About The Book

             

             A Raisin in the Sun is about a couple of weeks in the life of Youngers family, an African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. When the play begins, the Youngers are about to get an insurance check by mail for $10,000. The family is about to get this money because of deceased Mr. Younger’s life insurance policy. Each of the family members has an idea’s on what they would like to do with the insurance money. The leader of the family, Mama, wants to buy a house with a big garden to finally get her dream that she kept together with her husband. Mama’s son, Walter Lee, would have liked to use the money to invest in a liquor store with his friends. He thinks that his investment will solve the family’s financial problems forever. Walter’s wife, Ruth, hopes that Walter can provide more space and opportunity for their son, Travis. Lastly, Beneatha, Walter’s sister, wants to use the money and pay for her medical school tuition. She also does not want her family to join the modern world. Beneatha tries to look back at Africa and find her original identity.

             As the play continues, the Youngers fight over what to do with the money. Ruth gets pregnant by Walter but afraid that if she has the baby, she will to have more money. Thus putting financial pressure on her family. When Walter shows no sign about her considering an abortion, Mama puts a down payment on a house for the whole family to live in. She thinks a new place to live will clear her families’ minds and that the family will become more supportive of each other. This house is in Clybourne Park, a fully white neighborhood. When the residents at Clybourne Park find out that the Youngers are moving in, they send Mr. Lindner, from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, to give the Youngers money and convince them not to move in. The Youngers do not take the deal, Mama realizes that all the family should have their dreams come true, so she divides the money left over and gives Walter 6,500. Half for his liquor store and the other half the take to the bank and save it there for Beneatha’s medical school tuition. Walter does not listen to mama and gives all the money to Willy Harris, who persuades Walter to invest in the liquor store and then runs off with his cash and never comes back.

             Meanwhile, Beneatha rejects her boyfriend, George Murchison, because she thinks he is ignorant to the problems of race. Later on she receives a marriage proposal from her boyfriend that came from Nigeria, Joseph Asagai, who wants Beneatha to get a medical degree and move to Africa with him. Beneatha never makes the decision to move with Asagai because the play ends. The Youngers move out of there old apartment, Thus making the family’s long dream of owning a house with a garden come true. Their future seems uncertain, but they are happy to start to live a better life. It seems like they will always stick together as a family to get their dreams to come true.