Social Conflict and Rebellion in Lorraine Hansberrys A...

Lorraine Hansberrys play, A Raisin in the Sun, relates the story of a working-class African-American family with dreams. They are willing to rebel against the position that society has forced on them because of their race and class in order to fulfill their dreams. Walter Younger is a chauffeur who can find no peace with that part of society which seems to permit him and no entry into that which has willfully excluded him (Willie Loman 23). He wants to rise into wealth and live as his employer, Mr. Arnold, does. Walter feels as if he is going crazy at times. He tells Mama, sometimes its like I can see the future stretched out in front of me-just plain as day.... Hanging over there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me- a†¦show more content†¦She befriends Joseph Asaigi, a Nigerian student, wears traditional Nigerian clothes, straightens her formerly permed hair, listens and dances to African music, and accuses her brother of being an assimilationist Negro (81). She has a growing interest in civil rights, about which Walter jokes: I can just see that chick someday looking down at some poor cat on an operating table and before she starts to slice into him, she says... By the way, what are your views on civil rights down there? (113) The Youngers battle in everyday revolutions without armies. Walter and Ruth, his wife, begin the play with an argument. During one such disagreement, Walter acts out his own mini-drama: Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs.... Man say: I got to take hold of this here world, Baby! And a woman will say: Eat your eggs and go to work.... Man say: I got to change my life, Im choking to death, Baby! And his woman say...: Your eggs is getting cold! (33-4) This spirit of desire for change echoes throughout the play. Lena (Mama) buys a house in Clybourne Park, a white neighborhood, so that her grandson and the baby that Ruth is expecting can grow up in a place where they will not be tempted to play in the street with dead rats. A neighbor comments, I bet by this time next month yalls names will have been in the papers plenty - NEGROES INVADE CLYBOURNE PARK - BOMBED!