A Raisin In The Sun Betrayal Essay

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Betrayal is one of the actions that humans commit that cause a mix of emotions that can leave a burden with others and ourselves. In some cases, betrayal happens between family and it can cause a major change in their perspective of them. In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorriane Hansbury, Walter Lee a desperate man obsessed with a business idea, betrays his own mother when he gives away all of their family’s life insurance. After the death of Walter Younger, his family receives a life insurance check of ten thousand dollars. Mama is practical about the way she wants to use the money, but Walter Lee has a much different idea; he wants to use the money to invest in a liquor store. However, Mama does not agree with this because they are not business people and she does not feel comfortable having a liquor store. Walter is unhappy that he cannot achieve this dream, so Mama who loves her childeren so much, gives Walter what he desires, money and tells him, “The rest you put in a checking account--- with your name on it. And from now on any penny that come out of it or go in it is for you to look after, For you to decide.” (Hansberry 107). This shows how much Mama trusts her son with the money she is giving him. …show more content…

Even though Mama is trusting her son to do as she asks, he decides to use all the money including Beneatha’s to invest in his liquor store. Walter entrusts his “friend” Willy Harris with all the money, but he backstabbs Walter and runs away with all the money. Walter not only betrays his mother but himself too, “Oh, God . . . Don’t let this be true . . . Man I trusted you . . . Man, please, I put my life in your hands . . .” (128). Walter gives away all the money his father worked so hard for; consequently, this hurts Mama a

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