Absurdist Core Disguised In A Serious Drama

As an outstanding American female playwright, Lorraine Hansberry（1930-1965）was born in a rich black middle-class family. Lorraine Hansberry wonthe New York Drama Critics Circle Award in1959for her undoubtedly considerablecontributions to the American theatre. A Raisin in the Sun was the first drama writtenby a black female playwright but successfully marched in Broadway, bringing themiseries and helplessness of the African-Americans onto the stage. Apart from thisplay, Hansberry had written many articles for the press, revealing the society’s unfairtreatments towards the black, demonstrating their unyielding spirit in hardships, andadvocating their excellent traditional culture.The title of the play was borrowed from the following lines of Harlem, a poemwritten by a famous black poet, Langston Hughes,“What happens to a dreamdeferred? Does it dry up/Like a raisin in the sun?” The drama tells the story of a blackfamily in the Southside Chicago, focusing on the frustrations of the Youngers whoseek survival in the world of absurdity. The destruction of the different dreams of theleading characters in this play reflects a confrontation between human’s call and theincapability of the world in satisfying this call. It is one of the essential ideas ofCamus’ absurd philosophy. Thus, the thesis is intended to explore the disguised coreof absurdity in this traditionally serious play.The first part of the thesis is the introduction to Lorraine Hansberry and herfamous drama A Raisin in the Sun, including overseas and domestic researches on theplay, and the practical meaning of studying the play from the perspective of absurdity.Chapter One researches on the development of the philosophy of absurdity andthe feasibility of analyzing the text according to Camus’ conception. Beingunderstandable, systematical and comprehensive, Camus’ philosophy on absurditydemonstrated a positive strength that encourages people to passionately choose a freelife regardless of the absurd reality. Absurdity is the only relation between man andthe world he lives in, and to survive one has to directly face the challenge from theabsurd world. Chapter Two explores the origin of the Youngers’ absurd sensation from boththe external surroundings and the internal condition. The gloomy atmosphere of thelow-standard housing condition cannot satisfy the Youngers’ longing for space, taste,and dignity. Meanwhile, due to extreme poverty, their respective dreams to changethe present circumstance can hardly be realized when they obtain only a ten-thousand-dollar insurance. The sharp contrast between the limitation of housing space, livingmaterials, as well as the financial support and their ceaseless desires reduce theYoungers to the desert of desperation.Chapter Three studies the Youngers’ ineffective efforts to fight againstabsurdity on the basis of the contrast between the two situations—the one before thehousehold take actions and the other after all the Youngers’ dreams are seriouslydamaged. Walter’s intention to gain prosperity encounters the betrayal of his friends.Beneatha’s choice to study medicine has to be changed for her brother’s loss of theinsurance. Lena’s wish to move into the new house has been interrupted by arepresentative of the white community.Chapter Four probes into the protagonists’ attitude and responses to thehopelessness, and reflects the Younger’s strong intention of surviving the absurd. TheYoungers maintain their love and care for their family members regardless of the lossof the most part of the insurance. Even when they are threatened by a representativefrom the white, the Youngers still resolutely move into the new neighborhood withgreat passions, demonstrating their pride, courage, and dignity as human beings.The final part is the conclusion of the whole thesis. The tragedy of theYoungers is a warning for people in modern times that one cannot abandon his faithin life even if the world cannot satisfy his various pursuits. The Characters in A Raisinin the Sun encourage people to keep seeking even the slightest possibility for living,especially when they encounter the greatest desperation.