Ruth's Dream in a Raisin in The Sun

What's Up with Dreams on Hold?

“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” Those famous words from Langston Hughes’ poem "Harlem" kind of hang over Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin In The Sun. One of the main characters, Ruth Younger, has her own hopes and dreams while dealing with the tough life her African American family faces in 1950s Chicago. This essay takes a closer look at Ruth’s dream and why it’s so important to the play. We’ll dive into what she wants, the hurdles she hits, and how her dream affects everyone else in the story. By checking out Ruth’s growth as a character, how she gets along with other folks, and what her dream means, you start to see that her dream really helps shape big themes like family ties, identity struggles, and hope in A Raisin In The Sun.

Ruth's Dream: A Ray of Hope

Ruth dreams about moving to a nicer neighborhood. It's like a tiny light shining through all the poverty and racism they deal with. This isn’t just about wanting a new place; it's about wanting something better for her kid, Travis. When she talks with her husband Walter, you can tell she's thinking that if they can just live somewhere better, maybe everything will get better. Hansberry uses Ruth's wish to show how strong-willed African Americans can be when times are tough. It shows us that hope can push people to take action and change their lives.

Dreams for Her Family

Ruth doesn’t just want this for herself—she's thinking about her family too. As a wife and mom, she wants them to have a safe place where they feel stable. Their cramped apartment feels like they're stuck with no room to grow. So Ruth’s dream turns into this push for change in their lives. It makes everyone in the Younger family start thinking about their own dreams too. They all rally around this idea of getting a better life together.

Facing Big Challenges

But hey, it ain't easy for Ruth! Being an African American woman back then meant facing all sorts of prejudice and barriers that could totally crush her dreams. She deals with discrimination at work and sees how few chances there are for people like her because of racism. Still, Ruth keeps going after what she wants despite all that junk. Her grit is inspiring—it shows off how tough African American women can be when things get rough.

Bigger Questions About Dreams

Ruth’s dream isn’t just personal; it raises questions about whether everyone really gets a fair shot at the American Dream or not—especially if you're from a marginalized community. Hansberry challenges ideas of what success looks like by showing us all these limitations African Americans face. She makes us think hard about our own goals and what's stopping us from reaching them.

The Power of Ruth’s Dream

In the end, Ruth’s dream is more than just wishful thinking—it stands for hope, family strength, and pushing back against unfairness. Her dream speaks to lots of folks who want more outta life even when society seems stacked against 'em. Through Ruth’s story, Hansberry nudges us to think about ongoing racial injustices but also reminds us how resilient people can be under pressure.

A Raisin In The Sun shows us that even if some dreams seem stuck or delayed (like Hughes wrote), there are still chances they might bloom instead—changing lives for good.

References

• Hansberry, L. (1994). A Raisin In The Sun. Vintage Books.
• Hughes, L. (1995). "Harlem." The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. Vintage Books.
• Bennett Jr., L., & Thomas-McCutcheon D.C. (2001). The Theatre of Lorraine Hansberry: Critical Perspectives on Her Dramatic Works. Pearson Education Ltd.
• Bloom H., & Hobby B.G., eds., (2009). Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun: Bloom's Guides. Infobase Publishing.
• Sullivan P.A., & White M.W., eds., (2003). The Harlem Renaissance Revisited: Politics, Arts & Letters. Johns Hopkins University Press.