What is the epigraph in A Raisin in the Sun?
The epigraph to A Raisin in the Sun is Langston Hughes’ poem “Montage of a Dream Deferred” which was written as a critique of Harlem life. The eleven lines are a hypothesis about the ramifications of white society’s actions to withhold equal opportunity from black citizens [13].
What were two inspirations for the play A Raisin in the Sun?
like a raisin in the sun? Langston Hughes wrote the poem, and Lorraine Hansberry was inspired—both by the poem and by her own real-life experience—to write A Raisin in the Sun, the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway.
What was the inspiration and purpose for writing the play A Raisin in the Sun?
Lorraine Hansberry drew inspiration from personal experience when she sat down to write a play about a working class family on the South Side of Chicago. See how she worked to find the words to describe their hopes and struggles, and how she pressed on to complete “A Raisin in the Sun.”
What is the significance of the metaphor A Raisin in the Sun to the play?
A Raisin in the Sun is essentially about dreams, as the main characters struggle to deal with the oppressive circumstances that rule their lives. The title of the play references a conjecture that Langston Hughes famously posed in a poem he wrote about dreams that were forgotten or put off.
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Does it stink like rotten meat? like a syrupy sweet? like a heavy load. Or does it explode?
What does the title A Raisin in the Sun mean?
The play’s title is taken from “Harlem,” a poem by Langston Hughes, which examines the question “What happens to a dream deferred?/Does it dry up/like a raisin in the sun?” This penetrating psychological study of a working-class black family on the south side of Chicago in the late 1940s reflected Hansberry’s own …
What is the message in A Raisin in the Sun?
At the heart of Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ is the universal message of the desire for social progress amid the differing opinions on how to achieve it. A Raisin in the Sun is a play about an African American family aspiring to move beyond segregation and disenfranchisement in 1950s Chicago.
How could a dream stink like rotten meat?
The poem also evokes the reader’s sense of smell. The speaker asks if the deferred dreams “stink like rotten meat” or in contrast, “crust and sugar over – like a syrupy sweet?” Readers respond to the image presented, which are particularly strong due to their evocation of scent.
How can a dream stink?
Nonsense, says Rachel Herz, a professor of psychiatry at Brown University and author of The Scent of Desire. Her research and experiments indicate people do not respond to odours while they are in the dreaming phase of sleep (REM) or deep sleep. “You cannot smell while you are asleep,” she says.
What was the original title of a raisin in the sun?
The Crystal Stair
Originally titled The Crystal Stair (a line from the Langston Hughes poem “Mother to Son”), A Raisin in the Sun centers on the Youngers, a lower-class family who is offered a sum of money to stay away from the white neighborhood where they have purchased their dream home.
The epigraph to A Raisin in the Sun is Langston Hughes’ poem “Montage of a Dream Deferred” which was written as a critique of Harlem life. Not only is the play’s title taken directly from a line in Langston Hughes’ poem about deferred dreams but also the epigraph poses a question that the play attempts to answer [14].
What does the furniture symbolize in A Raisin in the Sun?
Because the play, A Raisin in the Sun, is a story about the inability and hardships of a black family trying to live the American dream, the worn furniture and carpet are symbolic of the struggle they have endured in trying to achieve their dreams.
What was the topic of A Raisin in the Sun?
This play addresses the hottest topics of the 1950s including white skin privilege, gender roles, patriarchy/matriarchy, and poverty. This thematic content is one of the reasons why this production has continued to garner critical success.
Who is Beneatha in Raisin in the Sun?
Beneatha is an opinionated young girl whose sole goal is to make it to medical school. The fact that there is money coming to the family makes her believe that her dream is about to come true. Kim Yancey is the beautiful actress who is supposed to make the audience connect with Beneatha.
What did Walter Jr want to do in Raisin in the Sun?
Walter Jr. dreams of one day becoming a successful business owner, while his sister dreams of becoming a doctor. However, their financial situation and lack of opportunity defer their dreams. Millions of Americans, particularly Black Americans, can relate to their situation and recognize what it is like to have their dreams deferred.
Who is Kim Yancey in Raisin in the Sun?
Kim Yancey is the beautiful actress who is supposed to make the audience connect with Beneatha. During the 1950s, youth always ranked above beauty for African-American women. This trend has however changed and this makes the director’s job more complicated. It was upon Duke and Yancey to make sure that they connected with the present day audience.