A Raisin In The Sun Critical Lens Essay

When observing the male characters, thematic influences that shape their idea of freedom are status and wealth, from analysis of the text it is evident that it provides the men of these stories with a sense of masculinity and power. Taking a look at Walter’s relation to wealth in A Raisin in the Sun, it demonstrates that he believes that the more leisure and free spending his family has, the more of a man it makes him. When Walter, his mother, and his wife, argue over their spending and finances, Walter states, “Well, you tell that to my boy tonight when you put him to sleep on the living-room couch …Yeah—and tell it to my wife, Mama, tomorrow when she has to go out of here to look after somebody else’s kids” (1.2.191). He is frustrated that his family has to be conscious of their spending, and that they simply cannot just enjoy the finer things in life, like taking taxis or not having to be frugal. Having to live this way is

Both physically and emotionally, there was not much real connection between the pair, and Janie essentially becomes an accessory to his success. Jody’s self-esteem and confidence is based on the fact that people of his town look up to him and adore him as a black man who made himself a strong political career. Jody doesn't want to share this adoration with his wife, to him her only purpose was to dress in heels and hats, like a politician's wife, and to add to his aura machismo and power. In another scene, Janie and Jody get into a public argument in the local store. The fight erupts when Jody belittiles Janie in front of the townspeople because she did not cut his tobacco properly. He continues to put her down and states, “Don't stand dere rollin' yo' pop eyes at me wid yo' rump hangin' nearly to yo' knees!... You ain't no young girl to be gettin' all insulted 'bout yo' looks. You ain't no young courtin' gal. You'se uh ole woman, nearly forty"