Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

650 Words2 Pages

Greed is the one thing in this world that everyone has in common. Normally, money helps with what a person might need. A person might get confused with what they want rather than what they need to better their family. A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry proves that money leads to greed as shown through Walter Lee’s dreams of a liquor store, his relationship with Ruth, and how he turns on Beneatha for her dream to become a doctor. 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 …show more content…

Walter argues with Ruth, “Anybody who talks to me has got to be a good-for-nothing loudmouth, ain’t he? And what you know about who is just a good-for-nothing loudmouth? Charlie Atkins was just a "good-for-nothing loudmouth" too, wasn’t he! When he wanted me to go in the dry-cleaning business with him. And now – he’s grossing a hundred thousand a year. A hundred thousand dollars a year! You still call him a loudmouth!” (1.1.71). Throughout the story money is the reason Walter and Ruth constantly do not see eye to eye. The quote explains that Walter is so desperate to get money that it doesn’t matter where or who it comes from as long as it results in more revenue. Even though Ruth does not agree with how Walter is trying to get the money. Ruth said to Walter, “‘Looks at him, then warms; teasing, but tenderly “Fifty cents?”’ She goes to her bag and gets money “Here – take a taxi!”” (1.1.139). Ironically after Walter gives his last fifty cents to his son to hide the family’s poverty; he is forced to ask Ruth for money. Even though He just diminished Ruth in front of their son she still gave him the money. This shows that Walter and Ruth still love eachother, but Ruth does not agree with him on how he is trying to get

Show More
Related

  • Free Raisin in the Sun Essays: Bad Dreams

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    Walter wants financial freedom, he doesn't want just enough money to provide for his family, but rather he tells his mother "I want so many things. " Walter is materialistic and greedy, corrupted by a superficial “American dream”. Walter has no desire to find out about himself through his African American heritage. He believes he can define himself through money, money is everything to this man.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis of Walter Lee Younger in A Raisin in the Sun by Hansberry

    613 Words  | 2 Pages

    In ''A Raisin in the Sun'' Hansberry uses Walter Lee Younger to represent the ambitious but, uninformed African American family. Walter's main role in 'A Raisin in the Sun' is to personify the African American families that make many gambles, which eventually lead to complete failure. Walter is shadowed by greed and ignorance which causes him to fail to achieve the success he wishes to gain. Walter Lee Youngers' greed is exemplified when he talks about, "Check coming today." (Hansberry 26). Walter's lack of wisdom and hard headedness allows him to portray American success, which he hopes of achieving in a very short time. When Walter Younger fails at what he has been trying to do he exclaims, "THAT MONEY IS MADE OUT OF MY FATHER'S FLESH." (Hansberry 128). Walter is emotionally and physically drained and begins nearing his breaking point. He finally realizes that society trumps over one individual. Walter can be best described as a greedy, foolish, yet ambitious individual.

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun

    831 Words  | 2 Pages

    Does money really bring happiness? This questions has been asked over and over throughout history yet there is no real answer for it. The only way to know is to learn from experiences. In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun the characters are caught up in caring too much about money, and it effects them all in many different decisions that they make such as Ruth wanting to get an abortion, Mama buying them a house, and Walter investing in the liquor store.

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun

    1246 Words  | 3 Pages

    The chasing of a mirage is a futile quest where an individual chases an imaginary image that he or she wants to capture. The goal of this impossible quest is in sight, but it is unattainable. Even with the knowledge that failure is inevitable, people still dream of catching a mirage. There is a fine line that separates those who are oblivious to this fact, and to those who are aware and accept this knowledge. The people who are oblivious represent those who are ignorant of the fact that their dream will be deferred. This denial is the core of the concept used in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The perception of the American Dream is one that is highly subjective, but every individual dream ends in its own deferment.

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun - Money

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    Where money is but an illusion and all it brings are nothing but dreams, one family struggles to discover that wealth can be found in other forms. In the play "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry uses the indirect characterization of the Younger family through their acquaintances to reveal that money and materialism alone are worthless.

    Read More

  • Timeless Themes A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lorraine Hansberry does a phenomenal job in depicting not only the realities that occur because a family gets a large sum of money, but also the consequences it can have on the family’s relationship in her play A Raisin in the Sun. The main conflict in A Raisin in the Sun is the skirmish the Younger family partakes in over how to spend the ten thousand dollars. This conflict lends to its continued popularity because it reflects ordinary people’s desire for money and the confrontations that obtaining money often leads to in real life. In the play, almost every member, including Mama, Ruth, and Walter are headstrong in their decisions for how to most effectively spend the money. The famil...

    Read More

  • Walter Lee and Manhood in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    From dreams deferred to identity affirmed Lorraine Hansberry’s, “A Raisin in the Sun,” presents readers with many differing themes. The most prevalent and reoccurring theme is the effect money plays on society’s views of manhood and happiness. Readers are shown multiple characters with a diverse view on manhood. From Walter Lee with his matching societal views that a man should be able to provide whatever his family needs or wants to Lena whose views are a biased compilation of her late husband’s behavior and her own ideals, that a man should maintain his honor and protect his children’s dreams.

    Read More

  • A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: A Criticism of the American Dream Analytical Paper

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thereby, the aspirations for financial success, that were especially present among younger generations, display a far-off shot from the original paradigm of the American Dream, which used to be the pursuit of happiness, freedom, justice, and more fruitful future prospects for the coming generations. In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, she shows that achieving one’s dream, especially the American Dream, can be difficult, through characterization, conflict, and setting. The conception of the American Dream has since long been distorted and the principles have undergone, as John E. Nestler depicts it in his essay “The American Dream”, “a metamorphosis” from the basic idea of freedom and equality to materialistic and individualistic ambitions, which would constitute “a sign of moral decay”. In A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry uses the character Walter Lee Younger to illustrate the distorted interpretation of the American dream and its consequent adverse effects. Walter grew up in a time, when money would apparently reign in the world and be the center of attention and realization of all dreams....

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry there are many examples of the Younger family members repelled the blatant racism existing in their society. Throughout the play there have been incidents in which the Younger family has stood their ground as black people, especially the women of this play. The Younger family has experienced racism throughout the play, in the first act the character Ruth is sick and her mother-in-law tells her to call in sick with the ‘flu’ as it’s something white people can get. This remark from the character Mama really makes one understand that people of colour were seen to have abnormal diseases than white people and by Mama saying it in a mocking way, it shows an aspect of her resisting racism and making

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    We see how Walter is refusing to accept the limits set on him anymore. He decides that he is going to reap what their family deserves and that they cannot will not accept having their dream deferred anymore. This is the means through which Walter’s dream

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun And A Streetcar Named Desire

    2128 Words  | 5 Pages

    In A Raisin in the Sun, desire is shown when each character has a different idea of what the American dream means to them. Mama dreams of having her own house, “…a little two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime” (Hansberry 1923). She had always dreamed of having her own house in Morgan Park, and even though her and Big Walter planned on moving there after a little while after being married it never happened. (Hansberry 1923). Ruth’s dream is similar to Mama’s, she would like to have her own house also, but the main thing on her mind is to not have to worry about money. However, Beneatha’s dream is the complete opposite of both Mama and Ruth’s. She dreams to become a doctor so she can prove that women can have the same jobs as men. That dream causes conflict because of Walter’s dream to become wealthy and to be able to provide for his family. “…You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five thousand and we figured the initial investment on the place be ‘bout thirty thousand…baby don’t nothing happen for you in this world ‘less you pay someone off” (Hansberry 1917). Walter thinks that he has a better chance than Beneatha and the money should go to him, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor…just get married and be quiet” (Hansberry 1919). Throughout the remainder of the play Walter, Beneatha, Ruth

    Read More

  • A Raisin In The Sun Literary Analysis

    1150 Words  | 3 Pages

    Escaping poverty was one of the themes of “A Raisin in the Sun.” The family’s chance of escape becomes a reality when a $10,000 check arrives in the mail. Everyone is wanting to spend their money for their own dream, each with their own way of escaping poverty. Walter believes that investing all the money into the liquor store will put the family higher in the ranks while earning them more income, therefore they would no longer be poverty-stricken. He believes money is everything and wants his family to have the best. This can be seen when he tells his son, “[without even looking at his son, still staring hard at his wife] In fact, here’s another fifty cents…Buy yourself some fruit today – or take a taxicab to school or something!” (pg 1.1.59).

    Read More

  • The American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun

    1195 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Walter Lee Younger in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    Walter wants the best for his family and he thinks the liquor store will provide him the financial security needed to boost them out of poverty. "I'm thirty five years old; I've been married eleven years and I got a boy who sleeps in living room (Hansberry 34). best describes the sympathy and compassion Walter feels for his son. Although his family's financial position has a strain on it, Walter doesn't want his son to see him struggle. Even in today?s world, children are very susceptible. Walter displays a selfless characteristic which becomes overshadowed by unwise decisions later in the play. In one particular scene, his son Travis asked both parents for money. Walter acts out of pride by giving Travis his last pocket change. This symbolizes Walter's willingness to be a moral father. In a different situation, Walter would not display his selfish intentions. This behavior can be attributed to working in a degrading, underpaid position and not seeing results. Metaphorically speaking, Walter can be related to the furniture in the small apartment, ?tired and broken in spirit?.

    Read More

  • Relationship Between Walter And Mama In A Raisin In The Sun

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    Walter is a man who is very egotistical, believing that only he knows how to correctly spend and earn money, but this allows him to be the most impactful on the development of the plot. Upon hearing about the check for $10,000, he goes out and starts making a deal with Willy Harris to invest in a liquor store, which causes him and other members of

    Read More

More about Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

Open Document