The American Dream In Joseph Asagai's A Raisin In The Sun

“It isn 't a circle--it is simply a long line--as in geometry, you know, one that reaches into infinity. And because we cannot see the end--we also cannot see how it changes. And it is very odd by those who see the changes--who dream, who will not give up--are called idealists...and those who see only the circle we call them the ‘realists’!” (stated by Joseph Asagai. Page 107, from A Raisin in the Sun). As represented in the quote, Joseph Asagai, a symbolistic static character in the play, expresses the comparison of being an idealist who doesn’t give up on their dream, to a realist who limits themselves from achieving their goals. He compares life to an infinite line stating the idea, that life has an endless amount of possibilities and it’s up to each individual to decide whether or not to take on the challenge to achieve these goals. The play A Raisin in the Sun written by the prominent playwright and writer Lorraine Hansberry, discusses and depicts themes of conflict between expectation, the American Dream, and strength of family, circling around the main idea of “dreams”. She epitomizes this message through a variety of well thought out characters and their journey through life’s barriers in the 1950’s as an African American family. It primarily focuses on three members of the Younger’s family, and how their dreams either alter or defer over the course of the story. This essay will focus on the analysis of the following characters: Walter Lee Younger, Beneatha Younger,