Raisin in the Sun Review

 The film Raisin in the Sun focuses on the lives of the Youngers and their own dreams. The film was written by Lorraine Hansberry, a very talented writer. She herself wrote this play based on her own experience of African American struggles going on in America during that time. The film stars many actors including Walter Lee, Lena, Ruth, Beneatha, Travis as the main intermediate family members. The Youngers are not rich, but instead they represent the working-class family. All of these family members have dreams and aspirations that they feel will occur once they are gifted with the insurance check money that they have been long awaiting to arrive at their home in the South side of Chicago. Everyone has a dream in this film. Langston Hughes' popular poem on this asks the question that I believe is the basis of this very film in which it says “What happens to a dream deferred?  Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” Walter’s dream is to open a liquor store with the insurance money from Walter Sr.’s death. Benethea's dream is to use the money to help with her dream of becoming a doctor. Lena plans to use it to move out of their cramped apartment into a new house in a new community. Ruth simply wants to move out as well and Travis wants his own space that he can have for himself. 

   Against what Walter wants, Lena puts down a payment for a new house in Clybourne Park, an all-white neighborhood. The problem with this dream is that the residents of Clybourne park don’t want African Americans living in their neighborhood which displays the true racism and prejudice going on during this time. The dream at this moment to make better for themselves and to upgrade their lifestyle is indeed what Langston suggests deferred and drying up as well.  They are greeted by a man by the name of Mr. Lidner is a white man, who represents the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. Mr. Linder tries to buy the house from the family. He comes off as a nice man but his racial agenda is the same as those in the Cylbourne residence that are against blacks being brought into their neighborhood. His character in this film was essential in illustrating the typical white man’s mind at this given time which is very prejudiced.  Mr. Linder says in the film “Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities,” and constantly uses the word “you people” to distinctly divide and call them out. He simply assumes that African Americans are happier in their own communities because that is just how things are currently, so he sees no problem with it. He never stops to ask them how they are feeling and come up with a resolution. He simply just tells them that this is how it’s going to be and that’s the end. 

 Moreover, Walter becomes very sad and goes down to the local bar with misery about the whole house situation in general.  Lena sees him in pain and becomes hopeless about her own son's future. So, she gives in and gives a large amount of the insurance check to Walter. Walter Lee ends up losing that money after it was stolen while he was making a business transaction with his partner BoBo by a man named Willy who never came back. This scene was very powerful because it showed Walter at his lowest and the family in a financial burden.  Walter is constantly seen as a failure and less of a man in this entire film. He represented the black man with dreams and trying to provide for a family with all of America’s hardships coming your way. Lena is very disappointed in him for this and is overcome with anger. Lena expects more from her son and wants him to lead the family.  

Other characters are facing problems as well. Ruth is expecting a baby but contemplating having an abortion because of the state of the family and the current state of her and Walter's marriage. She desperately wants to move into the new house to see a sign of hope and better life for the family. Beneatha is dealing with her own problems of a lack of direction with her dreams and her own identity. She wants to go to medical school but people such as Walter don’t seem to encourage her on this. Beneatha represents modern women because many women during the time in the late 50’s were just having kids and becoming housewives. There were definitely not a lot of women doctors, let alone a black one.  Beneatha has two love interests, one being George and the other being Joseph. These two characters were the polar opposites. George represented the average African American man who was just trying to make it in America and very much assimilated into what the white man finds acceptable. In contrast, George, who Beneatha is very intrigued by because he is from Africa, and he encourages her to be herself and truly listens to her problems. Through meeting George, Beneatha tries to tap into her African roots. Beneatha is dealing with being an American and trying to see how she falls with her African roots. She doesn't exactly choose someone, and her future isn’t really displayed on if she goes to medical school or not. 

The film ended with Walter Lee refusing the offer from Mr. Linder to buy the house that they brought initially and to instead move into it. This was the main climax moment that occurred where we see Walter Lee finally come into his manhood. This was by far my favorite scene because of how much Walter was struggling in making proper decisions for his life. He went away from his original dream and looked out for the whole family's well-being and instructed the family that they would be starting a new life for themselves at Clybourne Park.