Symbols In A Raisin In The Sun

Symbols in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is a powerful play exploring the dreams, frustrations, and resilience of a Black family in 1950s Chicago. Beyond the compelling narrative of the Younger family, the play is rich with symbolism, using objects, characters, and settings to convey deeper meanings about race, class, identity, and the American Dream. Analyzing these symbols unlocks a richer understanding of the play's enduring themes and relevance.

The Plant: A Symbol of Hope and Perseverance

The plant, meticulously cared for by Lena Younger, the matriarch, is arguably the most potent symbol in the play. It represents the family's hopes and dreams, fragile yet tenacious, mirroring their own struggle for survival and upward mobility. Lena's unwavering dedication to nurturing the plant reflects her commitment to sustaining her family through hardship. The plant's slow growth, mirroring the family's slow progress towards their goals, highlights the challenges they face. Its potential to flourish, however, underscores the enduring possibility of achieving their aspirations despite systemic oppression. The plant's eventual near-death underscores the fragility of their dreams and the constant threat of failure. Its survival, however, signifies the resilience and perseverance of the Younger family in the face of adversity. It's a constant reminder that even in the most challenging circumstances, hope can persist.

The Plant's Significance Across the Play's Arc

The plant's significance evolves throughout the play. Initially, it symbolizes Lena's quiet strength and determination. Later, as the family faces conflict and setbacks, the plant's condition reflects their emotional state. When conflicts arise, the plant often wilts, highlighting the negative impact of internal strife on their collective dreams. When the family rallies together, the plant seems to thrive, demonstrating the power of unity in overcoming adversity. This interconnectedness between the plant's well-being and the family's emotional state underscores the deep symbolic weight of this seemingly simple object.

The Apartment: A Symbol of Confinement and Aspiration

The Younger family's cramped apartment in Chicago's South Side is a powerful symbol of confinement and the limitations imposed by racial and economic segregation. The cramped living space, with its lack of privacy and constant feeling of being overcrowded, physically represents the psychological constraints the family experiences. The leaky roof and dilapidated state of the apartment mirror the systemic decay that permeates their lives. This physical environment becomes a microcosm of the larger societal issues facing the Younger family.

Contrast with Clybourne Park: A Symbol of Freedom and Opportunity

The apartment contrasts starkly with the house in Clybourne Park that Walter Lee dreams of buying. Clybourne Park represents a different world, one of spaciousness, freedom, and the opportunity to escape the confines of their current reality. It embodies the American Dream, the promise of upward mobility and a better life. The stark contrast between the two spaces vividly highlights the inequalities inherent in American society and the immense challenges the Younger family faces in achieving their aspirations.

Money: A Symbol of Power, Freedom, and Corruption

Money, specifically the insurance check, acts as a pivotal symbol throughout the play. It represents the potential for freedom, the opportunity to escape the constraints of poverty and achieve their dreams. For Walter Lee, the money is seen as a means to escape his dead-end job and gain financial independence, ultimately signifying power and control over his own destiny.

Walter Lee's Mismanagement: A Symbol of Lost Potential

However, Walter Lee's mismanagement of the money showcases the corrosive power of greed and the potential for misplaced ambition to lead to disastrous consequences. His desperate gamble with Willy Harris demonstrates the seductive allure of quick riches and the devastating consequences of making impulsive decisions driven by financial desperation. The money, intended to uplift the family, becomes a source of internal conflict and ultimately threatens to destroy their hopes and dreams.

Beneatha's Hair: A Symbol of Identity and Self-Discovery

Beneatha's changing hairstyles throughout the play represent her journey of self-discovery and her evolving understanding of her identity. Initially, she adopts a more Westernized style, reflecting her desire to assimilate into mainstream American culture. Her later adoption of a natural hairstyle, however, signifies her embrace of her African heritage and her rejection of the pressure to conform to white standards of beauty. The transformation symbolizes her journey towards self-acceptance and the reclaiming of her cultural identity.

Beneatha's Identity Crisis

Beneatha's struggles with her identity are reflected in her fluctuating hairstyles and her exploration of different career paths. Her initial attempts to assimilate are driven by a desire to achieve upward mobility and escape the limitations imposed by her racial background. However, her eventual rejection of assimilation and embrace of her heritage signals her increasing self-awareness and her commitment to authenticity.

The Photograph: A Symbol of Heritage and Legacy

The photograph of Walter Lee's father is a powerful symbol of family heritage and the legacy of struggle and perseverance. It serves as a tangible link to the past, reminding the Younger family of their origins and their shared history. The photograph stands as a silent witness to their struggles and the sacrifices made by previous generations. This provides a sense of continuity and grounding amidst the turbulence of their present circumstances. The weight placed upon this symbol underscores the importance of lineage and the responsibility to uphold the values and dreams of their ancestors.

Connecting Generations

The photograph helps to bridge the gap between generations, connecting the Younger family to their past and reminding them of the common struggles they share. It becomes a source of inspiration and strength, reminding them that their difficulties are not unique, and that previous generations have overcome similar challenges. This shared history strengthens their family bonds and bolsters their resolve to achieve their dreams.

Racial Discrimination: The Unspoken Symbol

While not a tangible object, racial discrimination looms large as an unspoken yet omnipresent symbol throughout the play. The limitations imposed on the Younger family due to their race are constantly felt, affecting every aspect of their lives, from their housing options to their career opportunities. The systemic racism they face is a major obstacle to their pursuit of the American Dream.

Subtext and Inference

The play doesn't explicitly state every instance of racism, but the subtext is clear. The challenges they face in finding housing, the subtle prejudices they encounter, and the limited opportunities available to them highlight the pervasive nature of racial discrimination in 1950s America. This constant struggle becomes a powerful, implicit symbol of the systemic obstacles that stand in the way of their progress.

Dreams and Aspirations: A Collective Symbol

The dreams and aspirations of the Younger family members collectively function as a central symbol in the play. Each character harbors their own individual dreams, ranging from Walter Lee's desire for financial independence to Beneatha's aspirations to become a doctor and Ruth's yearning for a better life. These individual dreams reflect the hopes and desires of countless individuals striving for a better future.

The Interconnectedness of Dreams

However, the individual dreams are also interconnected, emphasizing the importance of family and unity. The achievement of one dream often hinges on the success or failure of the others. This underscores the importance of collective effort and mutual support in pursuing one's goals, showing how the success of the individual is tied to the success of the family unit.

The Title: A Symbol of Deferred Dreams

The title, taken from Langston Hughes's poem "Harlem," itself acts as a powerful symbol. "A Raisin in the Sun" speaks to the potential for dreams to wither and decay when they are constantly deferred. The image of a raisin, once a vibrant grape, shriveled and dried up, represents the danger of inaction and the potential for dreams to become corrupted if not pursued with vigor and determination. The title sets a somber tone, foreshadowing the challenges the Younger family faces and the potential for their dreams to sour.

The Power of the Poem's Context

The use of Hughes's poem is pivotal. It provides a thematic framework for the entire play, emphasizing the urgency of pursuing one's dreams and the potential consequences of allowing them to wither. This directly links the play to the broader context of the African American experience in the 20th century, highlighting the constant struggle for freedom and the fight against systemic oppression. The weight of this literary allusion underscores the play's larger societal significance.

In conclusion, A Raisin in the Sun is rich in potent symbolism. By carefully analyzing these symbols – the plant, the apartment, money, Beneatha's hair, the photograph, racial discrimination, dreams, and the title itself – we gain a deeper appreciation of the play's themes, character development, and its enduring message about the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The symbolic depth of Hansberry’s work is precisely what gives it its lasting power and relevance to audiences even decades after its initial performance.