Defense -mechanisms.

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A Raisin in the Sun

The major theme represented in the poems related to the personal growth with respect to the harsh condition, as well as, economic opposition and family ties. The title emanates from Langston’s poem that compares a dream and the raisin that is rotten under the sun. Nonetheless, the youngsters are inclined to the struggle to survive, amidst the promise of growth through the family name and the recurring plant and birth images. Arguably, mama’s priced possession is a little plant that gets little sunlight from a window in the apartment. As she tries to nurture her family to prosperity, and survival amidst the hard condition, she as well nurtures her plant. Arguably, Lena becomes happy when they move to a house that offers a gardening porch; hence her family offers her with gardening tools, as well as, a sun hat the helps in reducing the amount of sun she receives. As a result, she is bestowed as the family nurturer (103). Due to her love for the plant, it is the last thing she takes with her when they move to the new apartment.

Secondly, the generation theme has been in dominance, this is illustrated in the birth imagery, where Lena and Walter senior had earlier lost their child. On the other hand, Lena has decided to abort her pregnancy that leads Lena to mourn miserably, as she does not want to lose another child to poverty (33, 62). Consequently, after Walter decide to accept the white’s offers, not to move into the neighborhood, Lena insists that she Walter makes a capitulation in front of Travis, their son. In an interesting turn of event, Walter declares the pride that he has had with the sixth generation of family that has lived in America (127). Conversely, Mary decides to have her baby as it would be significant in representing the sixth generation of the family. Intrigued by his decision Mary decided to applaud Walter’s comeback; ““He finally come into his manhood today. . . kind of like a rainbow after the

rain” (130). As such, the family is happy with the growth of its roots and its recognition in the new neighborhood.

Further, Hansberry deft and use of the allusive Book of Ruth, highlights the generation theme. This offers insight on the struggles of the family that is characterized with leaving poverty and achieve better livelihood, with respect to their needs among others. As such, the Book of Ruth emphasizes on home and family, of being devoted to earth and religion, as it contains the controlling metaphor of fecundity. Interestingly, it presents the success of a woman who is linked with the Old Testament Salvation of history and Christ’s lineage.

The character of Ruth is likened to biblical Ruth, in her devotion to her mother in law (54). As a result of famine, Naomi and her husband moved to Moab that saw the eventual death of her two sons. On the other hand, the out of loyalty, Oprah stayed in Moab, as such, during the harvest they ewer forced to move back to Bethlehem. As a result, she is advised by Oprah to work hard so that her hard work may be realized, as such she was impressed by her work ethics and her devotion to her mother –in-law. Consequently, she marries Ruth, and at the end of the narrative she is blessed with a son, named Obed.

Per se, with respect to the Jewish calendar, the Book is read as Shovuos. This relates to the festival of Pentecost that is characterized by the end of the harvest. During this festival, the synagogues are decorated with green that highlights the connection with fecundity. As such, with respect to Hansberry, draws a connection between the generational imagery of the bible to the festival that links in informing Lena’s success that nurtures her from the family. Arguably, Ruth’s inception of a child is invested in the biblical concept, in line with the birth of Obed. In this respect, the younger does have chosen vitality, as well as growth and the day that Walter has realized the sense of the family lineage. As such, it presents the humanity, futurity and family endurance in the hard times.

In the poem, Walter presents a vivid picture of what happens to the dream when the dream has been postponed, or lost. These makes it dry or rot faster as it sags, and finally explodes. As such there is sadness and frustration in the case when the dream does not attain fruition. Undeniably, the images seem to drag the dreamer down, except for the last ones when the frustration inlay results to an explosion. Arguably, the poem presents the dreams of all the characters and their anticipation to have the theme fulfilled.

Walter has always wanted success, while mama dreams of having a better home. Conversely, Ruth dreams for a place where her family will be able to thrive, as Beneath a dreams to become a doctor. With respect to their anticipation, their dreams make the characters spur as they become consumed by their dreams, as they fail to offer foreseeable plans for their future. As such, they are chocked to the point, where they make decision that they might not make due to the fact that their failure frustrates them.

Interestingly, the poem starts with a lot of questions, as it poses the central question, “what happens to a dream deferred?” This simply implies” what happens when one's dreams do not come to pass?” as such; the poet employs epigraph for her play. As such, why does the Hansberry use this epigraph in starting his play? Despite the fact that the family was able to move from the slum dwelling to a better house, the play leaves the readers hanging with regard to their dreams. Walter is still not having a rewarding job, while Beneatha is still searching money for her medical needs. Undeniably, this presents the similarity existing between the blacks in America at that time. Whereas the Blacks had fulfilled some dreams namely; integrated education and freedom, there were other problems that had continuously been deferred. Among these, was the unequal distribution of employment? Hence, the use of the epigraph was essential in pointing out the universal nature of the play. Every human being has a dream that would like to be fulfilled in the future, particularly nature. As such, the plight of the Black Americans has seen them deferring their dreams more than others. Consequently, their dreams have been met by the occasioned problems in the American society. The achievement of their dreams appears to be a pipe dream.

Work Cited

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: New American Lib., 1958 .