A Raisin In The Sun Lena Younger Character Analysis

Nine out of every ten people never manage to accomplish their dreams, however this fact does not manage to stop many people from trying. Everyone acquires different methods in an effort to make their dreams a reality, and everyone will, at some point, discover that some methods are more effective than others. This is especially true for many characters in Lorraine Hansberry’s, A Raisin in the Sun, shown through the characters endeavors to achieve their goals. In the play, the Youngers are an African American family who are living in poverty in the United States. The majority of the family members have aspirations for the future and their own idea of the American Dream. Two of these family members include Beneatha Younger, and her mother, Lena,

who is often referred to as ‘Mama.’ Both individuals’ different personalities and aspirations help them in their process of accomplishing their dreams and in their attempts to make their dreams a reality.
Beneatha’s great sense of self-determination helps her greatly on the road to living her dream of becoming a doctor. She is shown to be a very independent young woman who is determined to execute everything on her own. This is depicted when Beneatha is talking with her mother, and implies that God is irrelevant. Immediately after this, Lena tells her that her remark is not necessary, to which Beneatha replies, “Well - neither is God. I get sick and tired of hearing about God” (Hansberry 38). This comment shows how determined Beneatha is to accomplish tasks on her own. When she denies God and claims that he is irrelevant, it shows how intent she is on her decision to not rely on others to do things for her. She believes that only she can accomplish tasks for herself and that she does not need anyone to assist her; not even God. This sense of self-determination helps Beneatha greatly in her efforts to accomplish her goal to become a doctor. During this time, women, especially black women, generally did not become doctors as it was not a widely accepted profession for them. Beneatha is determined to become her dream profession despite societal norms and what others may think of her choice. Her independence is shown to aid her in her journey as portrayed when her mother and her sister-in-law, Ruth are attempting to pressure her into marrying a wealthy black man because they believe his wealth will benefit her. When they propose this idea to her, Beneatha replies by saying, “Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet - if I ever get married” (Hansberry 38). In this quote, she is expressing that she doesn’t need a man in her life so she can be happy. She is not worried about having a husband yet because she wants to focus on what she is going to do with her own life. She refuses to rely on someone else which, in turn, helps her on the road to being a woman in the medical world. Because she does not want to concern herself with finding a husband, she is able to focus more on making her dream a reality. With this independence showing through, she is able to make an effort in order to reach her goals.
Another character who demonstrates the American Dream, is Lena Younger.

She is depicted as a very persistent woman and is shown to never give up despite anything that may get in her way. This pronounced quality is portrayed through Mama’s intensive care for her potted plant. Although the plant is wilting, she has not given up on caring for it. One morning while she is watering it, she says, “Lord, if this little old plant don’t get more sun than it’s been getting it ain’t never going to see Spring again” (Hansberry 28). Even though Lena is addressing the fact that the plant is wilted and dying, she still makes an effort to keep it alive by watering it. She is aware that the plant needs more care to help it thrive and she gives it just that despite the fact that all hope seems lost. Mama treats this plant in the same manner that she treats her dreams. Mama hopes to buy a larger house for her whole family to live in so they are able to live their lives more comfortably. When she does eventually purchase the house, it happens to be located in the white neighborhood of Clybourne Park. When the point is brought up to her that no colored people are living in that neighborhood, she replies by saying, “Well, I guess there’s going to be some now” (Hansberry 81). Although Lena is aware that this could end up being a setback, she doesn’t allow this to get in her way. Rather than give up on her dream for this reason, she continues to pursue it and refuses to give up no matter what

obstacles may come her way. Through every drawback that she encounters, Lena is determined to persevere though each one to accomplish her goal.
Beneatha and Lena Younger have very different approaches that they take in order to achieve their dreams. Beneatha believes that accomplishing tasks on her own and not caring about others opinion’s will aid her in fulfilling her dreams. However, Mama works towards attaining her dreams by means of perseverance and refusing to let anything get in her way. Their different approaches can be seen through their reactions to Walter, Beneatha’s brother’s, failed dream. When a business partner of Walter’s leaves with the money he had invested in a liquor store they had planned to open together, Beneatha and Lena had varying responses to the situation. When discussing what had happened, Beneatha says, “He made an investment! With a man even Travis wouldn’t have trusted with his most worn-out marbles!” (Hansberry 114). When she says this, she is implying that none of this would have occurred if Walter had just invested in the liquor store on his own. She believes that if Walter had never thought that he needed the help of others to achieve his dream, he would not have had to endure this major setback and would be much closer to attaining his goal of owning a liquor store. However, when Mama is faced with this news, she says, “Oh, God… Look down here - and give me the strength” (Hansberry 112). When Lena asks God for strength, it shows that she is not willing to giving up. Although a large sum of the family’s money is gone, she does not respond in a manner of defeat. Instead of this, Lena is determined to find the strength for her family to carry on and continue living out their dreams. Over the course of the play, only one character is seen to actually have fulfilled their dream. Lena Younger is able to reach her goal of owning a larger house through her perseverance and unwillingness to give up. This perseverance is evident when she first announces that she purchased the house and the rest of the family seems to be upset that their new home is located in a white neighborhood. When the family raises this point, Lena replies, “Them houses they put up for colored in them area way out all seem to cost twice as much as other houses. I did the best I could” (Hansberry 81). When she says this, it is obvious that Mama had not intentions of abandoning her dream just because the houses she was looking at were out of her price range. Rather than back down, she took a chance and purchased a house in a neighborhood that she was well aware the family may have trouble fitting into. Lena’s perseverance is what aids her in the process of achieving her dreams and keeps her from abandoning them.
In summary, Beneatha and Lena Younger’s personalities are a great help to them as they strive to reach their goals.

Lena’s persistence and Beneatha’s independence are extremely useful for them to achieve what they have been aiming to do in their lives. From both character’s successes and failures in their attempts, it is clear to see that anyone who wishes to achieve their dreams cannot expect for that to happen if they do not do anything in an effort to make it happen. Everyone must work towards their goals if they wish to accomplish them and learn to never give up despite any obstacles that come their way. In the end, it is not about the dream itself, but what can be done to ensure that dream becomes a

reality.