Comparing Langston Hughes And Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry are known as two of the greatest African American writers during the 1950s. Facing racial discrimination, both projected this into their work. Black empowerment is a commonality between their pieces. In Harlem, these authors meet and became best friends. Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” is based on answering the question from Hughes’ “Dream deferred.” Hansberry’s play answers what happens to dreams deferred through her characters as Mama pushes away her dreams for her family, Walter’s dream of a liquor store is crushed, and Beneatha does not want to become a doctor. In her play, “A Raisin in the Sun,” Lorraine uses Beneatha, Walter, and Mama to show the negative consequences that occur when a dream is deferred. First, Beneatha shows negative consequences when a dream is deferred. Beneatha is a sassy and non-confirmative woman whose dream is to become a doctor. Beneatha has wanted to be a doctor ever since she saw Rufus …show more content…

Mama is the head of the Younger’s household and wants the best for her family. Mama has always dreamed of having a house for her children. Moreover, her dream is deferred since Big Walter passes away. Explaining her dream, Mama states, “ But Lord, child, you should know all the dreams I had...And didn’t none of it happen...seem like God didn’t see it fit to give the black men nothing but dreams- but he did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile.” (Hansberry 45-46). Mama has deferred her dreams for her children and she wants to pass them down. She wants her children to buy a house. Therefore, Mama’s dreams always ? Hughes asks, “ Does it stink like rotten meat/ Or crust and sugar over-/ like a syrupy sweet?” (Hughes 6-8). Dreams will haunt you if they are deferred. Mama’s dreams linger as she passes them down to her family, but her children have other dreams that they want. Mama’s dreams negatively

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