For a play to be successful, it must capture the attention of its audience through its ability to incorporate real life depictions in its storyline. It is this aspect of A Raisin in the Sun that accounts for its success as its incorporation of family life, though of a black family, displays characteristics similar to families within all racial groups. In measuring success, the quality of family life becomes important as it is around this unit that success is usually centred. The characters’ quests for success in the play all encompass the need to provide a means of sustainability and happiness for the family. This play, though centered on a black family living in Chicago explores issues such as the realization of dreams, family conflict, and poverty and hence touches on issues that expand outside the black family.
A Raisin in the Sun focuses on dreams, one of the most universal elements to life. Hansberry incorporates the universal dream of being successful in the plot in order to appeal to a general audience. It is the difference in dreams of the characters which stimulates the major conflict of the play. Each character shares a dream which appeals to a different cross section of audience hence the play becomes wide reaching in terms of appeal to an audience.Walter’s dream of success lies in his business deal with Willy which represents the American Dream of making it in the business world. His character therefore appeals to an audience whose desires surround financial success and a feeling of importance. “Walter buys into the middle-class ideology of materialism. The notion of the self-made man who starts with nothing and achieves great wealth through hard work seems innocuous enough, but the idea can become pernicious if it evolves into an idolization of wealth and power”(Grade Saver editors). Beneatha’s dream of becoming a doctor gives a more practical appeal where she represents the modern independent woman. Her role feature a form of independence which...