Summary A raisin in the sun - Key facts

F U L L T I T L E · A Raisin in the Sun


A U T H O R · Lorraine Hansberry


T Y P E O F W O R K · Play


G E N R E · Realist drama


L A N G U A G E · English


T I M E A N D P L A C E W R I T T E N · 1950s, New York


D A T E O F F I R S T P E R F O R M A N C E · 1959


D A T E O F F I R S T P U B L I C A T I O N · 1959


P U B L I S H E R · Random House


T O N E · Realistic


S E T T I N G ( T I M E ) · Between 1945 and 1959


S E T T I N G ( P L A C E ) · The South Side of Chicago


P R O T A G O N I S T · Walter Lee Younger


M A J O R C O N F L I C T · The Youngers, a working-class black family, struggle against economic

hardship and racial prejudice.


R I S I N G A C T I O N · Ruth discovers that she is pregnant; Mama makes a down payment on a

house; Mama gives Walter the remaining insurance money; Walter invests the money in the
liquor store venture.


C L I M A X · Bobo tells the Youngers that Willy has run off with all of Walter’s invested insurance

money; Asagai makes Beneatha realize that she is not as independent as she thinks.


F A L L I N G A C T I O N · Walter refuses Mr. Lindner’s offer to not move; the Youngers move out of

the apartment to their new house in the white neighborhood; Beneatha finds new strength in
Asagai.