A Raisin In The Sun Walter Younger Characteristics

Unruly. Aspiring. Inexperienced. Many characters who possess these traits will either crash and burn, or succeed in life. Critically acclaimed A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, features this type of character in Walter Younger. Walter Younger, a man striving to push his family into the middle class, whether the attempt is risky or downright controversial. Some characters will make questionable decisions, and these decisions could lead to fortune, or failure. In a segregated 1950s Chicago, a small African-American family lives in a small 3 room apartment in a crowded apartment building. Award-winning A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, features Walter as a leader-to-be in this historically accurate playwright. The household consists of Mama, Walter’s wife and sister, Ruth and Beneatha, and Walter’s son Travis. Walter, the main contributor to the income of the household, and held responsible even though he is not seen as the leader or in
Although not broke, the Youngers are considered barely above poverty. With little income, and one young boy to care for, the household wealth does not hold up well. Even though Walter works as a chauffeur, he does what he can on his meager remuneration. Obviously, most people would hate being a chauffeur for many years and Walter is no exception. Later on in the play, Walter defies his work by staying out and going to the bar instead. This seeds the start of a long string of bad decisions that ultimately lead to Walter’s job being on the line. This defiance, developed within Walter at young age due to his fiery and explicit personality, will begin to greatly affect how he reacts to certain situations and his overall decision making process, furthering the risk on each choice Walter makes. Henceforth, Walter would rather drink his problems away than work through them. This will impact Walter’s goal of obtaining a middle income lifestyle for his