A Raisin In The Sun Character Analysis

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun explores the universal ideas of family, dignity, and hope. Hansberry set her play in an old, once well-furnished and loved apartment in Southside Chicago after World War II. It is the story of an African American family’s struggle to prioritize futures and dreams and decide whose dream is most prevalent; once the family makes the choice to purchase a home with part of the money, they face an entirely new plight. One of the major themes of A Raisin in the Sun is the need to band together as a family and fight discrimination as a unified group, as opposed to a group that cannot stop fighting within itself.
Even from the initial scenes of the play, one can sense the dignity Mama upholds herself with, and the fact that Walter is facing an internal struggle. Throughout the play, he is the character who changes the most. First, he and Mama seem to fight quite regularly; they both have bold personalities and think they know what will be best for the family. When Mama uses some of the money to buy a house and gives the remaining
money to Walter, the friend he was planning to invest with stole it all. Mama and Big Walter have struggled and worked their whole life so their family could live happily, and Mama refuses to move out of the neighborhood just because they are not wanted. The family earned their right to live there, through hard work and perseverance. The community was in the wrong for attempting to deny the basic human rights. Even though the family has grown accustomed to having the money as a cushion, they all realize they must move into their house on Clybourne Street.
Unified love as a family is exemplified throughout the play, but it is most evident in act three.
The family has gone through hard times, but the biggest fight happens when Walter is planning on accepting money from The Man. Mama is disappointed, but she loves him still. Beneatha is so angry she says “There is nothing left to love.” Mama rebukes her for her comment, and this scene displays the fierce love Mama has for her family. Even though they do not agree with Walter’s plan to give in, the whole family suspects and hopes he will come to his senses and make the right decision. They have faith in him, even though to this point he has not made the best choices. Internally, the choice was difficult, but especially because his son is present, Walter makes the right choice and preserves the dignity of his family. Throughout the play, the family loved and supported Walter, even when he made very bad
choices.
Every member of the Younger family has their own struggles, but as they are going through hard times, they support and love one another. Not only does the love they exhibit support one another, they also seek to help improve one another. The members of this family truly want what is best for one another, and their closeness, love, and adoration for one another contributed to their ability to stay strong through the tough times.