The imagery in that poem still sort of grosses me out.

Speaking of themes....

The theme of A Raisin in the Sun, similar to that of The Glass Menagerie, is dealing with life's disappointments. In particular, the families in those two plays dealt with feelings of entrapment that exacerbated their other disappointments, e.g. Walter's investments and Laura's gentleman caller.

I really liked how A Raisin in the Sun opened with the poem by Langston Hughes:

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat

Or crust and sugar over--

Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

Like a heavy load

Or does it explode?

Walter's dream of owning a business is forcibly deferred by the shady Willy character. When Mama initially refused to give him the money for it, his dream was indeed festering like a sore and fouling the family relations. It weighed on him so heavily that he lost sight of his values when it came to Ruth's baby. I don't remember what we decided the "explosion" to which the poem refers meant, precisely, but I don't think the play quite follows that part of the poem. In the end, it's more like Walter has accepted the unfortunate turn of events, and this is the part where the dream dries up like a raisin in the sun. Perhaps this is why that's the part that made it into the title.

I'd also like to point out that The Grapes of Wrath pulls its title from the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and raisins are dried grapes. They both deal with oppression, as well. Just thought I'd throw that out there.