A Dream Deferred in A Raisin in the Sun

In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, the title refers to what can happen to a dream deferred. The main characters in the book were Beneatha Younger, Walter Lee, Ruth Younger, Karl Lindner, Joseph Asagai, and Lena Younger. The story spoke mostly about an African American family who struggled with many aspects of hardship. Walter Lee’s father was murdered he left them a really big insurance check for the family, what they don’t know is how that check was about to make them go through a lot.

They each started having different dreams and wish to accomplish.

In raisin in the sun, Beneatha dreams of being a doctor and struggles to determine who she is as a black woman. She goes through a lot with her mother being upset with her for not believing in god. Mama: “Course you going to be a doctor, honey, God willing.” Beneatha: “God hasn’t got a thing to do with it.

” Mama: “Beneatha that just wasn’t necessary.” Beneatha: “Well neither is God. I get sick of hearing about God.” Mama is a big believer in god and she tries her best to make her children all believers of god as well, but Beneatha believes god gets too much credit for the things she works hard for to get herself. Mama is the complete opposite she gives all credit to god her strengths, heart, and soul.

“I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy.” Walter Lee had a dreams that were way too big for him to accomplish without the help he needed for it.

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Mama “Yes, a fine man just couldn’t never catch up with his dreams, that’s all.” Walter was never able to make his dream come to reality but he still had hopes that his children’s had a chances to see theirs come true. Walter Lee was married to Ruth Younger, they went through a lot he lived with his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and his mother Lena in a small, one family apartment in the southside of Chicago. Walter Lee had a dream just like the rest of the family but his dream hurt him and the family. Both Beneatha’s dreams of medical school and Walter’s dreams of being a business owner are ruined by Walter’s bad business dealings with Willy Harris. Walter Lee let his crazy dreams get the best of him and his family and he ruined Beneatha’s as well.

“Mama, something is happening between Walter and me. I don’t know what it is but he needs something, something I can’t give him anymore.” Walter was really sad in this period of time at himself and he’s taking it out a on everyone around him. Ruth was scared of what would happen to her and Walter if he doesn’t get the chance to accomplish his dream. Ruth also had her own dream, Ruth’s dream was that she wanted to build a happy family and wants to live in a bigger and better home. Just like the rest of her family members money is the problem. Walter Lee’s dream got in the way of his life, made him be mad at himself and with that anger he took it out on the rest of his family.

“You just can’t force people to change their hearts, son.” Karl Lindner was the only white character he’s from Clybourne Park Improvement Association. Karl Lindner wanted the family to not to move to his all white neighborhood. Karl Lindner said them moving to Clybourn is a bad look on the people that live there because, “The current residents are all white, working-class people who do not want anything to threaten the dream that they have for their community.” By him asking that he’s also asking if they could abandon their dreams. Walter tells Mr. Lindner “That they will not accept the offer and urges Mr. Lindner to leave immediately.” Walter was mad that Mr. Lindner came to the home and said what he said he also offered more money than they were to pay for the house but then that was for not moving to Clybourne Park. You can’t make everyone have a good image on who you are but you shouldn’t give up on getting what you want.

‘Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile.’ Mama sacrificed so much but everything Mama did was for the future generations. “When the world world gets ugly enough a women will do anything for her family, the parts that’s already living.” When Mama said that quote she was talking to Walter she doesn’t want her family to suffer more than they already do. So Mama thinks, a woman’s main job is to make sure the future of her existing family is for certain, even if it means sacrificing other lives. Ruth wanted to have an abortion and Walter wasn’t stopping her but Mama said to Ruth and Walter that they are giver’s of life not takers. Mama was 100% against abortion she didn’t believe in it. Your kids are your future so you have to cherish them and be grateful. Mama’s life’s dreams were not for herself but for her family’s future generations, and she wants Ruth and Walter to do the same. When you are a parent you might have to sacrifice your dreams for your children and family just like what Mama did.

As Walter was a the lowest point he could be in his life he loses all the insurance money he got from his father because Willy Harris ran off with his and Beneatha’s money. He knew he disappointed his mother, he was so hurt and was so guilty for what he did that he calls Mr. Lindner and says he’s family would take the money they offered not to move into the new neighborhood. When Mr. Lindner comes Walter says “We are very proud people.” Walter tells Mr. Linder that his family will not stop to the threats of racial violence, and that they will move into their new home on Clybourne Street because their father earned it. When Walter rejected the offer, the family it was like that was the thing that gave them hope and brought them back together made everyone happy again. “He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain.” Mama said that to Ruth saying he finally put his family’s future first and speaks for the family as one like a family leader should do. Walter Lee put most things back to place in that last scene everyone had hope again. They let things get in the way of the family but at then end Walter redeemed himself as a family leader and brought the family’s dreams and hopes back up.