Although the “American Dream” can be defined as many different things, the general idea of an American dream lies within the concept that each individual has the same opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through their own hard work, determination, and initiative. Because the concept of the American Dream is so vague, the ideal American Dream will differ from person to person. In “A Raisin in the Sun” written by Lorraine Hansberry, each prevalent character has their own unique American Dream. One of the primary characters in the play is Walter and his version of the American Dream is to be a businessman. However, just like any other dreamer, Walter comes across many obstacles in the pursuit of his dream. A dream is developed first by …show more content…
Walter describes his dream for the reader as says to his son Travis, “I got some plans that could turn this city upside down. I mean think...big. Invest big, gamble big, Hell, lose big if you have to...I got me some ideas” (Hansberry 84). The reader is also informed of Walter’s intentions as he tells Travis that “After what your daddy gonna do tonight, there’s going to be offices-a whole lot of offices...your daddy’s gonna make a transaction...a business transaction that’s going to change our lives” (108). In a conversation between Mama and Ruth about money, Ruth says that “[Walter’s] just got his heart set on that store,” to which Mama inquires “You mean that liquor store Willy Harris want him to invest in?” (41-42). Because Walter’s dream is known not only to him but also to his wife, mother, and others around him, it is further down the line of development than a dream that has merely been thought over and longed for within one’s mind and heart and is on its way to further …show more content…
When Walter thinks all his father’s money that would have gone towards a business has been put by his mother towards a house, he is very upset. He even makes the very harsh comment to Mama, “you butchered up a dream of mine-you-who always talking ‘bout your children’s dreams” (95). Although Walter later finds out that Mama had in fact saved a decent portion of the money to go towards Walter’s business, his dream came across other obstacles. After making the investment, Walter learns that his supposed business partner has ran off with all the invested money. Although the fulfillment of Walter’s dream is never seen in the play, chances are that this major obstacle most likely provided Walter with even more motivation and determination than he had had to begin with. Many times, the things, ideas, or people preventing the dream from being easily achieved really play a large part in the achievement of that very dream. However, there will be times when the obstacles become too much for the dreamer and the dream shrivels up like “A Raisin in the Sun”. The fact that a dream can turn either way when approaching obstacles is what contributes to the main idea of the play. The reader gets to see the first two steps of development for several dreams and the play ends in such a way that the reader is left to decide what happens to all
Mama talks to Walter about her fears of the family falling apart. This is the reason she bought the house and she wants him to understand. Walter doesn't understand and gets angry. "What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for? So you butchered up a dream of mine - you - who always talking 'bout your children's dreams..." Walter is so obsessive over money that he yells at his mom for not giving him all of it. He doesn't know that what his mom is doing is for the family. He thinks that having money will make the family happy, when in reality the family doesn't need anymore than what they have to be happy.
Walter, distraught after Mama had denounced his ambition to run a liquor store, had skipped work for three days, borrowing Willy Harris's car to drive around the city. Mama, seeing Walter so defeated, decided to entrust the remaining 6,500 dollars of her 10,000 dollar check to him, saying, "It ain't much, but it's all I got in the world and I'm putting it in your hands." (Hansberry,) Having incessantly denied Walter's dream,
“What happens to a dream deferred?” Langston Hughes asks in his 1959 poem “Dream Deferred.” He suggests that it might “dry up like a raisin in the sun” or “stink like rotten meat” but, at the end of the poem, Hughes offers another alternative by asking, “Or does it explode?” This is the poem that the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is based on. The play is about an African-American’s family struggling to break out of poverty. The 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.
In a conversation between Walter and Travis, Walter tells his son about his dream for his son and his own success, which focused on Walter working in offices and making a lot of money for his family. Walter says, “After what your daddy’s gonna do tonight, there’s going to be offices, a whole lot a offices” (P. 108). Walter really wants to make his family happy and by he thinks they way to do this is with money. From the beginning of the play Walter has matured and realized that he needs to be there and help his family. Similarly, Walter wants to show his son that he will do anything for him and he would give him the world. Walter says to Travis, “You just name it, son ... and I hand you the world!” (P. 109) He wants to give Travis the world because he wants to show him how much he loves him. Throughout the whole play Walter has been focusing on money and he never gives any attention to his family so he wants to let his son know how much he loves him and how much he cares about
However, dreams are the factor that divide the Younger family, yet, also identify each family members personality, thoughts, and actions. For example, Walter wants to be a successful businessman, and make more money. Walter believes that money will solve all the answers economically and emotionally. In addition, Ruth wishes to move out of the apartment and rekindle the love within her marriage. Beneatha, on the other hand, wants to become a doctor to heal people. Hansberry, constantly uses direct characterization with Ruth to portray her characterization within the play, but also to portray the characters pain or exhaustion, “Drily, but to hurt” (16). Ruth Younger, wife of Walter and the mother of Travis, is a prime example. Within the play, she manages the upkeep of the apartment. Moreover, she is the mediator for Mama, Walter, and Beneatha. Ruth knows that her mediation between the family is essential for the sanity of the household. However, her mediation is mostly utilized between Walter and Mama. “No. Mama, something is happening between Walter and me. I don’t know what it is-but he needs something-something I can’t give him any more. He Needs this chance, Lena” (25). Ruth’s desire to reconnect with her husband and family allow her to struggle for what she
The issue is whether Walter can distinguish between a fantasy of reality and a dream deferred. Essentially this play can be regarded as the mid-life crisis of Walter Lee Younger, passionate about his family, ambitious, and bursting with energy and dreams. Walter cares about his family, and he hopes that buying the liquor store will be a brighter future for Travis. ? And-and I?ll say, all right son-it?s your seventeenth birthday, what is it you?ve decided?.Just tell me where you want to go to school and you?ll go. Just tell me, what it is you want to be?
A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry. The primary focus of the play is the American Dream. The American Dream is one’s conception of a better life. Each of the main characters in the play has their own idea of what they consider to be a better life. A Raisin in the Sun emphasizes the importance of dreams regardless of the various oppressive struggles of life.
He is an ambitious character whose main goal is “to invest in any liquor store” (38). This is a dream that is highlighted throughout the play as he frequently talks about this dream. This dream is not achieved because of a sly and shady character named Willy running away with all of the cash. Taking about the money, he left the family with no more insurance cash. Walter says, “All of it… it’s all gone” (129). This dream is badly wanted by Walter. He wants it badly enough to put that dream about his family. He disobeys Mama and “never [goes] to the bank at all” to put away savings for Beneatha’s schooling (129). Walter, sadly, prioritizes this dream too highly in his life.
Living in a poverty stricken area, Walter can only think about one of the many things he lacks, money. On the contrary, there are African Americans on the other side of Chicago who do have money and run large businesses. This pushes Walter to not only want to provide more for his family, but also dream big and become determined. The only way that he sees fit for him to make his dream come true and earn more
After buying a house, Mama gives the remaining money to Walter, telling him to save some for Beneatha’s medical school, and that he can decide what the rest of the money can go to. Walter tells Travis that he is going to change their lives with the money: “One day...I’ll pull up on the driveway...just a plain black chrysler… though I’ll have to get something a little sportier for Ruth---maybe a Cadillac convertible...and I‘ll go inside...to see you sitting on the floor with the catalogues of the great in America all around you… just tell me what it is you want to be---… and I hand you the world!” (108-109). Walter fantasizes about owning classy cars and being able to pay for his son to go to any of the top-notch schools in America. His visions for the future reveal that his perception of reality is unrealistic and that wealth matters very much to him. He is very confident that he will be able to give Travis “the world”, which shows that he has excessive faith in his business deal. His delusions and excitement can hinder his ability to make calculated decisions. Without saving any money for Beneatha’s medical school, Walter gives the money to his friend, Willy, to invest in liquor stores. The next day, Walter’s other friend, Bobo, visits Walter to tell him that Willy ran off with the money. Walter melts down and yells, “Man, I put my life in your
Walter is Mama’s oldest son. His dreams are to be wealth but at the same time wanting to provide for his family. His own personal dream is to open liquor store with his money he receives from Mama.
Walter Lee’s dream was to own his own liquor store to get more money for his family, even though it is probably not the best idea. Walter in A Raisin in the Sun expresses, “Yeah. You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five thousand and we figured the initial investment on the place be
In this quote the reader can tell Walter is disappointed on how is life turned out. He obviously wants to do bigger and better things, than he's doing now. Ruth tells Mama that she is 2 months pregnant. Ruth tries to tell Walter but Walter being stubborn as always and Ruth ends up not telling him. Mama tries to talk to Walter and tells him that Ruth is pregnant and she considering and abortion. Walter seems like he does not care about it, and he is mostly focused on the money and the business plan. At the rate things it does not look like Walter will be getting the money, however and opportunity comes around but little does Walter know that if he takes this opportunity it could be the worst decision that he ever
Walter attempts to reinvent himself through his work and relationships to try and provide for his wife and family. Walter is fighting a battle within his household because he believes that Ruth, his wife, “couldn’t be on [his] side that long for nothing,” even though she is just trying to do what is best for everyone involved (Hansberry 32). Walter cannot see past his dream to realize the impact it would have on everyone else if it failed, so he drowns his sorrows in alcohol. Although “he knows the possibility of failure is also a vital part of the American success story” Walter is not just risking his own future, he is risking his child’s, mother’s and sister’s and without a second thought to his personal relationships, he blindly makes an investment on the chance of having the wealth and house he desires for everyone (Washington 98). Walter is so focused on reinventing his work life and having money that he loses sight of his family’s values and ideas. He does not care about Ruth being pregnant and the possibility of aborting their child as long as he can achieve his goals. Walter is living in a dream where he believes that “anyone can become anything he wants to be,” and that is not true in his case with the social and racial standards that are set against him (Washington 95). Walter sees wealth as ensuring happiness and having everything he desires, which is why he is pushing his family so hard for the money, causing issues. Even though all the odds are set against him in this time period, Walter cannot see past being able to provide for his family and having the American Dream that he most
Walter wants the insurance money so that he can prove that he is capable of making a future for his family. By doing well in business, Walter thinks that he can buy his family happiness. Mama cares for Walter deeply and hates seeing him suffer so she gave into his idea. Mama gives Walter the rest of the money and tells him to put half in a bank for his sister's schooling and he could do whatever he wanted with the other half.