“A Raisin in the Sun”: A Tale of Optimism and Resiliency

Excerpts from the Paper

"A Raisin in the Sun": A Tale of Optimism and Resiliency
The following paper shall argue that Raisin in the Sun is actually a tale of optimism and resiliency, even though the family faces an uncertain future, has lost a significant chunk of the money that was entrusted to Walter, and are viewed with disdain by their local neighbours as they trek into a new community to start a new life. The reason why the story may be described as an optimistic one is that, Mama, the matriarch of the family, never loses sight of the fact that she has a dream worth living for; she drags her family along with her, one might say. As well,
Beneatha
still has the bright prospect of medical school – she still has that hope – and she must be admired for this,...

.....vere and uncompromising sister,
Benethea
, that Walter deserves love and another chance (Hansberry, 147). The newly-confident and assertive way in which he speaks to Mr. Lindner near the close of the play (Hansberry, 147-152) suggests a fellow who may yet become a man.
In the end, the play discussed above is a play about hope – and about people remaining optimistic despite being occasionally crushed by their own foolishness or by the bigotry of others. Mama sets the tone for her family, and we leave the play thinking that
Benethea
and Walter might end up being resilient people, too, even as they struggle with their own human frailties.
Works Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Ed. Robert
Nemiroff
. New York: Vintage Books, 1994.