A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Characters

Summary

This transcript delves into the central characters of Lorraine Hansberry's *A Raisin in the Sun*, highlighting their struggles, dreams, and family dynamics. It focuses on Walter Lee's dissatisfaction with his life and his aspirations, Mama’s role as the strong, optimistic matriarch, and Beneatha’s ambition to go to medical school. Ruth's exhaustion reflects the toll of her life, while Travis symbolizes hope for the future. The play explores themes of racial identity, family conflict, and generational differences, showcasing the tension between dreams and reality, as well as the pursuit of dignity and a better life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Walter Lee Younger, in his mid-30s, is dissatisfied with his job as a chauffeur and feels the pressure to be the head of the family, leading to conflict with his mother, Mama.
• 😀 Walter plans to use his mother's life insurance check to invest in a liquor store, showcasing his ambition and struggle for respect and power.
• 😀 The play's conflict revolves around the gendered tension between Walter's ambition and Mama's role as the matriarch of the family.
• 😀 Mama, in her early 60s, is the strong and optimistic matriarch, whose resilience and legacy are key to the family's dynamics, despite past hardships in the South.
• 😀 Beneatha, Walter's younger sister, is a modern, intelligent African-American woman who aspires to become a doctor, representing a new generation with a focus on racial heritage.
• 😀 Beneatha's suitors, George Murchison and Joseph Asagai, represent contrasting views of African-American identity, with Beneatha ultimately embracing her African heritage.
• 😀 Ruth, Walter's wife, is worn down by life and struggles with the weight of her responsibilities, but gradually reveals her hopes for a better future and a closer relationship with Walter.
• 😀 Ruth's decision to keep her baby, despite initially planning an abortion due to economic circumstances, adds a positive narrative arc to the play.
• 😀 Travis, the young son of Walter and Ruth, symbolizes hope for the future, embodying the next generation of Youngers with a desire for independence and responsibility.
• 😀 The Youngers are anxiously awaiting a $10,000 life insurance check, which becomes a point of contention as each family member has their own plans for the money.

Q & A

What is Walter Lee's dissatisfaction with his life in 'A Raisin in the Sun'?

Walter Lee is dissatisfied with his job as a chauffeur for a rich white man. He feels emasculated and desires to be the head of the family, planning to use his mother's insurance money to invest in a liquor store to achieve financial independence.

How does Walter Lee's character embody the concept of a 'dream deferred'?

Walter's character reflects the neurotic effects of Langston Hughes's poem 'A Dream Deferred.' While Walter doesn't dry up like the raisin in the poem, his unrealized dreams threaten to explode, showing the emotional strain of unfulfilled aspirations.

What role does Mama play in the Younger family, and how does it conflict with Walter's expectations?

Mama is the strong matriarch of the Younger family and holds the authority, especially over the family finances. Her role as matriarch conflicts with Walter's expectation of being the man of the house, as he wants control over the family’s financial decisions, particularly regarding the life insurance check.

What significant change does Walter undergo by the end of the play?

By the end of the play, Walter undergoes a transformation into manhood, where he learns to take responsibility and make decisions that reflect his growing maturity and understanding of family values.

What is Mama's perspective on life, and how does it influence her decisions?

Despite facing hardships, Mama remains an optimist. Her experiences with racialized violence in the South shaped her resilience and drive to ensure her family's survival. This optimism leads her to buy a house for her family, hoping to provide them with a better life.

How does Beneatha’s character differ from Walter's, and what does she represent in the play?

Beneatha is Walter's younger sister, and she represents a new, modern generation of African Americans. She values education, aims to become a doctor, and is deeply interested in her racial heritage, contrasting with Walter’s ambition to open a liquor store for financial gain.

What do Beneatha’s suitors, George Murchison and Joseph Asagai, represent in terms of African American identity?

George Murchison and Joseph Asagai represent two opposing views of African American identity. George is assimilative, focused on material success, while Joseph highlights the importance of African heritage and cultural pride. Beneatha ultimately chooses Joseph, aligning with her own positive sense of her African roots.

How is Ruth characterized in the play, and what role does she play within the Younger family?

Ruth is a weary, middle-aged woman who works as a cleaning woman and does much of the household work. While feeling defeated at the beginning, she later shows hope for better circumstances and a stronger relationship with Walter. Her decision to keep her baby adds an uplifting arc to the play.

What is Ruth’s difficult decision regarding her pregnancy, and how does it impact the story?

Ruth struggles with the decision to have a second child due to the family’s economic situation. She initially considers abortion but ultimately decides to keep the baby, adding a positive turn to the narrative by highlighting her hope for a better future.

Who is Travis, and what does his character symbolize in the play?

Travis is Walter and Ruth’s young son, a sturdy, handsome boy who represents the future generation of the Younger family. Despite the family's cramped living situation, Travis shows a desire to earn his own money and take responsibility, symbolizing hope for a better future.