Hansberry's Biography in "Raisin in the Sun" Analytical Essay by Nicky

Hansberry's Biography in "Raisin in the Sun"
An analysis of the elements of Lorraine Hansberry's life in her play "Raisin in the Sun".
# 145114 | 1,021 words | 8 sources | MLA | 2010 | US
Published on Oct 26, 2010 in African-American Studies (1870-1950) , African-American Studies (1950-Present) , Drama and Theater (American) , Literature (American)


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Description:

The paper provides an overview of Lorraine Hansberry's early years and discusses how her family's struggle for African-American rights, and specifically, her family's move to an all-white neighborhood, had a very large impact on shaping "Raisin in the Sun". The paper looks at the Younger family in "Raisin in the Sun" and points out the real similarities between them and the Hansberry family. The paper also looks at how critics note the historical and sociological significance of the play's events and of the main character, Walter Lee.

From the Paper:

"A Raisin in the Sun is the most well-known and successful play written by Lorraine Hansberry, who died tragically young of pancreatic cancer in 1965 at the age of 34 (SocialJusticeWiki). The play was groundbreaking in many ways--it was the first play produced on Broadway written by an African-American female, and the first directed by an African-American director since 1907 (Social Justice Wiki). In breaking down these barriers, Hansberry was following in the tradition she had learned from her parents since the time of her birth. Her parents were hugely active in the struggle for equal rights, and figures like Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois, and Langston Hughes often came to her parents' house (Voices from the Gap). But it is not just details of Hansberry's adult life that seem inspired by her upbringing, but there are even strong elements of biography in her plays and other writings."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Atkinson, Brooks. "A Raisin in the Sun: Theatre Review." March 12, 1959. The New York Times. Reproduced online by the publisher. Accessed 6 December 2008. <http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?html_title=&tols_title=A%20RAISIN%20IN%20THE%20SUN%20(PLAY)&pdate=19590312&byline=By%20BROOKS%20ATKINSON&id=1077011428967>
  • "Biography of an Intellectual." Social Justice Wiki. Last modified January 2006. Columbia University. Accessed on 6 December 2008. <http://socialjustice.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/index.php/Biography_of_an_Intellectual>
  • Brantley, Ben. "THEATER REVIEW: A Breakthrough 50's Drama Revived in a Suspenseful Mood." April 27, 2004. The New York Times. Reproduced online by the publisher. Accessed on 6 December 2008. <http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9E02E6D7103AF934A15757C0A9629C8B63>
  • "Hansberry v. Lee." Social Justice Wiki. Last modified January 2006. Columbia University. Accessed on 6 December 2008. <http://socialjustice.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/index.php/Hansberry_v._Lee>
  • Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 2004.

Cite this Analytical Essay:

APA Format

Hansberry's Biography in "Raisin in the Sun" (2010, October 26) Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/hansberry-biography-in-raisin-in-the-sun-145114/

MLA Format

"Hansberry's Biography in "Raisin in the Sun"" 26 October 2010. Web. 24 March. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/hansberry-biography-in-raisin-in-the-sun-145114/>

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