The American Dream In A Raisin In The Sun

A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, portrays the Youngers as a typical African American family in Chicago dealing with the struggles of poverty, the inability to accomplish dreams, and the never-ending relationship conflicts. Walter Lee Younger strives to become the head of the household and hopes to do so by investing all of his father’s insurance money the way he wants. Walter’s insatiable desire to invest in a liquor store causes conflicts for his wife, Ruth, misfortunes for Walter himself, and a dwindling of his sister Beneatha’s dream. Ruth and Walter Younger struggle to keep a happy relationship. Right from the beginning of their day, Ruth and Walter fail to continue a nice conversation. Ruth is unhappy about Walters’s friends …show more content…
His first blow is when the family discovers Walter has given away the remaining insurance money to his friend Willy Harris. A man comes to his door and breaks the news to Walter that Willy is nowhere to be found, nor is the insurance money. He becomes hysterical as he goes around the room, saying, “Willy! ...Willy… don’t do it … Please don’t do it … Man, not with that money … Man, please, not with that money … Oh, God … Don’t let it be true” (Hansberry 874). Walter’s innocent intentions combined with dishonesty tear him apart as he tries to fathom the misfortune which effects the entire family. The news also comes during an atmosphere of joy, as Mama had bought a house with part of the insurance money. Now, the atmosphere becomes black and the family must decide whether to keep the house or accept the welcoming committee’s plea to sell the house for more money than the original price. The new problem is that Walter must decide on keeping the pride of his family name or selling the house in hopes of redeeming some money. After his friend leaves, Walter discusses their future plan about selling the house, and Ruth says, “You talking ‘bout taking them people’s money to keep us from moving in that house?” (Hansberry 882). Walter replies: “I ain’t just talking ‘bout it, baby−I’m telling you that’s what’s going to happen” (Hansberry 882). Walter sounds forlorn as he announces a plan clearly …show more content…
Walter makes it apparent before the incident that he does not support Beneatha becoming a doctor, as he says to her, “What fool told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people−then go be a nurse like other women−or just get married and be quiet …” (Hansberry 835). Walter feels she is taking Mama’s money and using it without a second thought, giving Beneatha a hard time about her choices. She is aware of Walter’s intentions concerning the insurance money, while still worrying about her plethora of school fees. Later on, Mama gives Walter the remaining money after buying the house and tells him to keep half for Beneatha’s school and the other half he can use as he sees fit. He ends up giving the money to Willy Harris in hopes of increasing the original amount. When Walter learns Willy Harris is missing, the whole family is there to listen. As it turns out, Walter never set aside the money for Beneatha’s school, and she sits vacillating between quitting school and continuing. She says to her friend Asagai, “Asagai, while I was sleeping in that bed in there, people went out and took the future right out of my hands! And nobody asked me, nobody consulted me−they just went out and changed my life!” (Hansberry 878). It can be inferred that Beneatha is

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