Read lorraine hansberry's play a raisin in the sun in your text. This play, written in the 1950s, was first performed on broadway in 1959. One of the more recent performances on broad way featured in the leading role sean "p diddy" coombs, who received very positive reviews. Physician Rashid was awarded a tony award for her performance in the play. She is the first African American woman to receive this award. The play was sold out for months and received rave reviews from critics.

1 - For this week's discussion, consider one or more of the following questions to address; rather than reiterate what previous posters write, choose a topic not yet covered. Be sure to respond to other class members' postings (but only when your content is meaningful and advances the discussion). As a class, try to address all questions before next Monday.

Which major character in lorraine hansberry’s a raisin in the sun do you empathize with most? Least? Why?

Who or what is ultimately at fault for the family’s troubles?

Who is the play's protagonist?

Who (or what) is the antagonist?

Is the central conflict within the younger family? Explain. Choose a scene in the play in which a major character most clearly reveals his or her true nature. Explain how the character's behavior in the scene is most characteristic of him or her. Imagine the younger family ten years later. What has happened to their dreams?

Where they living and what are are they doing?

Relate the title of the play a raisin in the sun to langston hughes’ poem, "harlem" (below) that inspired it. How does the title reflect the dreams of the family members?

Langston hughes’ “harlem: a dream deferred” what happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun or fester like a sore— and 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?