Hansberry a Universal Playwright or a Parochial One: Analyzing The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in Light of Roger D. Abrahams's Viewpoints

Some critics praised Lorraine Hansberry the African American female playwright, for writing The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window as a universal playwright and some others accused her of betraying African American Literature and her ancestors. By applying the notion of Signification proposed by Roger David Abrahams, the American folklorist in this play, this study reveals Hansberry has continued her contribution to African American Literature and post colonialism; however, this time by expanding her focus on oppression and the oppressed ones in general. Abrahams' notion of Signification is introduced and some stances and examples of it were discovered in the play. Hypothetically this paper concludes that Lorraine Hansberry attains her reputation not only as an African American dramatist but also as a universal author by writing The Sign in Sidney Brustein's window.

Keywords:

Roger D. Abrahams , Lorraine Hansberry , signification , African American Literature , modern drama