Criticism > Contemporary Literary Criticism > Hansberry, Lorraine - George R. Adams

1. Printable Version
2. Download PDF
3. Cite this Page
4. Tweet This

GEORGE R. ADAMS

A Raisin in the Sun is an ego-play in that it describes how a Black family comes to the right relationship with "reality." (p. 109)

It can be asked, if A Raisin in the Sun is oriented to reality, why does Walter willingly give up those things, i.e., independence and economic success, which we are told are real social and moral values in America? And how can the Youngers' moving into a white suburb be called "reality" and not wish-fulfillment? As a partial answer to these questions, let us look for a moment at some characteristics of the play. First, it is apparent that A Raisin in the Sun is not necessarily a Black play; that is, none of the personality traits of the Youngers, none of their goals, and none of their troubles and successes are specifically those of Black people in Chicago of the 1950's…. [The] condition of the Youngers is for us "universal," that is, it represents what we conceive to be common lot of a...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass

1. Introduction
2. Brooks Atkinson
3. Tom F. Driver
4. Gerald Weales
5. Harold R. Isaacs
6. Stanley Kauffmann
7. John Cutts
8. Walter Kerr
9. Ossie Davis
10. Arthur France
11. C.W.E. Bigsby
12. Gerald Weales
13. Jordan Y. Miller
14. Martin Gottfried
15. Brendan Gill
16. Walter Kerr
17. Harold Clurman
18. George R. Adams
19. David E. Ness
20. Clive Barnes
21. W. Edward Farrison
22. Julius Lester
23. Bertie J. Powell
24. Copyright

1. Lorraine Hansberry