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Riayona Evans

Africa Fine

African American Literature

09/08

A Raisin In The Sun

1. What does Hansberry’s play argue about familial roles and responsibilities.

Lorraine Hansberry's novel A Raisin in the Sun creates a visual depiction of how

black people's lives were at the time. The Youngers' lives have indeed been full of

hardships and their own ambitions all through the play. This play argues that a 

human's family can be the most important support structure he or she has if the family

realizes the responsibilities and roles. The Younger family experiences challenges that

appear to break them apart at periods, but they bind together through it all.  Walter

Lee aspires to be a businessman and considers that payment will fix all of their

troubles in the end realizing the responsibilities they have as a member of the family.

As a result, Mama declares, "it isn’t much, but it's all I've got in the globe, and I'm

placing it in your grip." "I'm informing you to be the leader of this household like

you're presumed to be from now on" (Charters 1537). Walter and Beneatha's decisions

would seem to cause irreversible fractures in the Younger family's establishment, but

here comes the responsibility of a mother when Mama becomes the pozzolanic

material who inspires her family to squeeze with each other as one component. The

difficulties of the family contribute to the Younger household's sense of togetherness

and make them aware of their responsibilities. 

2. Do the characters seem to regard responsibility to self as less important than

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the family unit?

Unfortunately, it appears that everyone excluding Walter kept the family to the

highest standard possible and they seem to regard responsibility to self as less

important than the family unit. Walter told Ruth how he observes her tension over the

family's residing condition but took no action. He then spoke about the liquor store

that he wanted him to engage in with Ruth's support. "You observe, this little liquor

store we've got in thought charges seventy-five thousand dollars, plus a couple of

hundred dollars in fees" (Hansberry 716). Even though Walter was conscious that

Ruth was concerned about the living situation of the whole family and regarded

responsibility to the family unit as more important, and for Ruth purchasing the liquor

store might not be the best solution to these problems. Mama wanted to do something

for her whole family. Ruth also tried to convince Mama to shift to a new home for the

whole family and he was ready to work even more for the whole family’s desires.  He

begged,  "Lena—I'll work,". I'll work 20 hours per day in all the Chicago

restaurants.... —but we have to relocate...." (Hansberry 609). This showed her

intention to give more importance to the family than his own. 

3. What economic responsibility does each character seem to want for the clan?

The Youngers wanted to get away from their extremely crowded, roach-infested

residential living, where a typical daunting task comprised of "spraying pesticide into

the holes in the walls" (Charters 1510). Each character appears to have a distinct

economic desire. Mama's economic responsibility is the commitment to purchasing a

lovely home for her family. According to Walters, his economic responsibility is to
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invest in order to start an enterprise and work for the family. Beneatha associates

economic responsibility with her academic achievement and career, attempting to

make it very essential to her as well.

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Work Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (2004–11-29).

Vintage, 2021.