Theme #1- Family Dynamics and Love
In A Raisin in the Sun, one of the major key points is the importance of family. Even with all the difficulties that ensue, characters learn to work together, get past differences, and truly appreciate each other.
Examples from the play:
"There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing. Have you cried for that boy today? I don't mean for yourself and for the family cause we lost the money. I mean for him: what he been through and what it done to him. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and make things easy for everybody?" -Mama
"It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in himself because the world done whipped him so!" -Mama to Beneatha
Mama places family above her dreams and tries the best to keep the family intact. When Beneatha rejects her brother, mama tells her that love is needed the most at the lowest point in life. Her absolute trust and love of family is what kept the home strong all these years.
"Your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I'm waiting for you to talk like him, and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them/I'm waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain't gonna give up nary another one." -Mama
Mama refuses to discard life just to survive and is hoping that Walter thinks the same.
"Now, you say with me, in my mother's house, there is still God." -Mama
In this house, religion is very important even when the younger generation is starting to drift away from such belief. Because of their different takes on God, Mama and Beneatha clash often.
"I'm a grown man, Mama." -Walter
"Ain't nobody said you wasn't grown. But you still in my house and my presence. And as long as you are-- you'll talk to your wife civil. Now sit down." Ruth
The family structure is different from most families in that time period because instead of the man being the head of house, mama is.
Examples from the play:
"There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing. Have you cried for that boy today? I don't mean for yourself and for the family cause we lost the money. I mean for him: what he been through and what it done to him. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and make things easy for everybody?" -Mama
"It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in himself because the world done whipped him so!" -Mama to Beneatha
Mama places family above her dreams and tries the best to keep the family intact. When Beneatha rejects her brother, mama tells her that love is needed the most at the lowest point in life. Her absolute trust and love of family is what kept the home strong all these years.
"Your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I'm waiting for you to talk like him, and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them/I'm waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain't gonna give up nary another one." -Mama
Mama refuses to discard life just to survive and is hoping that Walter thinks the same.
"Now, you say with me, in my mother's house, there is still God." -Mama
In this house, religion is very important even when the younger generation is starting to drift away from such belief. Because of their different takes on God, Mama and Beneatha clash often.
"I'm a grown man, Mama." -Walter
"Ain't nobody said you wasn't grown. But you still in my house and my presence. And as long as you are-- you'll talk to your wife civil. Now sit down." Ruth
The family structure is different from most families in that time period because instead of the man being the head of house, mama is.
Theme #2- Dignity in the Midst of Suffering
Throughout the play, the characters in "A Raisin in The Sun" faces different difficulties and has to overcome it. Although, they broke down from time to time such as when Walter got drunk and started chanting with Beneatha, the characters managed to get back on their feet and move on with dignity.
Examples from the play:
"... It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities." -Linder
Linder says that they're not wanted in their community because of their skin color.
"We have decided to move into our house because my father—my father—he earned it for us brick by brick. We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors. And that’s all we got to say about that. We don’t want your money." -Lindner
The family maintains dignity when Walter tells Lindner that they will move into the house and not take the money that Linder offers.
Mama: "We ain't exactly moving out there to get bombed."
Johnson: "Oh honey-- you know I'm praying to God everyday that don't nothing like that happen! But you have to think of life like it is--and these here chicago peckerwoods is some baaaad peckerwoods."
Mrs. Johnson criticizes Mama's family for their pride in thinking that they belong in that kind of community.
"Perhaps the thing I believe now for my country will be wrong and outmoded, and I will not understand and do terrible things to have my way or merely to keep my power. Don't you see that there will be young men and women, not british soldiers then, but my own black countrymen to step out of the shadows some evening and slit my then useless throat?..."
"Oh Asagai, I know all that." -Beneatha
"Good! Then stop moaning and groaning and tell me what you plan to do!" -Asagai
Asagai is telling Beneatha that even in good times, bad situations are going to come along. So when it does, instead of completely giving up, you should try finding a solution.
"Son--I come from five generations of people who was slaves and share croppers--but ain't nobody in my family never let nobody pay em' no money that was a way of telling us we wasn't fit to walk the earth. We ain't never been that poor. We ain't never been that--dead inside." -Mama
Even with all their troubles, Mama's family never stooped to the point they accepted money for losing their rights.
Examples from the play:
"... It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities." -Linder
Linder says that they're not wanted in their community because of their skin color.
"We have decided to move into our house because my father—my father—he earned it for us brick by brick. We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors. And that’s all we got to say about that. We don’t want your money." -Lindner
The family maintains dignity when Walter tells Lindner that they will move into the house and not take the money that Linder offers.
Mama: "We ain't exactly moving out there to get bombed."
Johnson: "Oh honey-- you know I'm praying to God everyday that don't nothing like that happen! But you have to think of life like it is--and these here chicago peckerwoods is some baaaad peckerwoods."
Mrs. Johnson criticizes Mama's family for their pride in thinking that they belong in that kind of community.
"Perhaps the thing I believe now for my country will be wrong and outmoded, and I will not understand and do terrible things to have my way or merely to keep my power. Don't you see that there will be young men and women, not british soldiers then, but my own black countrymen to step out of the shadows some evening and slit my then useless throat?..."
"Oh Asagai, I know all that." -Beneatha
"Good! Then stop moaning and groaning and tell me what you plan to do!" -Asagai
Asagai is telling Beneatha that even in good times, bad situations are going to come along. So when it does, instead of completely giving up, you should try finding a solution.
"Son--I come from five generations of people who was slaves and share croppers--but ain't nobody in my family never let nobody pay em' no money that was a way of telling us we wasn't fit to walk the earth. We ain't never been that poor. We ain't never been that--dead inside." -Mama
Even with all their troubles, Mama's family never stooped to the point they accepted money for losing their rights.
Theme #3- Dreams, Hopes, and Plans
Every character in A Raisin in the Sun had hopes and dreams. Some significant ones include Mama who wished to own her own home with a garden, Beneatha and her search for a identity, and Walter who didn't want to be a chauffeur anymore. He wanted to have a liquor store business. Even the title refers to the family member's dreams and how they make it grow or shrivel up like a raisin.
Examples from the play:
"I want to fly, I want to touch the sun!" -Walter
I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy... Mama, look at me." -Walter
"I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. Man say: I got to take hold of this here world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat your eggs and go to work. Man say: I got to change my life, I'm choking to death, baby! And his woman say, your egg is cold!" -Walter
"This is just what is wrong with the colored woman in this world... Don't understand about building their men up and making 'em feel like they somebody. Like they can do something." -Walter
"There are colored men who do things."- Ruth
"No thanks to colored women." -Walter
"...But your daddy's going to make a business transaction... a business transaction that's going to change our lives... That's how come one day when you bout 17 years old I'll come home and I'll be pretty tired, you know what I mean, after a day of conferences and secretaries getting things wrong the way they do... and I'll pull the car up on the driveway...just a plain back chrysler, I think, with white walls--no--black tires."
Walter dreams of being more than a chauffeur, he wants to be a businessman and after receiving the money from Mama, he starts envisioning his future. Ruth discouraged Walter's dream of starting a liquor store business. As well as Mama who doesn't view money the same way Walter does and doesn't find liquor stores Christian
Beneatha is a very strong female character and hopes to become a doctor which is frowned upon by her brother, Walter. She's also in the middle of trying to find her identity, taking guitar lessons, horseback riding, and joining in a play acting group.
"People have to express themselves in one way or another."
"Oh, I probably will... but first I'm going to be a doctor, and George, for one, still thinks that's pretty funny. I couldn't be bothered with that. I am going to be a doctor and everybody around here better understand that!" -Beneatha
"No--I wanted to cure. It used to be so important to me. I wanted to cure. It used to matter. I used to care. I mean about people and how their bodies hurt." -Beneatha to Asagai
Beneatha is exploring many aspects of her in order to find her identity.
"You came up to me and you said--Mr. Asagai--I want very much to talk with you. About Africa. You see, Mr. Asagai. I am looking for my identity." -Asagai to Beneatha
"It means One for Whom Bread, Food, Is not Enough. -Asagai to Beneatha
Shows how she's thirsty for knowledge, and questions many things.
Mama's dreams, hopes, and plans solely revolved around the family. The one thing she only wanted was a house with a garden.
"There ain't nothing as precious to me... There ain't nothing worth holding on to, on money, dreams, nothing else--if it means--if it means it's going to destroy my boy."
"My husband always said being any kind of a servant wasn't a fit thing for a man to have to be. He always said a man's hands was to make things, or to turn the earth with--not to drive nobody's car for em or carry they slop jars."
The family is meant to do more than just wait on others, she understands why her son, Walter, is behaving the way he is.
"...Big Walter used to say, he'd get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his head back with the water standing in his eyes and say, "Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams -- but He did give up children to make them dreams seem worth while."
Lena dreams that atleast her families will reach their dreams.
"...Lord, ever since I was a little girl, I always remember people saying, "Lena--Lena Eggleston, you aims too high all the time. You needs to slow down and see life a little more like it is. Just slow down some." That's what they always used to say down home, --"Lord, that Lena Eggleston is a high minded thing. She'll get her due one day."
Mama always dreamed big and she thinks that it is because of her big dreams that the family is suffering and is starting to doubt everything about holding on to dreams.
"I remember just as well the day me and Big Walter moved in here. Hadn't been married but two weeks and wasn't planning on living here no more than a year. We were going to set away, little by little, don't you know, and buy a little place out in Morgan Park. We had even picked out the house. Looks right dumpy today. But Lord, child, you should know all the dreams I had bout' buying that house and fixing it up and making me a little garden in the back--And didn't none of it happen." Mama
"Honey... life don't have to be like this. I mean sometimes people can do things so that things are better... You remember how we used to talk when Travis was born... about the way we were going to live... the kind of house... well it's all starting to slip away from us." -Ruth
Ruth planned for a better life for her husband and child away from the house. However, things didn't go her way.
"When the world gets ugly enough--a woman will do anything for her family. The part that's already living." -Mama to Walter about Ruth
Ruth is willing to have an abortion for the family even though she wants the child. "Ain't nothin like losing your child," she said before.
Examples from the play:
"I want to fly, I want to touch the sun!" -Walter
I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy... Mama, look at me." -Walter
"I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. Man say: I got to take hold of this here world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat your eggs and go to work. Man say: I got to change my life, I'm choking to death, baby! And his woman say, your egg is cold!" -Walter
"This is just what is wrong with the colored woman in this world... Don't understand about building their men up and making 'em feel like they somebody. Like they can do something." -Walter
"There are colored men who do things."- Ruth
"No thanks to colored women." -Walter
"...But your daddy's going to make a business transaction... a business transaction that's going to change our lives... That's how come one day when you bout 17 years old I'll come home and I'll be pretty tired, you know what I mean, after a day of conferences and secretaries getting things wrong the way they do... and I'll pull the car up on the driveway...just a plain back chrysler, I think, with white walls--no--black tires."
Walter dreams of being more than a chauffeur, he wants to be a businessman and after receiving the money from Mama, he starts envisioning his future. Ruth discouraged Walter's dream of starting a liquor store business. As well as Mama who doesn't view money the same way Walter does and doesn't find liquor stores Christian
Beneatha is a very strong female character and hopes to become a doctor which is frowned upon by her brother, Walter. She's also in the middle of trying to find her identity, taking guitar lessons, horseback riding, and joining in a play acting group.
"People have to express themselves in one way or another."
"Oh, I probably will... but first I'm going to be a doctor, and George, for one, still thinks that's pretty funny. I couldn't be bothered with that. I am going to be a doctor and everybody around here better understand that!" -Beneatha
"No--I wanted to cure. It used to be so important to me. I wanted to cure. It used to matter. I used to care. I mean about people and how their bodies hurt." -Beneatha to Asagai
Beneatha is exploring many aspects of her in order to find her identity.
"You came up to me and you said--Mr. Asagai--I want very much to talk with you. About Africa. You see, Mr. Asagai. I am looking for my identity." -Asagai to Beneatha
"It means One for Whom Bread, Food, Is not Enough. -Asagai to Beneatha
Shows how she's thirsty for knowledge, and questions many things.
Mama's dreams, hopes, and plans solely revolved around the family. The one thing she only wanted was a house with a garden.
"There ain't nothing as precious to me... There ain't nothing worth holding on to, on money, dreams, nothing else--if it means--if it means it's going to destroy my boy."
"My husband always said being any kind of a servant wasn't a fit thing for a man to have to be. He always said a man's hands was to make things, or to turn the earth with--not to drive nobody's car for em or carry they slop jars."
The family is meant to do more than just wait on others, she understands why her son, Walter, is behaving the way he is.
"...Big Walter used to say, he'd get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his head back with the water standing in his eyes and say, "Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams -- but He did give up children to make them dreams seem worth while."
Lena dreams that atleast her families will reach their dreams.
"...Lord, ever since I was a little girl, I always remember people saying, "Lena--Lena Eggleston, you aims too high all the time. You needs to slow down and see life a little more like it is. Just slow down some." That's what they always used to say down home, --"Lord, that Lena Eggleston is a high minded thing. She'll get her due one day."
Mama always dreamed big and she thinks that it is because of her big dreams that the family is suffering and is starting to doubt everything about holding on to dreams.
"I remember just as well the day me and Big Walter moved in here. Hadn't been married but two weeks and wasn't planning on living here no more than a year. We were going to set away, little by little, don't you know, and buy a little place out in Morgan Park. We had even picked out the house. Looks right dumpy today. But Lord, child, you should know all the dreams I had bout' buying that house and fixing it up and making me a little garden in the back--And didn't none of it happen." Mama
"Honey... life don't have to be like this. I mean sometimes people can do things so that things are better... You remember how we used to talk when Travis was born... about the way we were going to live... the kind of house... well it's all starting to slip away from us." -Ruth
Ruth planned for a better life for her husband and child away from the house. However, things didn't go her way.
"When the world gets ugly enough--a woman will do anything for her family. The part that's already living." -Mama to Walter about Ruth
Ruth is willing to have an abortion for the family even though she wants the child. "Ain't nothin like losing your child," she said before.
Theme #4- Betrayal, Lies, and Deceit
The biggest conflict in the story, as well as the major turning point, consists of this theme. This event affects the entire family and becomes the lowest moment and breaking point of Walter. Although this theme includes only a small section of the play, it's a huge, vital, and influential scene.
Examples from the play:
"Man, what are you talking about!" -Walter
"I'm talking about the fact that when I got to the train station yesterday morning--eight o'clock like we planned... Man--Willy didn't never show up." -Bobo
Willie took all of Walter's money for his and Beneatha's dream and ran off with it.
"Oh Walter--Ain't you with nobody!" -Ruth
"Cause ain't nobody with me! Not even my own mother." -Walter
Walter feels betrayed by the family and especially the mother when they don't support his dream for the liquor store and is disappointed with the purchase of a house. He wants their respect and support, but when he doesn't receive it--goes crazy by missing work, dancing "African", and becoming very rude.
"No. Travis, you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where our five generations done come to. Go ahead son, Go ahead."
Mama feels betrayed and disappointed when Walter demonstrates what he will do when Mr. Linder comes with the money. She feels as though he betrayed their family honor and is hoping that Walter will see how his decision will affect the family when Travis is present.
Examples from the play:
"Man, what are you talking about!" -Walter
"I'm talking about the fact that when I got to the train station yesterday morning--eight o'clock like we planned... Man--Willy didn't never show up." -Bobo
Willie took all of Walter's money for his and Beneatha's dream and ran off with it.
"Oh Walter--Ain't you with nobody!" -Ruth
"Cause ain't nobody with me! Not even my own mother." -Walter
Walter feels betrayed by the family and especially the mother when they don't support his dream for the liquor store and is disappointed with the purchase of a house. He wants their respect and support, but when he doesn't receive it--goes crazy by missing work, dancing "African", and becoming very rude.
"No. Travis, you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where our five generations done come to. Go ahead son, Go ahead."
Mama feels betrayed and disappointed when Walter demonstrates what he will do when Mr. Linder comes with the money. She feels as though he betrayed their family honor and is hoping that Walter will see how his decision will affect the family when Travis is present.