Throughout A Raisin in the Sun, readers witness a plethora of characters or items that are symbolic of something else. In the play, Lorraine Hansberry utilizes Mama as a symbol for many different aspects associated with the Younger family. Primarily, Mama symbolizes the glue that holds her family together.
In the wake of her husband’s death, Mama has every reason to lose control within her household. Yet, she maintains order and reminds everyone that she makes the decisions in the Younger household. She insists that Beneatha is “so thin” and tells her to get a robe and to “put it on” (40). Making sure her presence is being felt, Mama is heavily relies on delivering commands.
Her role seems to manifest into that of a husband in this time period. Mama represents power, a force that is able to tie the family together despite conflicting views and ideas.
Her intelligence and experience serves as an adhesive and continues to keep everyone under her order. When Beneatha begins to question the existence of God, Mama confronts her and says, “I just ain’t going to have you ‘round here reciting the scriptures in vain…” (46). Mama’s assertiveness is mildly restoring the peace within the dream-driven household.
Mama takes responsibility over the household. Her nitpicking ways are leading Ruth to believe that her mother-in-law should spend the insurance money on herself, and Ruth encourages her to “pack up and leave” on a trip by herself (43). In essence, Mama has been enduring an ample amount of hardships. Her commitment to her family continues to connect the Younger’s.
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| Mama (Lena Younger) |
Watching Mama’s character unfold will certainly be exciting. She has an uncanny ability to rekindle her family in a time of despair. Mama’s assertion merely reflects her vision for her family.
(This link is a poem by Jean Toomer that correlates to overcoming adversity. Mama is able to overcome her husband’s death and can maintain order in the household.)
Another important symbol in this story is Beneatha's hair. She cuts it so she is not an "assimilationist Negroe" (pg 81). Her new hairstyle represents the changing of opinions in this time period of many blacks her age. They want to come to terms with their culture and not conform to the image which society thinks of African Americans.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Mama's plant is a symbol of the American Dream. "Lord, if this little old plant don't get more sun than it's been getting it ain't never going to see spring again." (40). The phrasing here has an intentional double-meaning. Symbolically, the plant represents the dreams of each member of the Younger family. If these dreams don't see some "sun"--hope, money, opportunity, etc.--soon, they won't stand a chance.
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