A Raisin in the Sun: Q. 6: symbolism

     In A Raisin in the Sun, Mama's plant is very important to the progression to the plot.  During the entire play, Mama takes care of that plant the best she can.  The plant symbolizes the family and they have a correlating relationship throughout the play.  As the plant loses more sunlight and wilts more, the family itself struggles to keep their bond and not hate each other.  The family is growing in disgust and the disgust is what is killing the plant.  At the very end of the play, Mama takes the plant with her to the new house, "The door opens and she comes back in, grabs her plant, and goes out for the last time," (Hansberry, 535).  Here as Mama leaves the old house she brings the plant with her to the new house.  The plant is a symbol of hope.  The less hope the family has the worse the plant looks and vice-versa.  The symbolizes the family's only chance to reach their dreams and live in a better environment.