A Comparative Analysis of Dramatic Structure in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun (1959) and August Wilson's Fences (1986)

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the dramatic structures in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and August Wilson’s Fences, utilizing Freytag’s Pyramid as a framework. Despite differences in scene and act composition, both plays share a similar narrative structure marked by multiple climactic points rather than a single one. Each play presents the lives of African American families in mid-20th century America, grappling with themes of racial oppression, economic hardship, and personal aspirations. Hansberry’s work primarily addresses the relationship between African Americans and White society, while Wilson’s focuses on intergenerational conflicts within a Black family. Both playwrights weave moments of heightened tension throughout the narratives, surprising audiences with new inciting incidents just as the action seems to be falling. This study reveals that although Fences was written nearly 30 years after A Raisin in the Sun, the two plays mirror one another in their exploration of socio-economic struggles and racial dynamics. Ultimately, the paper illustrates how both works encapsulate a continuous struggle for dignity and self-actualization within the constraints of a racially discriminatory society.