Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas in literary work. The main theme of the play A Raisin in the Sun is dreams, and dreams deferred. Every member of the younger family has their own individual dream. For example, Beneatha's dream is to become a doctor. Walter’s dream is to have money to afford things for his family. Mama’s dream is to build a happy and healthy family. They all share the dream of moving into the new house, which is the most important dream. Every member of the Younger family has a dream that is deferred. This is a very important theme in the play. Throughout the play Beneatha Younger remains a strong woman with fortified views. She is a college student and the best educated member of the Younger family. Her dream is to one day become a doctor. Beneatha takes pride in her education and often flaunts her intelligence to her family. Mama

He wants to own a liquor store. He wants to give his family what he never had. His dream is deferred when the money that his mother gave to him is stolen by his friend willie, a potential partner in the business. At first Walter is completely devastated. This is a hard time because the money is part of an insurance settlement his mother received at the death of her husband. Even though all of the money is gone, Walter ends up calling Mr. Lindner and moving the family into the new house anyway. Mama’s dream is to build a happier and healthier family. She also wants to move her family out of their small apartment into a house with a yard where she can tend to a garden. Her dream was deferred when she and her husband moved into the apartment that the Youngers still live in. Her dream provides her with the incentive to make money. But no matter how much she and her husband strived, they never could make enough money to make their dream come true. His death and the insurance money gave Mama the opportunity to realize her