benetha’s identity: Benetha struggles to embrace her culture

• Ruth struggles to maintain hope, as shown by how much she breaks down, and that she considers abortion when finding out about her pregnancy

External Conflict

• Younger’s vs. Racism (society)

• Walter vs. Mama w/ spending the money (Character v. Character)

• Benetha v. George (assimilation vs culture)

• Ruth & Walter face issues with the Marriage

• poverty

Theme Indicators

• plant growth → having hope even while things look bad

• Aspirations → Sometimes you have to sacrifice your dreams for the sake of others.

• culture → be proud who you are & where you come from

• becoming a man → the American dream & pride’s impacts

• The offer → segregation

Vital scene: Walter tells Ruth about how he has dream and ambitions but the wife will always say to “eat the eggs”

Walters feelings feel invalidated, because Ruth is shoving them to the side and showing a lack of interest in them.

The mood is hopeful as he says he has to “take hold of his dreams”, pointing out he sees them as in reach.

The reason Walter has been so mean to Ruth is because he has been unintentionally hurt too. Though Ruth has lost hope it’s like she’s dragging down Walters dreams with hers.

The eggs show how his feelings are being deferred off to the side, like they don’t matter. “eat your eggs” is kind of like “shut up and look at what I just worked to make you”. How Ruth worked to make the eggs and he isn’t eating them, but how Walter doesn’t get to talk about his dreams as a result

Theme: not listening to those you care about can ruin relationships by causing a party to feel like their feelings aren’t valid.

Character ambitions

• Walter → Wants to become a successful businessman by investing in the liquor store; kind of a masculine pride thing as well

  • must have the dignity to do so

• Benetha → become a doctor and embrace her culture; self-empowerment as a woman

  • self-awareness & confidence to embrace herself

• Lena (mama) → move into a better house and give family a good life; values family tradition and dignity

  • faith in the future and god, and patience with her famili’s struggles

• Ruth → has a happy family and a better home (kind of aligns with Mama, and she wants the best for Mama); wants relief from all the suffering she has been through

  • emotional strength & hope

• Travis → to do better than his parents ever could. He kind of keeps Walter on the right path because Walter doesn't want to lose his dignity while Travis is watching

  • trusting his family

The title meaning : raisin in the sun

“Harlem” refers to a dream that has been deferred and has shriveled up and died. -

• All the Youngers have deferred their dreams, for example, Mama’s dreams of a better home died before the check.

• All of the adversity the Youngers have faced is the sun drying up the raisin.

Plot Diagram

• Exposition → family is waiting for the check

• Enticing Incident → Check arrives & family argues on how to spend it

• Rising action → Mama buys the house, then trusts Walter with the money. Then Walter loses the money to Willy

• Climax → Walter considers accepting Lindners offer, but must sacrifice his pride to do so if he chooses

• Falling action → Walter says no, saving his family’s dignity

• resolution → they get ready to move out

• Denouncement → family finally moves (also Mama brings the plant)