essay 3

Analysis of Themes and Symbols

Write about how two concepts (examples include discrimination, inequality, and the search for a better

life or future) that Martin Luther King, Jr. refers to in “I Have a Dream” are dramatized in A Raisin in the

Sun and become major themes in the play or movie.

In order to heighten the thematic effects of A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry uses powerful

symbols which include the new house the family buys, Beneatha’s haircut, Mama’s plant, African songs

and dance, the picture of a father hanging on a wall, among many others. Explain in your essay how your

target themes are effectively expressed through symbols.

Note: In Part I (introduction and thesis), introduce “I have a Dream” and A Raisin in the Sun,

and write your thesis. In Part II, provide support for your thesis.