A Raisin in the Sun

 Author/Playwright: Lorraine Hansberry

A Raisin in the Sun was the first play in America about an average American Black family. Also, the first play written by a black woman to appear on Broadway.

This is the Hansberry home in Chicago

The play is semi-autobiographical.

Born on Chicago’s Southside. The Hansberry family moved to a white suburb when she was eight. Angry whites gathered in front of their house.  A brick was thrown through the window that narrowly missed her. The police were unwilling to protect the family.  Later the State Supreme Court ordered the family out of the house. Lorraine Hansberry died in 1963, at age 34 from pancreatic cancer.

The Setting

Urban-the city of Chicago

The Slums of Chicago, Illinois

Southside of Chicago

Ghetto-a part of a city, poor, segregated by race/religion

1950’s

The Younger Family Apartment

• Family of 5
• 2 Bedrooms
• No Private Bathroom
• Several families share a bathroom in the hallway
• Central Room (Kitchen, Living Room, Travis’ Bedroom, sleeps on the couch)
• No Privacy, Crowded

CHARACTERS

Walter Younger, Senior

• Has just died
• Had a $10,000 life insurance policy
• Source of sudden wealth for the family
• Source of Conflict
• Never actually seen in the play

Lena Younger-Mama

• Very religious
• Very Moral (disapproves of alcohol and gambling)
• Family Oriented
• Her dream: a home for her family
• Works as a housekeeper
• The matriarch of the Younger Family

Walter Lee Younger

• Mama’s son
• Works as a chauffeur-drives a car for a wealthy white man
• Married, has 1 son
• Dream: to own a business, be his own boss, financial independence
• Dreams t be the PATRIARCH of the Younger family

Ruth Younger

• Walter’s wife
• Finds out she is pregnant
• Considering an illegal abortion
• Dream: a happy family
• Works as a laundress

Beneatha Younger

• College Student
• Walter’s sister
• Torn between cultures (black and white)
• Dream: a college education
• Tired of being an “assimilationist” acting the way white people want black people to be

Travis Younger

• Walter Lee and Ruth's son
• He represents the future of the Younger family

Act 1:1

The play opens in the Younger Family apartment.

All of the main characters are introduced.

PURPOSE OF ACT 1

• Black families are just like white familes
  • They get up in the morning
  • use the bathroom
  • eat breakfast
  • get ready for work or school.

• Establish that the Youngers are POOR
  • Apartment is very small
  • furniture is worn out
  • very clean and well maintained
  • 5 people share a 1 bedroom apartment
  • Ruth and Walter sleep in the bedroom
  • Mama and Bennie share the dining area
  • Travis sleeps on the couch
  • There is no bathroom in the apartment
  • The family must share a bathroom in the hallway with other families
  • Travis asks for money for school, family really does not have extra money

• Ruth does not feel well
  • Ruth is pregnant and worried
  • Ruth is secretly considering an abortion
  • Walter does not realize his wife is pregnant
  • Mama is thrilled, there will be another baby
  • Bennie is upset, the apartment is too small and crowded, Where are they going to put a baby?

• ABORTION: HIGHLY CONTROERSIAL TOPIC IN THE PLAY
  • Illegal in the United States in the 1950's
  • Legalized in the USA in January 1973
  • Supreme Court Case: Roe vs. Wade