by:

Lorraine Hansberry

Play opened in: 1959

Movie released: 1961

Lorraine Hansberry

1930 1938 19591965

Born in Chicago Father was sued Finished play & play opened Died in New York

“Harlem- What happens to a dream deferred?”

by: Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--- then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load?

Or does it explode?

Setting: Chicago, Illinois (South side)

1950s-1960s

The Younger family apartment

Themes:

Courage

Pride

Love

Characters Walter Younger:

-main character

-35 years old

-chauffeur

-Ruth’s husband

Ruth Younger:

-Walter’s wife

-30 years old

-cleans houses Travis Younger:

-son of Walter & Ruth

-10-11 years old

Characters

Lena Younger:

-Mama

-Mother of Walter

& Beneatha

-Widow-early 60s

Beneatha Younger:

-Walter’s sister

-20 years old

-Takes college classes

Minor charactersJoseph Asagai: handsome, educated young African man

Beneatha’s friend

George Murchison: fairly wealthy young man who disapproves

of many of Beneatha’s liberal ideas

Bobo: small nervous man who invests with Walter

Karl Lindner: quiet white man

representative of neighborhood improvement group