Lorraine Hansberry's play, “A Raisin in the Sun” is a realistic drama centered on the economic and social struggle of a black American family against the prejudices that occur in Chicago during the nineteen fifties period. The young people's colorful personalities cause much confrontation and heartache in their small, stuffy apartment. In his essay “A Raisin in the Sun Revisited,” J. Charles Washington, suggests that “our literary judgments, to a large extent, are determined by our moral standards, by our adherence to the rules that society deems appropriate. Generally, these standards differ depending on the sex of the individual: a good man, for example, is strong, aggressive, masculine, while a good woman is sweet, gentle, feminine.” Although some of Hansberry's characters conform to these social criteria, she strongly challenges the measures by introducing a variety of eclectic personalities. Benetha Younger's love interests, George and Asagai, are prime examples of Hansberry's reform of stereotypical social norms. By common standards, George Murchinson should technically be considered Washington's "good man." He is proud, tenacious and fierce, thus an obvious candidate for the affection and approval of Beneatha and the Younger family. Instead, he is described as “superficial” and selfish (I: i, 32). The young man cares only about his reputation and honor, and does not respect those he believes are of lower status than himself. For example, during an exchange with Walter, George looks at him “with disgust, a little above everything,” showing his delusional superiority (II: i, 69). This abominable behavior creates a negative atmosphere instead of that of a “good man”. In contrast, Joseph Asagai's relatives...... middle of paper ......to be perceived as a despicable man, his subsequent determination deems him worthy of positive representation. In conclusion, while some of the personalities in “A Raisin in the Sun” agree with J. Charles Washington's definition of a “good man” and “good woman”; Hansberry also meets her by incorporating a variety of characters. George, Asagai and Beneatha challenge traditional criteria through their paradoxical nature and depiction, while Ruth conforms to society's deemed guidelines. Walter's peculiar combination of opposing representations also calls into question the legitimacy of orthodox classifications. Lorraine Hansberry creates a framework for understanding the various forms of good men and women by presenting them in “A Raisin in the Sun.” Works Cited Hansberry, Lorraine. A raisin in the sun. New York: Random House, 1995. Print.