The underlying theme of Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun, is in the question posed by Langston Hughes' poem " Montage of a Dream Deferred,” when he asks, “What happens to a dream deferred?” then he lists the various things that could happen to a person if their dreams are "suspended", emphasizing that whatever happens to a postponed dream is ultimately never good. Even the Bible is concerned with this problem; in Proverbs 13:12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” » We see clearly what happens to Walter as his dream continues to be delayed by too many circumstances beyond his control. Although the play addresses intergenerational issues, due to the Youth's broad lineage, many underlying themes indicate the importance of time. For the purposes of this essay, the thematic pattern of past and present will be discussed and analyzed, with reference to the characters and their interaction within the play. BODY: THE QUOTE EXPLAINED: Confrontation seems to be a common theme in the play. Much of this may be due to divergent views on the meaning of life. An exchange takes place in Act 1, Scene II between Mama and Walter. Mom wonders why Walter constantly talks about money, so that it seems like "money is life." Walter explains to Mom that to succeed in life, money must be the most important factor. This conversation takes place early in the play and reveals Young's economic hardships, very common for African Americans at the time. The conversation illustrates the ideological differences between their generations. Throughout the play, Mom's views are opposed to her children's lives...... middle of paper ...... they differ from those of Mom, who would never accept that Ruth aborted. MY VIEW: Throughout the play, Hansberry expresses his own desire to see black people in entrepreneurial ventures. So few blacks were in business in 1959 that sociologists of the time addressed this concern in academic publications (REFERENCE). Mom says, in response to Ruth echoing Walter's dream of owning his own business, "We're not business people, Ruth. We're just working people," (REFERENCE) and Ruth responds with belief that for this statement to be true, then there must be a lack of interest in "going into business" and that their employees will never achieve anything with this mindset. Given that the percentage of blacks owning their own businesses has increased significantly since 1959, one might conclude that, again, Hansberry had a clear vision of the future..