The play A Raisin in the Sun - Book Report/Review Example

There existed roiling domestic and racial tension in the 1950s, a period known for its complacency and conformity. The play was influential in ending the small, comedic roles of African-American theatrical roles and served as a main weapon to stop the making up of a collection of ethnic stereotypes through these roles. Significantly, the playwright has been effective in creating a play with three-dimensional and serious black characters that introduce pertinent issues such as poverty, discrimination and the construction of African-American racial identity.

There is a serious idea propagated by some people that welfare perpetuates poverty, making people lazy and dependent on them. However, on the basis of the play A Raisin in the Sun by Hansberry, it is easy to prove that welfare is vital for poor people who are struggling to survive. Instead, programs that train the low-wage workers to acquire competitive skills are the long term answer, and it is important to incorporate training into welfare, enabling people to progress instead of being stuck in a minimum wage job.

A Raisin in the Sun has been considered one of the most essential works in American literature dealing with the several issues during the 1950s, mainly those concerning the black community. The playwright deals with essential questions concerning the black community and the people of the land during the period in general. "Hansberry created a play full of three-dimensional, serious black characters that broaches issues such as poverty, discrimination, and the construction of African-American racial identity.

A Raisin in the Sun explores not only the tension between white and black society but also the tension within the black community itself over the right way to respond to an oppressive white community." (Chastain, 702) Although the questions concerning the racial injustice and the superiority of the whites are important to a clear understanding of the play, it is the issue or theme of poverty which is a fundamental area of serious researches. The major characters of the play experience two essential situations which are contrastive to one another.

Thus, the plot of the play tells about the Younger family, a poor black family living in a black neighborhood in an old dilapidated house and the gamily also enjoys some welfare when Lena receives insurance money from the death of her husband. "Each of the adult members of the family has an idea about what to do with this money. The matriarch of the family, Mama, wants to buy a house to fulfill a dream she shared with her husband. Mama's son, Walter Lee, wants invest in a liquor store with his friends.

Walter's wife, Ruth, agrees with Mama and hopes that she and Walter can provide more space and opportunity for their son, Travis. Beneatha, Walter's sister and Mama's daughter, wants to use the money for her medical school tuition." (Chastain, 703) Therefore, prosperity and welfare to a poverty-stricken family brings with it enormous confusion and it is importa