Jordan Kent Slade
Ms. Johnson
ENG 102 Online
16 June 2016 The Use of Dreams and Objects in A Raisin in the Sun and the Symbolism Behind Them Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun details the difficult lives of a family as they strive to survive in a time of uncertainty, and inequality, for a people that are considered second class citizens. This family has lived through much adversity, but they continually strive to better their lives while they try to maintain faith in their fellow man, and each other. Even though everything around them is structured for their failure, they still strive to better themselves through each other’s love, support, and individual dreams or desires. Even though they have been instilled with strong spiritual and moral values, they still struggle at times to remain true to these values and not let their dreams and desires lead them astray, or let the unfair times bring them down further. In A Raisin in the Sun Mama, Walter, and Beneatha cling to various objects that embody their dreams or desires, even if some of them are misguided, but whether good or bad, these objects and dreams affect their individual personalities in profound ways that eventually heal them individually, and collectively, as a family. When one reads A Raisin in the Sun, one will see that the objects and dreams in the play are used to symbolize Mama, Walter, and Beneatha’s strength of character, how it has developed, and how it is constantly evolving. To help understand this, this paper will delve into the symbolism behind Mama’s, Walter’s, and Beneatha’s dreams and the objects that they treasure. Mama dreams of a new home, and better quality of life for her family with less strife, personal conflict, and a renewal of values. The plant that Mama tends to with such love as well as the check, symbolize her unconditional love for her family, the sacrifices that have been made for them, and her dreams for their growth in the future, both morally and socially. She realizes her children are not perfect, but they can still grow in character if given the chance. Walter dreams of how money is the answer to all of his problems. He feels that he deserves better in life, and if he is given the chance he will be a success. Even though Walter has big dreams for his family’s future, he feels he is not given the respect he is due by his family. The check symbolizes all of Walters plans of success and the eggs symbolize his feelings of inadequacy, and his failures as a husband, father, and provider. Beneatha dreams of fitting in to society without selling herself out as she has seen so many other people do. She dreams of becoming a doctor so that she may help others. Her dreams are noble, but she does not realize what she really wants is right in front of her. The check represents her dream of becoming a doctor and her hair is both her desire to remain true to herself and her people, and her realization that she is not fulfilling this dream. The symbolism of this family’s different items help’s the reader to better understand the characters dreams and desires. Mama’s plant, and the check represent all of the hopes of a better life she has dreamed of for her family, the sacrifices made for them, and the trials and tribulations that have effected each of them, and still affect them in this era of inequality and cruelty. Mama lavishes attention on her plant, just as she does with her family, because she knows they need all the support she can give them. Mama expresses how she worries for her children, if something does not change, when she says to Ruth “My children and they tempers. Lord, if this little old plant don’t get more sun than it’s been getting it ain’t never going to see spring again.” (Hansberry I, i, 1480). She shows how much she loves her children, her pride for them, and how much spirit she feels they have to survive these trying times while talking to Ruth about her children’s attitudes in this quote. “They spirited all right, my children. Got to admit they got spirit—Bennie and Walter. Like this little old plant that ain’t never had enough sunshine or nothing—and look at it… “(Hansberry I, i, 1487). Mama realizes that the plant, just like her family, will only grow stronger and become what they truly should be if they are introduced to new surroundings that are more conducive to this. If something does not change, both the plant and her children will wither and die. Next is Mama’s check which also represents a better future for her children, but it also represents the past, in the sacrifices that were made for the family’s survival. In the first quote Mama realizes for the first time what the check really means for the family. She is arguing with Ruth about what they could do with the money when she considers aloud [Thoughtfully, and suddenly very far away.] “Ten thousand dollars “(Hansberry I, i, 1482). Later when Mama finds out that Walter has lost most of the money from the check she explains to Walter and Beneatha the amount of love and sacrifice that went into providing this hope of a better future for them by saying “…I seen him grow thin and old before he was forty…working and working and working like somebody’s old horse…killing himself…and you—you give it all away in a day--.” (II, iii, 1523). Mama does not truly acknowledge to herself what the money means for her family until it is actually in her hands, and only expresses what the money truly meant when it is lost. In this way the check represents both future dreams and past sacrifices. Walter’s eggs represent his feelings of helplessness and failure in life along with a lack of support for his dreams. The check represents his belief that money will solve all of his problems and give him respect along with a new understanding of the sacrifices that have been made for him. Walter’s eggs represent his frustration with the world. He feels he is destined for better things and no one will listen to him or support him, including his wife. Walter wants better things for his family and feels his wife should agree with, and help him, not question or ignore him. When Walter is trying to get his wife Ruth to help him talk Mama into giving him the money to buy a liquor store, he gets frustrated at her for refusing and tells her “That’s it. There you are. Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs… [Passionately now] Man say: I got to change my life, I’m choking to death, baby! And his woman say – [In utter anguish as he brings his fists down on his thighs] – Your eggs is getting cold!” (Hansberry I, i, 1477). This outburst is the brought on by Ruth’s earlier indifference to Walter when she asks him how he wants his eggs cooked and ignores his request after he tells her “Not scrambled.” [Ruth starts to scramble the eggs.] (Hansberry I, i, 1473). Walter feels frustration in his role as a father and bread winner. Walter tries to provide for his family and he has big dreams to help with this, but he is constantly ignored and ridiculed by those he is providing for as is symbolized by the eggs. The next symbolic object for Walter is the check. For Walter, the check represents success, respect and the only, truly important thing in life. It also symbolizes the sacrifices that have been made for the family, and his realization that family is the most important thing in life. In the first set of quotes, Walter is sharing his feelings of hopelessness at his station in life and how money will fix everything, when Mama asks why he is so obsessed with money. “Because, it is life, Mama!” Mama: “Oh—so now its life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom use to be life—now its money. I guess the world really do change…” Walter: “No—it was always money, Mama. We just didn’t know about it.” (Hansberry I, ii, 1497). His values change latter when the money his father worked so hard for is stolen. Bobo tells him that their friend, Willy, has run off with the money and Walter says “Man… [He starts to pound the floor with his fists, sobbing wildly.] That money is made out of my father’s flesh…” Walter will not listen to reason. He fails to see that his priorities are wrong. Money alone will not help his family, but he refuses to admit his dreams are unattainable and sees the money from the check as his ticket out of poverty and his being treated unfairly because of his skin color. It takes losing the money for him to understand that his pride and stupidity have caused him to lose what is really important. He has lost his self-respect and the respect of his family. He finally realizes that it was not just money, but everything his parents have endured to keep their family alive and together. For Walter the check represents his unrealistic ideals and dreams and the realization of what matters more than money. Beneatha is symbolized by the check and her hair. The check represents her parent’s sacrifices, and love for their family, as well as what the check could mean for her dream of becoming a doctor. Beneatha’s hair represents her unknowing assimilation as well as her realization of her heritage and a change to her way of thinking. Beneatha feels that the check belongs to her mother and should be used as her mother sees fit. She understands what her parents have done for their children, and respects that. She does not appreciate Walter making plans for the money. She finally gets tired of hearing Walter talk about the check and tells him “That money belongs to Mama, Walter, and it’s for her to decide how she wants to use it. I don’t care if she wants to buy a house or a rocket ship or just nail it up somewhere and look at it. It’s hers. Not ours---hers.” (Hansberry I, i, 1479). Even though Beneatha is too proud to ask for money, she still hopes that Mama will pay for her medical education. Walter tells her that her dreams are unrealistic. He tells her she needs to thank the family for their past support, and settle for something practical, so she can contribute to the family instead of placing undue financial burden on them. She responds to Walter by dropping to her knees and telling him “Well--- I do--- all right? --- thank every-body… and forgive me for ever wanting to be anything at all… forgive me, forgive me!” (I, i, 1479). Beneatha knows that she should not expect any of the money from her father’s life insurance. She has enough respect for her parents sacrifices to keep from begging, but she still has the hope that her mother will help her become a doctor. This money represents both her parents love and sacrifice, and the means for her dreams to come true. Beneatha is also symbolized by her hair. Beneatha considers herself a strong, black woman, that can take care of herself. She despises other people that do not stay true to who they are in order to fit in. Beneatha does not realize that she has been fooling herself. She is actually an assimilationist without realizing it, but she figures out that she has been lying to herself. Her friend Asagai has given her a traditional African dress. He compliments her on how well she wears it, regardless of the way she has mutilated her hair. Beneath responds by turning to Asagai suddenly and saying “My hair---what’s wrong with my hair?” (Hansberry I, ii, 1491). She continues to discuss her hair with Asagai when she comes to the realization that for her to be true to her heritage she needs to make some changes. This realization comes when Asagai asks her if she was born with her hair as it is. She tells him “You know perfectly well how… as crinkly as yours… that’s how.” (Hansberry I, ii, 1491). Beneatha’s long and straightened hair reflects her unconscious desire to fit in with white society. Her realization that she has styled her hair this way symbolizes her epiphany to return to her roots or be true to her heritage. Even though Mama and her husband have sacrificed much to raise their children in a loving and compassionate household, she is not sure of how successful she has been. She worries daily about her children’s morality, but is justified in the end when her son and daughter find the strength to embrace their family and their heritage more than the outside trappings of success and fitting in. In the play A Raisin in the Sun the reader should see how, misguided or not, good or bad, the character’s dream’s, the objects that symbolize the characters dreams and the way those dreams and objects reflect the character’s personalities, help the reader understand how the characters have evolved, and how they have been healed, as a family, and as individuals, in a trying time in our history.

Work Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Shorter Eleventh Edition. Ed. Kelly J. Mays. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. Print. 1470-1534.