Introduction
Lorraine Hansberry wrote an important and famous play called A Raisin in the Sun. Actors performed it for the first time on Broadway in New York City in 1959. The play became famous very quickly. The New York Drama Critic’s Circle called it the best play of 1959. Many writers and theater experts say that it is one of the best plays ever written. It has been adapted to film, TV, and radio. People still perform and watch A Raisin in the Sun today.
The story is a drama. That means that there is conflict between the characters. They are in difficult situations. Some bad things happen to them. But the story also has some funny moments. It has a bitter-sweet ending. That means that the ending feels a little sad and a little happy.
Because the story is a play, everything happens in one room. The characters come into the room and leave the room frequently. We never see the world outside of the stage. Furthermore, most of the story is told with speaking. The author shows everyone’s feelings and thoughts through their speaking and their actions.
The story is about the Younger family: Lena Younger (the mother), Walter Lee Younger (the son), Ruth Younger (the daughter-in-law), Travis Younger (the grandson), and Beneatha Younger (the daughter). There is one more Younger: Walter Younger (the father). Before the story begins, Walter Younger has died in a work accident. The life insurance company is going to send the family money because of Walter’s death. They are going to send the Younger family $10,000 (which is about $95,000 in today’s money).
The story is about the family’s decisions about what to do with the money. Should they start a business? Should they pay for education? Should they buy a house? They don’t agree on how to use the money, and it causes conflict between the family members.
At the same time, the family faces racial discrimination. The Youngers are African American. They live in South Side Chicago in the 1950s. They have to overcome many unfair challenges and threats. Sometimes they are sad and angry. Sometimes they are afraid.
During the story, you might think that the family is going to break. You might think that there will be a divorce or a death. But in the end, the family comes together. They are going to begin a new life together in a new home and with a new baby. In the end, their life is not perfect or easy, but A Raisin in the Sun is about the strength and importance of love and family.
About this version
This book is an adaptation of the play. It is the same story. A lot of the words that the characters speak are the same. Some of the grammar and vocabulary is changed to make the writing appropriate for low-intermediate English Language Learners. The book also has more descriptions about what the characters look like and what they are thinking.
This adaptation was created as an Open Educational Resource (OER) under fair use for non-commercial educational purposes.
