“A Raisin in the Sun” is a groundbreaking play written by Lorraine Hansberry, which explores the hopes, dreams, and struggles of an African-American family living in Chicago’s South Side. The play delves into themes of racial discrimination, poverty, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Throughout the play, there are several powerful quotes that encapsulate the characters’ emotions and provide insight into their experiences. In this article, we will highlight some of these memorable quotes, along with their corresponding page numbers.
The following quotes from “A Raisin in the Sun” provide a glimpse into the complex lives of the Younger family and the challenges they face:
“Mama, something is happening between Walter and me. I don’t know what it is – but he needs something – something I can’t give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena.” (Act 1, Scene 1)
“I seen… him… night after night… come in… and look at that rug… and then look at me… the red showing in his eyes… the veins moving in his head… I seen him grow thin and old before he was forty… working and working… working like somebody’s old horse… killing himself… and you – you give it all away in a day.” (Act 1, Scene 1)
“You a doctor, ain’t you?… Man, I’ve thought about it – that’s all I’ve thought about – for seven long years. That’s all I got to say… I got to do something with my life.” (Act 1, Scene 1)
“You read some of them books I got in there?… Well, you wouldn’t understand then… that they – they – they got to do something – big. One day – or me.” (Act 1, Scene 1)
“I’m thirty-five years old; I been married eleven years and I got a boy who sleeps in the living room – and all I got to give him is stories about how rich white people live.” (Act 1, Scene 1)
“There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing.” (Act 2, Scene 2)
“We one group of men tied to a race of women with small minds.” (Act 2, Scene 3)
“Don’t you see that they’re people?… No… They are – they are something else besides men. They are – are – are – people who – who – who – must be respected and – and – and – not – not – not have their lives insulted and – and – and – not – not – not have their spirits – not – not – not – not – not –” (Act 2, Scene 3)
“I’m a woman… I have a right to all the same things you got a right to.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“It’s all divided up. Life is. Sure enough. Between the takers and the “tooken.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“Son – I come from five generations of people who was slaves and sharecroppers – but ain’t nobody in my family never let nobody pay ’em no money that was a way of telling us we wasn’t fit to walk the earth.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“We don’t want your money. We don’t want your ghetto. And we don’t want to live in it.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“I come from five generations of people who was slaves and sharecroppers – but ain’t nobody in my family never let nobody pay ’em no money that was a way of telling us we wasn’t fit to walk the earth.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“I don’t want to know nothing ‘bout no money… You ain’t satisfied or proud of nothing we done. I mean that you had a home; that we kept you out of trouble till you was grown; that you don’t have to ride to work on the back of nobody’s streetcar – You my children – but how different we done become.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams – but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“Weariness has, in fact, won in this room. Weariness has overtaken endurance and vitality and all – all hopes.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“Well – I – always wanted to be in the movies.” (Act 3, Scene 1)
“He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain…” (Act 3, Scene 3)
“Oh – so now it’s life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life – now it’s money. I guess the world really do change.” (Act 3, Scene 3)
“I’m looking at my little old boy… who’s come finally into his manhood today…” (Act 3, Scene 3)
These quotes from “A Raisin in the Sun” offer profound insights into the characters’ struggles, desires, and hopes. They serve as a reminder of the enduring themes explored in the play and the universal human experience they represent.
