A Raisin In The Sun Minor Character Essay

A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, is a dramatic play set in Southside Chicago during the 1950s. The Youngers are a struggling family in the slums of Chicago. A Raisin in the Sun has many characters in it, but most of the characters are in the Younger family. The plot of the book focuses on four main characters: Beneatha, Walter, Lena, and Ruth. These characters create the major conflict in the story, while the minor characters simply push the story forward. In A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry lets minor characters develop the play by using Mrs. Johnson as a plot device, Travis to develop Walter’s character, and Mr. Lindner to unite the Younger family. In A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry lets minor characters develop the play by using Mrs. Johnson as a plot device. Mrs. Johnson is used to give the Youngers critical information about what is happening in Clybourne Park. Although she does give some comic relief, that is not her main purpose in this play. Mrs. Johnson tries to get the
Youngers to stay in their apartment by telling them what happened in Clybourne Park. Mrs. Johnson also lets the reader know information that would not have been revealed until later in the play. She tells them “You mean you ain’t read ‘about them colored people that was bombed out their place out there” (100), and this lets them know about the dangers of moving into Clybourne Park. Mrs. Johnson is used by Hansberry to add suspense to the play because the readers are now concerned about what will happen to the Youngers when they move. She has no other place in this play other than giving the reader and the Youngers new information. Additionally, in A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry lets minor characters develop the play by using Travis to develop Walter’s character.
Walter was set on selling the house until Travis was around. Walter wanted his son to be prideful and successful, and he realized that by selling the house he would be doing the opposite. Walter told Mr. Lindner “This is my son, and he makes the sixth generation our family in this country....And we have decided to move into our house…” (148), which shows that he understood the impact he had on how Travis thought. Walter was starting to become a more developed character, but in order to become more developed, Travis needed to be there. Travis made Walter start to think of others instead of himself. Instead of being focused on how the situation affected him, he took into consideration how it would influence the rest of the family. Travis developed Walter’s character by changing him from being self-centered to being considerate of other
people. Finally, in A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry lets minor characters develop the play by using Mr. Lindner to unite the Younger family. The Younger family fought with one another in the beginning of the play over what they were going to do with the inheritance money. They were divided, and no one wanted to agree with each other. It was only when Mr. Lindner entered the picture that they agreed with one another to overcome racism. Mr. Lindner was inadvertently taking away the Youngers pride, which ended up uniting them. When the Youngers were faced with the dilemma given to them by Mr. Lindner of giving up their pride or facing oppression, they came together to face persecution. Mama said “I am afraid you don't understand. My son said we was going to move and there ain't nothin left for me to say” (148), which shows that she put trust in Walter to become the head of the house. Mr. Lindner makes the family understand each other’s viewpoints; they become united instead of divided. Hansberry uses minor characters in this play to add more depth to the story. The minor characters, while seemingly insignificant, are very important in the progression of the play. These characters are essential for making the main characters in this play progress. Minor characters like Mrs. Johnson helped the play develop its storyline. Characters like Travis aided in making Walter a better person, and Mr. Lindner brought the entire family together. Minor characters have an extremely important part in this play.