The Play a Raisin in The Sun: Main Theses

The play, A Raisin in the Sun is about a poor family living in South Chicago. The family consists of five members having big dreams to better themselves with insurance money from the death of their father. I am going to focus on Lena Younger’s dream and the obstacles Lena faces to reach her dream. The dream to have a home is a dream shared by most of the characters in the play. Lena has been dreaming about owning a home her whole life along with her husband Walter. When things get tough keep on pushing forward. You should never give up on your dreams.

Lena Younger was married to Walter Younger but became a widow after he passed away. Lena is known as Mama in the play. After the death of her husband, she was going to receive ten thousand dollars from the insurance company. Lena has big aspirations for her future. She had always wanted to live in a big house with her family. She also wanted to have a garden of her own, in her own backyard. These dreams held a special place in her heart.

Lena wants to build a happy family and believes one of the goals to get there is to own a bigger and better place to live. As Lena thinks more and more about having a home where she wants her family to grow in, she never gave up on accomplishing it. Lena says in the play “...Been thinking that we maybe could meet the notes on a little old two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime…”. In this quote, Mama explained to Ruth that it would be a good idea to live in a home where everyone is not so crowded. A place where everyone has their own space. Lena understands their financial status was not in the best position but, she wanted to help them. In another quote, Mama says “(putting her finger on his nose for emphasis). She went out and she bought you a house! (The explosion comes from WALTER at the end of the revelation and he jumps up and turns away from all of them in a fury.) Are you glad about the house? It’s going to be yours when you get to be a man”. In this quote, she tells Travis that she did buy a home and one of her dreams did come true.

Ruth Younger also wanted the same thing as Mama, which is to buy a house. The reason why Ruth wants a bigger home is that she is tired of living in a place so crowded. Even her son, Travis has to sleep on the couch. In the play, it says “...You remember how we used to talk when Travis was born… about he way we were going to live… the kind of house… (She is stroking his head.) Well it’s all starting to slip away from us…”. In this quote, Ruth explains to Walter that her dream is slowly starting to slip away. She is losing hope that someday they will never be able to live in a home owned by them.

Mama’s biggest obstacle in trying to buy a house is Mr.Linder and Walter, her son. They were both in the way of her buying a home. Mr.Linder felt that if the Younger family moves into an all-white neighborhood it can cause problems. The way she tried to convince them was by offering the family more money than it is really worth. In the play it says “(putting on his glasses and drawing a form out of the briefcase). Our association is prepared, through the collective effort of our people, to buy the house from you at a financial gain to your family”. Once this quote was said the family reacted in a terrible way. Mama refuses to accept his offer. Mr.Linder was not the only one trying to convince Mama not to buy the house. So was Walter her son. Walter was against it. He wanted the money for something else he had in mind. Walter’s wanted to buy a liquor store which was stressing him out since he didn’t have money. Once he found out that mama had already purchased the house there was nothing he could do.

In conclusion, Lena has gone through painful obstacles to make her dreams a reality. She has gone through the death of a loved one, her husband. Also, her son Walter had made a bad investment by using his mother’s money that she gave him. Not many people show the love and the care that Mama has for her family. Even if they are going through a rough time she knows that her family will get through it and become united and happier. The play is about having big dreams and accomplishing them. Lena has shown us that dreams can come true when you put in hard work and dedication. Not letting anything come your way in accomplishing your dreams. Lena had faith that her dreams would eventually come true. I feel that is something that most of us need is faith. Where there is faith dreams can come true. The dream to have a home is a dream shared by most of the characters in the play. When things get tough keep on pushing forward. You should never give up on your dreams.