themes of A Raisin In the Sun

One major theme of the play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, is the importance of dreams; they drive each member of the Younger family. Mama longs to have her own home in a nice part of town, away from South Chicago. Beneatha dreams of getting a good education, becoming a doctor, and marrying a nice man. Walter wants to have a successful business so that he can rise above the poverty he …

…his mother wants him to be. Mama is ecstatic that her dream of a nice place for her family is coming true. Finally, Beneatha is delighted that Asagai has asked her to be his wife and is willing to help her on her way to fulfilling her dream of being a doctor. In a sense, they all achieve their dream of breaking out of the poverty of the ghetto by moving into the new house.