A Raisin in the Sun The characters in Lorraine Hansberry^s play are very significant in understanding the play. The characters are examples of they way Lorraine lived day by day her live when she was a kid. The success of the play was brought out by the characters and her way of keeping our interest with each one of them. They characters are very critical in understanding the play. There were four main characters that made the play a sellout, Lena, Ruth, Beneatha and Walter Lee. Each one of these characters had a dream to try to accomplish. The Characters portray the plays meaning in the way the play evolved into a masterpiece. Lorraine Hansberry