A Raisin in the Sun- Pun

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Pun

A Raisin in the Sun contains multiple humorous lines; however, the pun Larraine included in this piece of pros was hilarious. “Well—that’s the way the crackers crumble,” (Hansberry, 512). This pun that Hansberry employs on the common phrase, that’s the way the cookie crumbles, is very clever. It not only depicts the tension between white and black Americans, it also creates humor in this piece. Ruth uses this pun when she and Beneatha are talking about why white people do not want African Americans moving into their neighborhoods. This clever pun reveals Ruth’s cultural awareness of the racial tension. Moreover, it reflects Ruth’s sense of humor. Ruth has not cracked any jokes and she has hardly laughed up unto this point in A Raisin in the Sun. Ruth can be funny and be serious simultaneously. This pun characterized Ruth by revealing her thoughts about why white Americans were so prejudice towards African Americans.