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Money theme in a raisin in the sun
A raisin in the sun character analysis essay who is walter younger
Detailed account of walter lee younger as the central character in "a raisin in the sun
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In the play, “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, money is one thing that draws out the faults in most of the characters, one being Walter. Walter has a strong fascination with money, everything about it seems to bring out the worst in him. Whether he knows it or not, Walter is obsessed with money and it is affecting him in the worst of ways. It could possibly even be ruining what he has left of his family. This play follows a family by the name of the Youngers. All of them seem close knit and love each other despite their differences and quarrels from time to time. One seems set apart from the rest of the group, Walter Younger, the father of the family. He even tries to indicate that he thinks differently and that somehow, he stands out. “Here I’m a giant - surrounded by ants!” (2.1.878). Walter likes to take in this view of himself, when he is actually just bitter about not having the life he wanted. He longs for a sense of accomplishment, something that seems so far away but almost in his grasp. In a quarrel with his mother concerning wealth, Mama asks Walter about his...
The play depicts the feelings and thoughts of the people of their time. Their feelings are different then what we see today in our lives. The family had to deal with poverty and racism. Not having enough money and always being put down because of the color of their skin held them back from having a lot of self-respect and dignity. I think that Mama was the one who had the most pride and held the family together.
Once a person acquires a bit of wealth, their socioeconomic position changes drastically. In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby is a reckless,partying rich man who lies about his past. In a Raisin in the Sun, Walter acquires a bit of family wealth and makes an unwise investment that cost him everything.
In “A Raisin in the Sun”, Walter, the main character of the play, demonstrates transformation. Walter’s actions are guided by his belief that money is a panacea, until
Money is one of these prides that Walter holds dear to himself, noting that this is very important to his personal aspirations within outrageous business deals. His development is shown through the text as continuing events and pressure force change within Walter. These characteristics shape the entire theme of Walter’s understanding of money and his purpose towards the family.
A common theme in society today is that money is the key to happiness. In A Raisin in the Sun and Death of a Salesman the theme that money is the root of contentment is also present. In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter Lee has such a desire to be rich that he neglects his son and wife. Willy, in Death of a Salesman, is also very distracted by the thought of money.
The idea of family is a central theme in Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun. Hansberry alludes to the Old Testament book of Ruth in her play to magnify “the value of having a home and family”(Ardolino 181). The Younger family faces hardships that in the moment seem to tear them apart from one another, but through everything, they stick together. The importance of family is amplified by the choices of Walter and Beneatha because they appear to initiate fatal cracks in the Younger family’s foundation, but Mama is the cement who encourages her family to pull together as one unit. The hardships of the family help develop a sense of unity for the Younger household.
Every time the family comes to a confrontation someone retreats to the past and reflects on life as it was back then, not dealing with life as it is for them today. Tom, assuming the macho role of the man of the house, babies and shelters Laura from the outside world. His mother reminds him that he is to feel a responsibility for his sister. He carries this burden throughout the play. His mother knows if it were not for his sisters needs he would have been long gone. Laura must pickup on some of this, she is so sensitive she must sense Toms feeling of being trapped. Tom dreams of going away to learn of the world, Laura is aware of this and she is frightened of what may become of them if he were to leave.
In the Play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry there are two main character’s that many people debate upon to be the protagonist of the play. Those two characters are Mama and Walter. The story is about an African American family living in Chicago in the 1950’s. During this time period race was a large issue in that area. The family consists of three generations, Mama being the mother and grandmother has a lot of responsibilities as what I see her to be as the families anchor. The next generation is Walter his wife Ruth and his sister Beneatha. Walter and Ruth have a song Travis who is ten years old at the time of this play. Mama is the moral supporter of the family and believes that everything has a purpose and that things should be done by design. One of the main events in this play is the life insurance settlement check for ten thousand dollars that Mama receives. This being a large amount of money during that time period creates many arguments between the families about what to do with the money. Walter is the type of guy that believes his family shouldn’t settle like everyone else and believes that they shouldn’t be held back just because they are an African American family living in what is referred to as a “white man’s world”. I believe that Walter is the protagonist of the play for two main reasons, he isn’t a selfish man, he doesn’t feel the family should be limited because they are African American and he has distinct options or plans for the future of his family.
Lena Younger (Mama) had put a down payment on a new house, the moving men were on the way, and the packing of Mama’s dishes had begun when the horrific news came. Although the house has a down payment, Walter has loss $6500 dollars and the family is devastated. “One of you better call the moving people and tell them not to come,” says Mama (1892). As soon as Walter comes into the house and explains his ghastly plan, she goes to tears. Walter, a young black American man, feel a person can bring about all the dreams in his head and heart through money. The name Walter means ruler of the army, a strong fighter, a conqueror. In the play, a Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, Walter fails to live up to the meaning of his name as he tries to become head of the family. Walter wants to provide material comforts, which will make his family more content. In his mind, he thinks having money will make him powerful. Money will make him more of a man in his family eyes. Walter knows money can buy his mother a house, put pearls on his wife’s neck, send his sister to school, and provide a good life for his son. However, Walter fails to realize he is not using common sense, how his actions will break his Mama’s heart, or the shame he will bring to his family by acting with a mental psychologically enslave mind.
Poverty stands in the way of them accomplishing their dreams and goals. Poverty has a strong effect on Walter Lee Younger, a character in the play. Walter Lee believes that success is measured in wealth. In the play, he constantly struggles to move up the social ladder and earn more money. Walter Lee Younger is frustrated with his position in life.
The play begins with Orgon’s mother, Madame Pernelle, unleashing her unsolicited and shameless opinions upon her grandchildren as she prepares to take her leave. She begins with her grandson Damis, who she claims is a dunce, unworthy of his noble father’s love and affection. She then turns her attentions to his sister Mariane, who she believes to be a manipulative and mysterious girl who plays at being wholesome and shy. To her daughter-in-law Elmire, Madame Pernelle offers up her thoughts on Elmire’s bad examples for her children, stating that she is too free with her expenses and that her brother Cleante is much too experienced in the ways of the world to be considered decent company to keep. In fact, the only words of kindness she has to offer are to Tartuffe, a religious man who has found his way into the good graces of her son Orgon.
Primarily, in A Raisin in the Sun Walter is an example of one struggling to achieve their dream or desire. Walter serves as the hero and villain of the play due to the actions he takes revolving his dream. “Walter, who firmly believes in the American Dream of economic independence, wants to own his own business, and a liquor store, because he despairs over what he perceives to be his inability to support the family and to provide for his son’s future” ( __ __ ). Walter’s dream is to be sole the provider for his household and give his family a better life. He plans by doing this through a liquor store investment with the insurance money given to Mama from Big Walters death. “In the play Walter loses much of the insurance money that he planned to invest on a liquor store to a con artist” ( ___ ___ ). Walter’s decision on investing in a liquor store turns out to be a horrific choice. In the play although Walter is regretfully deceived and looked down upon as a result of the liquor store ambition, he makes up for it by at the end finally reaching his manhood. During the time of the play the husband of the family is mainly the sole provider for the family. In the case of the play, Walters mother is the sole provider for the family. Walter strives to be the “man” of the house.“A job. (Looks at her) Mama, a job? I open and close car doors all day long. I drive a man around in his limousine and I say, “Yes, sir; no, sir; very good, sir; shall I take the Drive, sir?” Mama, that ain’t no kind of job. That ain’t nothing at all. (Very quietly) Mama, I don’t know if I can make you understand” ( Hansberry , Pg.73). “Walter minimizes the position of a car driver because to him it diminishes his manhood and his sense of individual worth.
His position in life can be regarded as symbolic of every black male struggling to provide for his family by any means necessary. Although Walter has a job, it seems inadequate for his survival. As a result, he has become frustrated and lacks good judgement. Throughout this play, Walter searches for the key ingredient that will make his life blissful. His frustrations stem from him not being able to act as a man and provide for his family and grasp hold of his ideals to watch them manifest into a positive situation.
In A Raisin In The Sun, the reader is faced with the struggle between Walter and his wife, Ruth, and his mother, Mama, for power and head of the household. In the first Act of the play Walter deliberately oversteps Ruth's authority just to spite her and show his power as head of the family. Travis, their son requests fifty cents for school, and Ruth denies his request because they don't have the money. Walter enters and gives his son more than enough money with his eyes completely transfixed on his wife, who looks at him with utmost scorn and disapproval:
Dreams of owning a business and having money to accomplish goals are two key parts played out throughout the whole process. Walter Younger is determined to have his own business and he will go to ends meet to see that dream come true. Financial bridges are crossed and obstacles arise when Walter makes a bad decision regarding money that could have helped the family and not only himself, if he had thought smarter. His pride and dignity are tested throughout the story and he is forced to set up for his family. The Raisin in the Sun helps readers to understand the history of racial discrimination and how racial discrimination has an effect on the people in the late 1950s and early 1960s as well as how that has an effect on the characters within the play.