A Raisin in the Sun
Act I
Symbolic Staging:
Lorraine Hansberry meticulously drafted
some of the most detailed stage
directions ever written.
 Why do you think Hansberry takes
such care in describing the apartment?
Doilies
 “Now the once loved pattern of the
couch upholstery has to fight to show
itself from under acres of crocheted
doilies and couch covers which have
themselves finally come to be more
important than to disguise the worn
places…”
 What are the Doilies a symbol of?
Mama’s Little Plant
 “The slow natural light the family may enjoy
in the course of a day is only that which fights
its way through this little window.”
 How is the plant representative of Mama?
 What do Mama’s Plant and her family have
in common?
 How is the plant a symbol of Mama’s
dreams?
“Eat Your Eggs”
 Walter continuously shares his dreams
with his wife over breakfast and all she
tells him is to calm down and eat his
eggs which he asked her not to
scramble.
 What does Ruth really mean when she
tells Walter to eat his eggs?
 Why would she scramble them when he
specifically asked her not to?
“The Rat Trap”
 “Well, Lord knows we’ve put enough
rent into this here rat trap to pay for
four houses by now…”
 How is the apartment a rat trap?
 Who are the rats?
 What is the family’s plan to escape the
trap?
Beneatha
 What does her name mean?
 What is the significance of her
straight hair?
 Why do you think Asagai calls
Beneatha “Alaiyo: One for Whom
Bread– Food Is Not Enough?”
 How does that nickname apply to
The American Dream?
Walter Lee
 “So now it’s life. Money is life. Once
upon a time freedom used to be life–
now its money. I guess the world really
do change…”
 What does Mama mean when she says
“freedom used to be life?”
 Do you agree with Walter Lee? Is
money really life?
Act II
 “Good Night Prometheus!”
 Prometheus was a Titan who stole fire
from Olympus and gave it to mankind,
in defiance of Zeus. For his punishment,
he was chained to a rock where an eagle
ate at his liver.
 Who is George?
 Why does George call Walter
Prometheus?
 If Walter Lee is Prometheus, who is
Zeus?
 Who is the Eagle?
George
 “Oh, it’s just a college girl’s way of calling
people Uncle Toms– but that isn’t what it
means at all.”
 The definition of the phrase “Uncle Tom”
is an African American who is abjectly
servile to whites, so called after the
leading character in Harriet Beecher
Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
 Why does George say that an
“assimilationist Negro” is not an Uncle
Tom?
 Why do you think George puts up with
Beneatha even after she insults him and
yells at him?
Walter Lee
 “Why? You want to know why? Cause
we all tied up in a race of people that
don’t know how to do nothing but
moan, pray and have babies!”
 These are strong words, even for a
drunk Walter Lee. What does he mean
by them?
 Is Walter Lee making a general
statement about “his people” (African
Americans) or is he addressing
someone specifically?
Mamma
 “Them houses they put up for
colored in them areas way out all
seem to cost twice as much as other
houses.”
 Why do you think houses built for
African Americans in nice
neighborhoods cost twice as much
as houses for white people in the
same area?
A Raisin in the Sun Act II, Scene ii
Housing Discrimination.
 In the late 1950s, the U.S. Civil Rights
Commission called Chicago "the most
residentially segregated large city in the
nation."
 In 1966, Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr.
initiated a campaign to end
discrimination in housing, employment,
and schools in Chicago. The attention
King and others drew to the situation
led to the Federal Fair Housing Act.
Mrs. Johnson
 “I bet this time next month y’all’s
names will have been in the papers
plenty– NEGROES INVADE
CLYBOURNE PARK– BOMBED!”
 What is Mrs. Johnson implying?
 What do George and Mrs. Johnson have
in common?
 Based on Mrs. Johnson’s visit, what
opinion does Mrs. Johnson have of her
neighbors?
“Education has spoiled many a good plow hand.”
 Quoted by Mrs. Johnson, this is a statement
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actually made by Booker T. Washington.
Booker T. Washington was an educator of
African Americans and founder of the first all
black teacher’s college.
He believed in education, but promised the
government he would never pursue the black
man’s right to vote; sacrificing civil rights for
educational resources. He had MANY critics.
What do you think Mrs. Johnson meant by
this statement?
How does it apply to the Younger family?
Mr. Lindner
 “Our association is prepared, through
the collective effort of our people, to
buy the house from you at a financial
gain to your family.”
 Walter Lee is insulted when Mr.
Lindner offers to buy their house. Do
you think he should have accepted the
offer?
Walter Lee and Travis
 Walter Lee is 15 years older than his
sister. Just as his parents were ready to
address certain opportunities, Beneatha
was born.
 How is Travis being put in the same
position?
 What does Walter Lee mean when he
pauses before opening the door and
says that “its hard to let the future
begin?”
Who is Bobo?
What was supposed to
happen in Springfield?
What did Willy do?
How much did Walter Lee
lose? And how will this
affect the family?
 How does Act II reflect the idea of a dream
deferred? Why is this important?
Character Symbolism
 Lena Younger (Mama) represents a traditional
approach to life. If she were a European immigrant,
her views might be called "Old World" by the
younger generation.
 Beneatha Younger seems to represent the possibility,
through education, of advancement, although some
of her attempts to enter into a different world seem
whimsical and short lived.
 Walter Lee Younger, who is 15 years older than his
sister, says he feels "trapped" perhaps between the
opposing world views of these two women.
Homework
In Act I & 2 of A Raisin in the Sun you were introduced
to two conflicting characters, Walter Lee and
Beneathea. These two characters don’t believe
anyone really understands them and their dreams.
 Pick one of the two characters and write a 4
paragraph letter to an old friend from that character's
point of view. Your letter should include what that
character is doing now, what they want to do, and
what their frustrations are.
 Over the course of the letter include at least one
example of The Magic Three, Simile, Metaphor,
Humor, and a Full Circle Ending.
 All work must be typed and highlight all required examples.
Due Monday*
Act III
 “A household in preparation for a
journey! It depresses some people…
but for me… it is another feeling.
Something full of the flow of life, do
you understand?”
 Can the Younger family still be
excited about the move?
The Wisdom of Asagai
 “Then isn’t there something wrong
in a house– in a world– where all
dreams, good or bad, must depend
on the death of a man?”
 Asagai comes from a different
country and lives by different
values. What does this quote say
about him? What does it say about
how the world views the United
States?
 So you agree with his statement?
Draw an image of your
personal American
Dream