A Raisin in The Sun: Symbolism of The American Dream

Introduction

The United States is recognized as the land of the free and home of the brave who all strive for the “American Dream.” The people of America have the right to go after their dreams and achieve a better life through pure effort and inspiration. When thinking about the American Dream, the Raisin in the Sun shows the characters what they think the American Dream looks like for them. The Raisin in the Sun demonstrates the trials and tribulations of an African-American family who are trying to procure and reach their American Dream, with 'Raisin in the Sun' symbolism highlighting the challenges and aspirations of the characters. Which is of course no longer living in poverty by gaining financial stability and equality in society. Written in 1959, “A Raisin in the Sun” still remains meaningful in today’s society. With the American Dream shifting slightly compared to the idea of the American Dream in 1959, we can still see minorities struggling to acquire equal opportunities. Even with shifts of what the American Dream looks like today for the US people, readers can still connect to the Younger family's dreams they are yearning for.

Defining American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun

There are different beliefs and ideas each member of the Youngers family has when achieving their definition of the American Dream. Each of the Younger’s ideas of the American Dream deals with how they classify themselves. The Youngers, an African-American family composed of Lena Younger, the matron of the family, Walter L. Younger, her son, Ruth and Travis, Walter’s wife and son, and Walter’s sister, Beneatha “Bennie” Younger (Hansberry, 1959). Bennie is an enthusiastic and self-sufficient woman whose dream is to become a doctor. By being a doctor, she will be able to provide for herself and wouldn’t have to marry someone for all the wrong reason. As an African American woman during that time though, the odds were against Bennie when it came to actually becoming her dream. She often holds satisfaction in her beliefs. Meaning, she had a hard time accepting the fact that she was anything but independent. Bennie realizes that she can’t always be as independent because she has to depend on Momma to help her accomplish her dream of being a doctor. Her brother, Walter, helped point out this fact later in the play that she in fact does have to depend on her Momma a lot for things, “You just got your mother’s interest at heart, ain’t you, girl? … If Mama got that money, she can always take a few thousand and help you through school too- can’t she?” (Hansberry, pg. 37). At this time, the American Dream didn’t encompass assistance in higher education. Nonetheless Bennie came to an affirmation with her dependence and used it as a motivator to better manage her ambitions in her own way. Bennie represents the steps towards a true American Dream, of someone establishing their goals through dedication and hard work.

Struggle for Power in the Play

One of the primary conflicts in the play is the struggle for power between Mama and Walter due to the discrepancy in their ideas and vision of the American Dream. To Walter, the American Dream is more geared on material prosperity. He believed that money would solve all of the family’s problems and help him get the respect that he deserves because the money will help raise his status to a “wealthy man”. Walter had an infatuation towards his investment in the liquor store and did not care to listen to his family’s point of view or issues with the investment. Walter believed that he could support his family by himself if he obtained the ample amount of funding that he needed to start up the business. Nonetheless, his position on the money conflicted with Mama’s beliefs.

Symbolism in A Raisin in the Sun

Mama believed that the American Dream is about the independence and self-determination to go after whatever fantasies you had, that of course stuck the Christian morals. Mama considered dreams to be more important than materialistic wealth. Which was shown when she reprimanded Walter’s investment idea. Mama wanted to use the insurance money to buy a house for the whole Younger family. The new house for Mama symbolized a new beginning for her and her family. A place where they could become unified by having a place that they could call their very own. Mama also takes care of a raisin plant and complains that the plant will not grow because it is not getting enough sunlight in the apartment. However, the plant will flourish once they move into the new house. The raisin plant symbolizes Mama’s dreams for the family. In the cramped apartment, none of the Younger family members can live openly and accomplish their ambitions. Once in the new house the family’s aspirations will have a chance to grow and flourish. The new house exemplifies a new beginning for the Youngers.

Besides from the power struggle between the two characters, the Youngers yet face other hindrance in achieving their American Dream. Which is when their white neighborhood tries to intercept them from moving in. The head of the neighborhood welcoming community offers to pay the Youngers more money for the house than which they bought it for because the welcoming community believes a poor African American family would accept any offer of money due to their situation. Due to their race, it acts as a barrier towards living their true definition of the American Dream. They are obligated to decide whether they want to accept the money or keep their new house. Which happens to be a choice that the family wouldn’t have had to make if they were white. Even though the rest of the family wanted to accept the money Walter didn’t feel it was right to do so. After not getting money for his bar investment, he realized that the house is more important than anymore amount of money he could have been granted. As an audience you now see Walter shift his priorities from material wealth to the well-being and happiness of his family. His decision to change his mind and demonstrate his belief in his family and their will to fight against the racial injustice was very crucial. In the end Walter was able to unite his whole family and was one step closer to achieving his idea of the American Dream, which was unification into a soaring socioeconomic class.

“A Raisin in the Sun” exemplifies the American Dream that anyone can achieve their dream if they work hard enough. The house the Younger family buys is a representation of their first step towards social and economic equality. A Raisin in the Sun is quite an authentic and accurate example of the American Dream. With a few changes in statistics and prospect, the idea of the American Dream remains consistent. House ownership and financial stability were a big focus for the Younger family and by the time the play was written, the American Dream had shifted from the pursuit of happiness to the attainment of material things. House ownership for the Youngers also represented a chance for them to fight the racial standards and integrate into an all-white neighborhood. Although racial inequality has improved over the years, there is still discrimination and inequality when all races try to achieve the American Dream.

Conclusion

“A Raisin in the Sun” is a classic play that presents the American Dream of a family of African-Americans in the 1950s. The play demonstrates the power struggles and conflicts any family could have encountered on their path to economic and social equality. Walter had a power struggle with his mother due to differing ideologies. At the end of the play, he was able to shift his materialistic idea that money was power and believed in the strength of his family. The American Dream has expanded beyond home ownership to affordable health care and equal opportunities for a high education. However, inequity still persists as different races try to achieve their American Dream.

Works Cited

1. Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Random House, 1959.