Does Walter Create Tension In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun
In “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, two characters influence the plot most. The play takes place in Chicago’s Southside in the 1940s to 1950s. When for African Americans segregation was big. Just like in Lorraine’s life the family in the play ends up buying a house in a white neighborhood. Two characters, Mama and Walter impact the plot the most with their words, actions, and stage directions. Walter is a thirty-five year old man and is Mama’s son. In the play Walter depicts the antagonism and despondency of the African Americans during the 1940s. Walter is best characterized as depressed and opinionated. Walter in the play creates tension in the family because he wants the insurance money to invest in a liquor store. “A Raisin
in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five thousand and we figured the initial investment on the place be ‘bout thirty thousand, see. That be ten thousand each. Course, there’s a couple of hundred you got to pay so’s you don’t spend your life just waiting for them clowns to let your license get approved -.” Walter mainly wants to invest for himself because he has big plans that would eventually benefit the family. Plus Ruth is wanting to get an abortion and Walter has not said anything about the baby. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “Ruth – (He can say nothing).” Also, Walter and Mama argue quite a bit. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “Mama – I’m going out. I want to go off somewhere and be by myself for a while.” Mama creates issues also. Mama causes controversy in the plot too. Mama makes the big decisions for the family. Mama is the mother of Walter. She is in her sixties, she is a very strong woman. Mama cares about her family’s well-being. She argues with her son plenty of times especially about the money because he wants to invest and she gets annoyed every time he asks about it. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “Did it come?” says Walter, “Can’t you give people a Christian greeting before asking about money?” says Mama”. Mama is not happy that Ruth wants to get an abortion because Mama has lost a baby once before. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “Your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I’m waiting to hear you talk like him and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them- I’m waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain’t going to give up nary another one. . . I’m waiting”. Mama bought a house for the family and is giving some of the money to Walter and Beneatha. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “I paid the man thirty-five hundred dollars down on the house. That leaves sixty-five hundred dollars. Monday morning I want you to take this money and take three thousand dollars and put it a savings account for Beneatha’s medical schooling. The rest you put in a checking account- with your name on it”. In “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry Mama and Walter affect the plot the most in the play. These two character truly show what it was like for a black family to live during the 1940s to the 1950s. Mama and Walter show the struggles in the family.
in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five thousand and we figured the initial investment on the place be ‘bout thirty thousand, see. That be ten thousand each. Course, there’s a couple of hundred you got to pay so’s you don’t spend your life just waiting for them clowns to let your license get approved -.” Walter mainly wants to invest for himself because he has big plans that would eventually benefit the family. Plus Ruth is wanting to get an abortion and Walter has not said anything about the baby. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “Ruth – (He can say nothing).” Also, Walter and Mama argue quite a bit. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “Mama – I’m going out. I want to go off somewhere and be by myself for a while.” Mama creates issues also. Mama causes controversy in the plot too. Mama makes the big decisions for the family. Mama is the mother of Walter. She is in her sixties, she is a very strong woman. Mama cares about her family’s well-being. She argues with her son plenty of times especially about the money because he wants to invest and she gets annoyed every time he asks about it. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “Did it come?” says Walter, “Can’t you give people a Christian greeting before asking about money?” says Mama”. Mama is not happy that Ruth wants to get an abortion because Mama has lost a baby once before. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “Your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I’m waiting to hear you talk like him and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them- I’m waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain’t going to give up nary another one. . . I’m waiting”. Mama bought a house for the family and is giving some of the money to Walter and Beneatha. “A Raisin in the Sun”, Lorraine Hansberry, “I paid the man thirty-five hundred dollars down on the house. That leaves sixty-five hundred dollars. Monday morning I want you to take this money and take three thousand dollars and put it a savings account for Beneatha’s medical schooling. The rest you put in a checking account- with your name on it”. In “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry Mama and Walter affect the plot the most in the play. These two character truly show what it was like for a black family to live during the 1940s to the 1950s. Mama and Walter show the struggles in the family.