Challenging the American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun

The American Dream is defined as the belief that anyone can achieve success through upward mobility, regardless of their ethnicity or social class. It posits that prosperity and economic wealth are the direct results of hard work and calculated risk-taking.

Contextualizing the Play

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun is a semi-autobiographical play set in the oppressive society of 1950s America. It follows the Younger family, an African American household that makes the daring decision to move to Clybourne Park, a white neighborhood in the Southern United States. During an era of systemic segregation, the family faces hazardous obstacles that challenge the viability of the American Dream.

The title is derived from Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem,” which explores the consequences of a deferred dream. Hansberry drew inspiration from this work to illustrate how the characters' aspirations are thwarted, thereby questioning the validity of the American Dream. This analysis examines how these dreams are challenged and deferred through the lenses of:

• Poverty
• Discrimination
• Gender Stereotypes
• Taboo Topics

The Role of Poverty

Poverty is a central theme from the play's inception. The Younger family home is described with "tired furniture" and "fatigued walls," a metaphor for the family's exhaustion and struggle. As the narrative unfolds, the specific dreams of three characters emerge:

• Walter: Wishes to open a liquor store to build a fortune.
• Beneatha: Aspires to become a doctor.
• Mama: Desires a home with a garden to nurture.

Despite their efforts, the characters realize their dreams may remain unfulfilled. Although the American Civil War theoretically granted equal rights, systemic barriers persist. Hansberry demonstrates that the American Dream is often denied to African Americans. For example, Walter’s despair when his father’s hard-earned money is lost highlights the fragility of these aspirations. Furthermore, Mama’s nearly dead plant serves as a poignant symbol of the family’s state: struggling, resigned, and impoverished. Ultimately, poverty acts as a primary force in challenging the promise of the American Dream.