Character Map and Relationships in A Raisin in the Sun
This page provides a comprehensive overview of the characters in Lorraine Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun" and their relationships to one another. The character map illustrates the complex web of family ties, friendships, and external influences that shape the story.
The Younger Family
At the heart of the play is the Younger family, consisting of:
- Lena Younger Mama: The family matriarch, described as religious, proud, and dreaming of a house with a garden.
- Walter Lee Younger: Lena's son, a chauffeur who is unhappy and jealous, aspiring to own a liquor store and become rich.
- Ruth Younger: Walter's wife, a cleaning woman who is hopeful and desires peace in her family.
- Beneatha Younger: Walter's sister, a college student exploring her African roots and aiming to become a doctor.
- Travis Younger: Walter and Ruth's son, described as a likable child and the youngest family member.
Highlight: The Younger family's dynamics and individual dreams drive the central conflict of the play.
Extended Family and Friends
The play also features characters connected to the Youngers:
- Big Walter: The deceased father of Walter and Beneatha, who wanted a better life for his children.
- Mrs. Johnson: A neighbor and gossip monger on the Southside.
- George Murchison: Described as a typical assimilationist and snobbish, possibly a love interest for Beneatha.
- Joseph Asagai: A college student proud of his Nigerian heritage, also connected to Beneatha.
- Bobo: Walter's friend, involved in the liquor store plan.
Vocabulary: Assimilationist - A person who adapts to the customs and attitudes of the dominant culture, often at the expense of their own cultural identity.
External Characters
- Karl Lindner: A white representative of Clybourne Park, aiming to maintain the all-white neighborhood.
Quote: "A Raisin in the Sun" takes its title from a line in Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem": "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?"
This character map provides a clear visualization of the relationships and motivations driving the plot of "A Raisin in the Sun," highlighting the A Raisin in the Sun characterization of key figures like Walter and Mama, and setting the stage for the conflicts and developments in the A Raisin in the Sun Zusammenfassung der einzelnen kapitel.
