LANGSTON HUGHES WAS AN AMERICAN POET, NOVELIST, AND PLAYWRIGHT WHOSE

AFRICAN-AMERICAN THEMES MADE HIM A PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HARLEM

RENAISSANCE OF THE 1920’s.

 WAS BORN ON FEBRUARY 1, 1902, IN JOPLIN, MISSOURI. HE PUBLISHED HIS FIRST

POEM IN 1921. HE ATTENDED COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, BUT LEFT AFTER ONE YEAR TO
TRAVEL.
 HIS POETRY WAS LATER PROMOTED BY VACHEL LINDSAY, AND HUGHES PUBLISHED
HIS FIRST BOOK IN 1926. HE WENT ON TO WRITE COUNTLESS WORKS OF POETRY,
PROSE AND PLAYS, AS WELL AS A POPULAR COLUMN FOR THECHICAGO
DEFENDER. HE DIED ON MAY 22, 1967.
 HUGHES GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1920 AND SPENT THE FOLLOWING
YEAR IN MEXICO WITH HIS FATHER. AROUND THIS TIME, HUGHES' POEM "THE NEGRO
SPEAKS OF RIVERS" WAS PUBLISHED IN THE CRISIS MAGAZINE AND WAS HIGHLY
PRAISED.
 IN 1921 HUGHES RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES AND ENROLLED AT COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY WHERE HE STUDIED BRIEFLY, AND DURING WHICH TIME HE QUICKLY
BECAME A PART OF HARLEM'S BURGEONING CULTURAL MOVEMENT, WHAT IS
COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE.
 BUT HUGHES DROPPED OUT OF COLUMBIA IN 1922 AND WORKED VARIOUS ODD
JOBS AROUND NEW YORK FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, BEFORE SIGNING ON AS A
STEWARD ON A FREIGHTER THAT TOOK HIM TO AFRICA AND SPAIN. HE LEFT THE SHIP
IN 1924 AND LIVED FOR A BRIEF TIME IN PARIS, WHERE HE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP
AND PUBLISH HIS POETRY.

MONTAGE OF A DREAM DEFERRED IS A BOOK-LENGTH POEM SUITE PUBLISHED

BY LANGSTON HUGHES IN 1951. ITS JAZZ POETRY STYLE FOCUSES ON DESCRIPTIONS
OF HARLEM (A NEIGHBORHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY) AND ITS MOSTLY AFRICAN-
AMERICAN INHABITANTS. THE ORIGINAL EDITION WAS 75 PAGES LONG AND COMPRISED
91 INDIVIDUALLY TITLED POEMS, WHICH WERE INTENDED TO BE READ AS A SINGLE LONG
POEM. HUGHES' PREFATORY NOTE FOR THE BOOK EXPLAINED HIS INTENTIONS IN WRITING
THE COLLECTION:

THE PRIMARY MOTIF OF THE POEM IS THE "DREAM DEFERRED", WHICH REPRESENTS THE
OPPOSITION BETWEEN HARLEM OF THE 1950S AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. OTHER MOTIFS
INCLUDE BOOGIE-WOOGIE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS. THE
POEM IS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS USE OF THE MONTAGE, A CINEMATIC TECHNIQUE OF
QUICKLY CUTTING FROM ONE SCENE TO ANOTHER IN ORDER TO JUXTAPOSE DISPARATE
IMAGES, AND ITS USE OF CONTEMPORARY JAZZ MODES LIKE BOOGIE-
WOOGIE, BOP AND BEBOP, BOTH AS SUBJECTS IN THE INDIVIDUAL SHORT POEMS AND AS
A METHOD OF STRUCTURING AND WRITING THE POETRY.
THE POEM IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE SECTIONS (ALTHOUGH SOME EDITIONS CONTAIN SIX);
EACH SECTION REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT TIME OF DAY IN HARLEM, MOVING FROM DAWN
THROUGH THE NIGHT TO THE DAWN OF THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE POEM BEGINS AND
ENDS WITH THE SAME TWO LINES: "GOOD MORNING, DADDY! / AIN'T YOU HEARD?"
MONTAGE OF A DREAM DEFERRED WAS LANGSTON HUGHES' FIRST MAJOR PUBLICATION
FOLLOWING THE END OF WORLD WAR II. ITS THEMES INCLUDE THE SUBJUGATION OF THE
BLACK COMMUNITY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN RACIAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND HISTORY, AND
THE NEED FOR SOCIAL CHANGE TO RESOLVE THE INJUSTICES FACED BY THE RESIDENTS OF
HARLEM.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN SUMMARY

THE YOUNGERS ARE A POOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY LIVING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF
CHICAGO. AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE FROM POVERTY COMES IN THE FORM OF A
$10,000 LIFE INSURANCE CHECK THAT THE MATRIARCH OF THE FAMILY (LENA YOUNGER OR
MAMA) RECEIVES UPON HER HUSBAND'S DEATH. LENA'S CHILDREN, WALTER AND
BENEATHA, EACH HAVE THEIR PLANS FOR THE MONEY. THE OLDEST SON, WALTER (A MAN
OF 35 WITH A WIFE AND A YOUNG SON), WISHES TO INVEST IN A LIQUOR STORE. THE
YOUNGER SISTER, BENEATHA, CURRENTLY A COLLEGE STUDENT, WANTS TO USE THE MONEY
FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL. LENA HAS PLANS AS WELL FOR THE MONEY: SHE WANTS TO BUY A
HOUSE FOR THE FAMILY AND FINANCE BENEATHA'S MEDICAL SCHOOL.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES ARE HIGH: FIVE PEOPLE LIVE IN A TINY ONE-BEDROOM
APARTMENT, TWO FAMILIES SHARE A SINGLE BATHROOM, AND THE BUILDING IS RUN-
DOWN AND ROACH-INFESTED. THESE PRESSURES INCREASE WHEN WALTER'S WIFE, RUTH,
FINDS OUT THAT SHE IS PREGNANT FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND BEGINS SERIOUSLY
CONTEMPLATING ABORTION. YET EVEN IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE A REQUEST FOR FIFTY
CENTS BECOMES A FAMILY CONFLICT, THERE IS ROOM FOR IDEAS AND DREAMS.

BENEATHA YOUNGER IS THE SOURCE OF THE MANY OF THE NEW IDEAS AND PHILOSOPHIES
THAT INFILTRATE THE FAMILY'S HOME. CURRENTLY IN COLLEGE, SHE IS CONSTANTLY
CHALLENGING THE NOTIONS OF CULTURE, RACE, GENDER, AND RELIGION THAT HER
FAMILY HAS GROWN UP WITH. SHE IS DATING TWO MEN WHO REPRESENT VERY DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE. GEORGE MURCHISON, THE FIRST, IS A
WEALTHY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CLASSMATE OF BENEATHA'S. THROUGH HIS CHARACTER,
HANSBERRY IS ABLE TO ILLUSTRATE MANY OF THE CLASS TENSIONS THAT EXIST WITHIN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE. ASAGAI IS HER SECOND BOYFRIEND, A COLLEGE STUDENT
WHO IS FROM NIGERIA. THROUGH ASAGAI, BENEATHA IS ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
HER AFRICAN HERITAGE. HE GIVES HER NIGERIAN ROBES AND MUSIC, ENCOURAGES HER
IDEALISTIC ASPIRATIONS, AND NEAR THE END OF THE PLAY INVITES HER TO RETURN TO
NIGERIA WITH HIM TO PRACTICE MEDICINE THERE.
WALTER YOUNGER TRULY ENCAPSULATES THE AMERICAN DREAM. HE HAS A GENUINE
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND DESIRE TO PROGRESS. WALTER DOESN'T WANT TO
CHALLENGE THE PRESENT SYSTEM AS BENEATHA DOES. INSTEAD, HE WISHES TO PROGRESS
UP THE SOCIAL LADDER INTO A HIGHER CLASS. HE IS UNSATISFIED WITH HIS JOB AS A
CHAUFFEUR, AND WANTS A BIG HOUSE, A NICE CAR, PEARLS FOR HIS WIFE, AND AN
OFFICE JOB. IN SHORT, HE DESIRES THE BOURGEOISIE LIFESTYLE. WALTER'S IDOLIZATION OF
WEALTH AND POWER ACTUALLY CREATES A DEEP HUNGER WITHIN HIM FOR CHANGE, BUT
AS LONG AS OBSTACLES LIKE RACISM KEEP HIM STAGNATED, HIS HOPES AND DREAMS
FESTER. AFTER SEVERAL EVENTS, MAMA REALIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS PLANS EVEN
THOUGH SHE MORALLY OBJECTS TO THE IDEA OF A LIQUOR STORE.

AFTER HAVING MADE THE DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOUSE IN A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE

NEIGHBORHOOD, LENA GIVES HER OLDEST SON RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE REST OF THE
INSURANCE MONEY, ASKING HIM TO PUT AWAY A SIGNIFICANT PORTION FOR HIS SISTER'S
MEDICAL SCHOOL EDUCATION. TO THE CONTRARY, WALTER DECIDES TO INVEST ALL THE
MONEY IN THE LIQUOR STORE BUSINESS WITH TWO MEN OF QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER.
THE PLAN FALLS THROUGH WHEN WILLY, ONE OF THE "INVESTORS", RUNS AWAY WITH ALL
OF THE MONEY.
THE FAMILY IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE MONEY: THEY ALREADY HAVE MADE PLANS TO
MOVE, AND ARE IN THE MIDST OF PACKING UP THEIR THINGS. DEVASTATED, WALTER
SERIOUSLY CONSIDERS TAKING AN OFFER FROM MR. LINDNER, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM
THE WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WOULD PAY THE YOUNGERS EXTRA NOT TO MOVE INTO
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE OPTION IS IMMORAL IN THE FAMILY'S EYES, AND PRIORITIZES
MONEY OVER HUMAN DIGNITY. WALTER IS DETERMINED TO MAKE THE DEAL DESPITE HIS
SCRUPLES, BUT AT THE LAST MOMENT WALTER IS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TRANSACTION
UNDER THE INNOCENT GAZE OF HIS SON, TRAVIS. IN THE END, THE FAMILY DECIDES TO
MOVE. EVEN THOUGH THE ROAD AHEAD WILL BE DIFFICULT, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE
MADE AN HONORABLE CHOICE.

CHARACTER LIST:

 WALTER LEE YOUNGER - THE PROTAGONIST OF THE PLAY. WALTER IS A DREAMER.

HE WANTS TO BE RICH AND DEVISES PLANS TO ACQUIRE WEALTH WITH HIS FRIENDS,

PARTICULARLY WILLY HARRIS. WHEN THE PLAY OPENS, HE WANTS TO INVEST HIS

FATHER’S INSURANCE MONEY IN A NEW LIQUOR STORE VENTURE. HE SPENDS THE

REST OF THE PLAY ENDLESSLY PREOCCUPIED WITH DISCOVERING A QUICK

SOLUTION TO HIS FAMILY’S VARIOUS PROBLEMS.

 BENEATHA YOUNGER (“BENNIE”) - MAMA’S DAUGHTER AND WALTER’S SISTER.

BENEATHA IS AN INTELLECTUAL. TWENTY YEARS OLD, SHE ATTENDS COLLEGE AND IS

BETTER EDUCATED THAN THE REST OF THE YOUNGER FAMILY. SOME OF HER

PERSONAL BELIEFS AND VIEWS HAVE DISTANCED HER FROM CONSERVATIVE

MAMA. SHE DREAMS OF BEING A DOCTOR AND STRUGGLES TO DETERMINE HER

IDENTITY AS A WELL-EDUCATED BLACK WOMAN.

 LENA YOUNGER (“MAMA”) - WALTER AND BENEATHA’S MOTHER. THE MATRIARCH

OF THE FAMILY, MAMA IS RELIGIOUS, MORAL, AND MATERNAL. SHE WANTS TO USE
 HER HUSBAND’S INSURANCE MONEY AS A DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOUSE WITH A

BACKYARD TO FULFILL HER DREAM FOR HER FAMILY TO MOVE UP IN THE WORLD.

 RUTH YOUNGER - WALTER’S WIFE AND TRAVIS’S MOTHER. RUTH TAKES CARE OF THE

YOUNGERS’ SMALL APARTMENT. HER MARRIAGE TO WALTER HAS PROBLEMS, BUT

SHE HOPES TO REKINDLE THEIR LOVE. SHE IS ABOUT THIRTY, BUT HER WEARINESS

MAKES HER SEEM OLDER. CONSTANTLY FIGHTING POVERTY AND DOMESTIC

TROUBLES, SHE CONTINUES TO BE AN EMOTIONALLY STRONG WOMAN. HER

ALMOST PESSIMISTIC PRAGMATISM HELPS HER TO SURVIVE.

 TRAVIS YOUNGER - WALTER AND RUTH’S SHELTERED YOUNG SON. TRAVIS EARNS

SOME MONEY BY CARRYING GROCERY BAGS AND LIKES TO PLAY OUTSIDE WITH

OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN, BUT HE HAS NO BEDROOM AND SLEEPS ON

THE LIVING-ROOM SOFA.

 JOSEPH ASAGAI - A NIGERIAN STUDENT IN LOVE WITH BENEATHA. ASAGAI, AS HE IS

OFTEN CALLED, IS VERY PROUD OF HIS AFRICAN HERITAGE, AND BENEATHA HOPES

TO LEARN ABOUT HER AFRICAN HERITAGE FROM HIM. HE EVENTUALLY PROPOSES

MARRIAGE TO BENEATHA AND HOPES SHE WILL RETURN TO NIGERIA WITH HIM.

 GEORGE MURCHISON - A WEALTHY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN WHO COURTS

BENEATHA. THE YOUNGERS APPROVE OF GEORGE, BUT BENEATHA DISLIKES HIS

WILLINGNESS TO SUBMIT TO WHITE CULTURE AND FORGET HIS AFRICAN HERITAGE.

HE CHALLENGES THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF OTHER BLACK PEOPLE

THROUGH HIS ARROGANCE AND FLAIR FOR INTELLECTUAL COMPETITION.

 MR. KARL LINDNER - THE ONLY WHITE CHARACTER IN THE PLAY. MR. LINDNER

ARRIVES AT THE YOUNGERS’ APARTMENT FROM THE CLYBOURNE PARK

IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. HE OFFERS THE YOUNGERS A DEAL TO RECONSIDER

MOVING INTO HIS (ALL-WHITE) NEIGHBORHOOD.

 BOBO - ONE OF WALTER’S PARTNERS IN THE LIQUOR STORE PLAN. BOBO APPEARS

TO BE AS MENTALLY SLOW AS HIS NAME INDICATES.

 WILLY HARRIS - A FRIEND OF WALTER AND COORDINATOR OF THE LIQUOR STORE

PLAN. WILLY NEVER APPEARS ONSTAGE, WHICH HELPS KEEP THE FOCUS OF THE

STORY ON THE DYNAMICS OF THE YOUNGER FAMILY.

 MRS. JOHNSON - THE YOUNGERS’ NEIGHBOR. MRS. JOHNSON TAKES ADVANTAGE

OF THE YOUNGERS’ HOSPITALITY AND WARNS THEM ABOUT MOVING INTO A

PREDOMINATELY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.