A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun has remained remarkable till today. This play was written by Lorraine Hansberry and derived from Langston Hughes’s poem Harlem, also known as A Dream Deferred. Its first performance took place on Broadway in 1959 and was tagged by New York Drama Critics Circle as the best play of 1959.
This play tells a tale of a Black family’s experiences in south Chicago as they strive to improve their financial status with an insurance payout after their father’s death. It centres on issues of housing discrimination, assimilation, and racism.
Years later, it is still listed among the best plays ever written by Time Out and The Independent.
A Raisin in the Sun Summary
The play begins with Walter and Beneatha’s father recently dead and Lena (Mama) waiting for a $10,000 life insurance check. They all have different opinions about how to use the money and have a sense of entitlement to the money.
In an impoverished run-down two-bedroom apartment on Chicago’s South Side are Walter and Ruth Younger, their son Travis, Walter’s mother, Lena (also known as Mama), and Walter’s younger sister, Beneatha.
Their living conditions made Mama pay for a new house in an all-white neighbourhood because it was cheaper. Reluctantly, she gives the remaining to Walter with a promise that he will save $3000 for his sister’s education. Foolishly, Walter gave all the money to Willy for investment and got scammed.
At the play’s end, Walter returns to his senses and accepts his Black heritage. He refuses the offer on the house, promises to be good neighbours, and all move in with an indefinite future.
A Raisin in the Sun Quotes
“Walter: We have decided to move into our house because 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 neighbours. And that’s all we got to say about that. We don’t want your money.”
“Son: I come from five generations of people who was slaves and sharecroppers – 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: Oh—So now it’s life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it’s money. I guess the world really do change…
Essay Structure on a Raisin in the Sun
The organised way to write an essay on a raisin in the sun is via these three steps. They include:
Introduction
The purpose of an introduction is to reveal your angle on the issue being discussed. You do this by delivering a hook that holds your reader’s attention and urges them to continue reading. Afterward, proceed to your thesis, which should be a clear and brief explanation of your stance without any room for doubt in the reader’s mind.
Body
The body of an essay refers to the middle paragraphs. These paragraphs should thoroughly explain the points highlighted in the introduction. The first paragraph should be captivating and strong enough to interest the reader. With relatable excerpts from the play, you can have longer sentences to explain your points without room for doubts broadly.
It is your job to paint a perfect and clear picture for the readers when writing an essay. One way to do this is by providing about five to six related scenarios about the subject, which you believe can do justice to prove your point well.
A valuable tool to help coordinate your thoughts here is transitional phrases like Furthermore, moreover, on the other hand, etc. They help to mark the beginning and end of each opinion you express when writing. They gradually lead readers from one idea to the other in solidarity.
Conclusion
These come at the end of the essay but should be intentionally written because they influence your essay. It shouldn’t be viewed as an afterthought but as a second introduction that can be read independently with adequate understanding.
For this part, use concluding transition phrases like in conclusion, in the end, in summary, etc. Again, you emphasize your opinion in a different yet similar way as you have done in the introduction.
Finally, a CTA (call to action) that signifies the end of the essay would be great.
Tips to Consider While Writing an Essay on a Raisin in the Sun
Read the book thoroughly
When writing an essay for a book, it is not enough to read the summary online or hear what the book is about from your classmates. It is best to always read the book from page to page, understand the content, and digest it to form your personal opinions and thesis.
It is nice to cover every part so that you know what is asked and can proudly confirm that you have thoroughly read the book.
Find a compelling topic
Categorizing your points into fascinating topics for discussion is another way to hook your readers. These topics give an insight into what to expect from the body paragraph and prepare readers for your stance on the issue.
Create the outline
An outline helps you plan and gather your thoughts rather than just going into every topic unprepared and confused. This stage helps to gather related materials or examples from the text and beyond that will help portray your perspective and leave an excellent opinion.
Write the thesis statement
Your view, also known as the thesis, is an essential part of the essay. This is the main argument, so it is crucial to make it strong with no cracks or loopholes where readers can doubt your perspective.
You can use quotes and paraphrase but never plagiarise. Everything at this point should be original and authentic for your view to be accepted and considered without lingering doubts.
Include a lesson or moral
Including a moral lesson in your essay shows that you have digested the book enough to point out some things that can make a difference. This can be associated with the first tip, which says to read the book thoroughly.
Every book drives home a point everyone can relate to and learn from. It is left to you to find the core and interpret it to make a long-lasting impression on your readers.
Conclusion: proofread your work
A trait of a good writer is taking time to read and correct the errors for coherence and proper understanding. Read your essay carefully to ensure that you didn’t miss out on any points you want to mention and that there are no grammatical or other forms of error.
This will save you a lot of bad reviews and embarrassment when someone else reads and criticises it.
We can write an essay on a Raisin in the Sun for you much faster and better that would earn you praise from every one of your readers. A trial will convince you to keep using our services.
FAQs
What is the Summary of Raisin in the Sun?
This play portrays a working-class family in the mid-twentieth century. It discusses their struggles in fulfilling their dreams and realising what matters in the end. This rollercoaster of a play depicts a happy ending for the Youngers even as they face an uncertain future.
What is the Main Point of a Raisin in the Sun?
A raisin of in sun centres on dreams as the characters in the play make efforts to achieve them. These characters struggle to cope with the oppressive circumstances that make them handicapped and unable to go about their lives the way they want.
What Happened at the End of Raisin in the Sun?
In the end, the Younger family became unified despite losing all their money. They moved from their long-time two-bedroom apartment in Chicago’s South Side into their new house with a backyard in the all-white neighbourhood in Clybourne Park.
What are the three main themes of a Raisin in the Sun?
Three main themes from this play include racial discrimination, dreams, and the significance of family. Most of the characters had dreams they needed to fulfil even though circumstances and society continued getting in the way.
