In A Raisin in the Sun, Mama works hard to care for her plant, despite the fact that it, "ain't had enough sunshine" (Act 1). At the end of the play, Mama brings her plant to their new house, where it has the sun and resources it needs to survive. Thus, the planet is a symbol of the good life because, due to systematic racism in the housing sector, the family was forced to live without enough of any resources that they needed--like the planet not getting light. And at the end, they were able to move to an area that, assumingely, has better opportunities for them like cleaner air, better schools, etc. So the plant symbolizes the achievement of the good life.
In comparison to A Raisin in the Sun, The Dispossessed's two worlds, Anarres and Urras, can be viewed the same as one end doing better because of the ability to grow and nurture plants. Yet, Dr. Shevek, though initially impressed by the ascetics of a world lush in trees, realizes quickly that the show of wealth and nature is a mere illusion to actually happiness. Urras has plenty of resources, yet since it is a capitalistic world, the resources aren't shared between its people collectively. This makes Shevek realize that even though Anarres is a dead dusty wasteland, it is better to have a collective working together: the idea of anarchism is better than the desire of the greener side of the universe.
The aesthetic's Shevek sees as a tourist in the world of Urras is similar to what Kincaid tries to get the reader to look past in A Small Place. Kincaid shows that when a person comes to visit the first thing that they notice is the beautiful beaches, water, and the beauty of the nature. But, similar to Urras, the natives who live there don't have access--or equal access--to the beauty: it is in illusion for the visitors to assume that the natives life is good. Both are affected by capitalistic greed, which is built off forcing people a group of people to suffer and work out of sight, so the rich can go live a guilt free good life.
Though this 2008 film follows the play pretty well for an adaptation, there are a few slight differences. The film expands the scenery and setting in Chicago. This extra visual illuminates the necessary of the light for Mama's plant. The Young's apartment is dim with little access to the sun, except for a window that leads to a fire escape. The film beautifully contrasts this by showing the green big backyard of their new house that is brightly lit.
