A Raisin in the Sun Group

Question:

habbaaacaa
habbaaacaa
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In "A Raisin in the Sun" what does Linder mean by "special community problems" and why are his words ironic?

What insight does this give us into the play?

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Posted by habbaaacaa on Sunday September 7, 2008 at 3:37 PM and tagged with a raisin in the sun, irony, linder, quotes, themes.

Answers:

  1. queenb22
    queenb22 Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    "A Raisin in the Sun" addresses many issues.  By insight I am going to assume you mean more than just a brief summary.  This play addresses the oppression African American families dealt with during the mid 1900's.  The author, Hansberry, uses the Youngers, the family in the story, to portray an average black family that lived in a world where violence was still a very real and often acted upon threat just because of someone's skin color.  The play describes how this oppression led to the destruction of dreams and the negative effects of having one's dreams put on hold or destroyed.  The Youngers are a poor family who hope to use an insurance check to better their lives. Essentially, the money is almost all lost because of this pursuing of dreams that are just not meant to happen for this family.  In the end, the family compromises, moving to an all white neighborhood, because a small part of their dream was to live in a home of their own.  This does not have a happy ending, but the family's unity and compassion for each other bring the story to a somewhat pleasant ending, although what is in store for them in the white neighborhood is left unsaid. 

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    Posted by queenb22 on Sunday September 7, 2008 at 4:37 PM