'A Rasin in the Sun' Review

The play A Raisin in the Sun was truly captivating. I thought it effectively expressed the racial undertones within American society during the 1950’s, a time period containing widespread segregation across many states.

Although slavery was abolished, this play highlighted the discrimination endured by black civilians, who theoretically achieved “equal rights.” However, the reality reveals that the black population experienced racial biases by their white counterparts. This concept is shown throughout the storyline, as it follows a black family struggling to navigate through their issues, while simultaneously dealing with residing in a (predominately white) American society.

Readers experience this family’s financial struggles and individual dreams, which are difficult to achieve because of their skin color. Father Younger’s death preceded the plot, resulting in a fortune for his family.

The major issue presented was the proper way to spend this money, since the characters wished to pursue their own goals. Walter Lee (son) wants the money to start a fortune, Mama (mother) and Ruth (daughter-in-law) want to buy a bigger house, and Beneatha (daughter) wants to pay for medical school. Throughout the plot, readers experience the characters expressing the importance of their individual needs, while struggling to reach a compromise that benefits everyone.

Along with this problem, various external issues are presented in the play. These issues (such as racism) may be sensitive, but they’re essential in educating readers about America’s problematic history. A pivotal moment in the play occurs during the third act, when Walter gathers the courage to reject Linder’s offer (French 3.1.131). The offer was monetary payment to incentivize Walter’s family (who is black) into moving in a house located within an all black community, instead of Linder’s white neighborhood. Walter’s denial of this offer conveys the black population’s pride in their heritage and their intolerance for racist remarks during this era.

I believe this moment, along with many other empowering

scenes in the play, created an impactful story that raises awareness about the discriminatory undertones still apparent in our modern culture.

Overall, I would recommend this play to everyone because it was a quick yet powerful read. The story discussed various topics, ranging from prejudices to gender roles, in an educational manner. The plot also had funny moments, making it enjoyable.

There’s a movie adaptation of this play, on Amazon Prime, that I encourage watching. Although I preferred the written story, it was interesting to see the characters “come to life” in film.

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