One of the conflicts that really helps the storyline of A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is the generation gap. The setting of the play being in Chicago in what we believe to be the early 1950s helps to display this very well. Mama is the elder in the family and actually lived in the South in her earlier years, before moving to Chicago. Needless to say, she grew up in a completely different era than her children- Walter and Beneatha- which contributes the most to this generation gap.
Mama always seems to have the words of wisdom because of her life experiences. For example, she says to Beneatha, "When you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is," (Hansberry 530). She has known struggle and what it means to really work and earn everything one gets. On the other hand, we have Beneatha and Walter the dreamers! With Beneatha, her dreams are way beyond any person of her race and gender. With the help and reassurance of her friend Asagai, she has high hopes for the future- unlike her mother was able to do.
With these two alternating perspective on the concept of "dreams" and what it means to be successful, we see the generation gap really play a big part in this play. In the end, though, it all works out as Beneatha plans to live out her dream with Asagai, Walter accepts that while reaching for the stars he has to keep his priorities straight, and Mama and Ruth get ready to embrace a big change in their lives- and know that everything can and will work itself.
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