ipl-logo

A Raisin In The Sun Dignity Analysis

667 Words3 Pages

A Raisin in the Sun
Dignity is the most important thing to Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry. While in the beginning, Walter states that “Life is money,” by the end, he seems to value his dignity more. Throughout the play, he wants, more than anything, to be an owner of a liquor store. He soon decides, however, that it’s more important for his family to have dignity, than to give in to what society expects of them.
In the beginning, Walter and Ruth get into an argument on how Ruth never listens to what Walter has to say. Ruth replies, “You ain’t never say nothing new.” Meaning all Walter ever talks about is money. When the money’s going to arrive, why he can’t use it, and what’s wrong with owning a liquor store. All he ever thinks about is how he can gain from …show more content…

Linder, from the Welcoming Committee, and say that they will take the money and not move into the house. However, as Angela Merkel, a German stateswoman and chancellor puts it, “When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises.” His choice is to plead with Mr. Linder for the money, losing the dignity he has and that of his family’s, or move into the house, despite not being wanted by the community, but still being able to hold his head high, knowing he and his family worked to be there and deserve it. Walter’s going to beg for the money and tells Travis, his son, to leave the room. Mama, however, says no. She states, “No. Travis you stay right here. And you make him understand what you’re doing Walter Lee. You teach him good like Willie Harris taught you. You show him what our five generations done come to. Go ahead son-.” Because Travis stays, Walter is able to realize what he’s doing and how it disgraces him and his family. He realises that this is not what he wants to teach his son about life. In the end, he turns down Mr. Linder once again, deciding to work to stay in the house that they

Show More
Related
778 Words | 4 Pages

He finds his dignity and tells Mr. Lindner that his “son said we was going to move and there ain't nothin left for me to say.” (Hansberry 575). At this point the full depth of his character development is obvious; one can see that he finally turned into a respectable man that cares about his family and their pride. The events in the play changed Walter Lee by growing him into a more honorable man.

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

This indicates Walter has forgotten just how much this means to his family and that now he has put his own greed ahead of his sister’s future. Thus, the need of money making one forget his families and needs is shown through the climax of A Raisin in the

Read More
1130 Words | 5 Pages

In Lorraine Hansberry’s “Raisin in the Sun” Act 3 Walter has seized the hero role and he displays a lot of pride. Walter is starting to understand that he has to stand up for what he believes in and not everything is about money. “And we have decided to move into our house because my father-my father-he earned it for us brick by brick”(1933). Walter turns down the Clybourne Park Association 's offer only after he remembers the roots his family has in America, and the rights that they deserve. He wants to set a strong example for his son, Travis, just like his father did for him.

Read More
973 Words | 4 Pages

Mama made a decision that put Walter in charge of the remaining money, however she did not know that this decision might not have been the best for the Younger family. Walter was hesitant in taking the money, but Mama reassures Walter by saying, "I ain't ever stop trusting you" (Hansberry 546). This line from Mama foreshadows the possibility that Walter will not obey her and do something foolish with the money. Walter proves this foreshadowing as he is talking to Travis and says, "... your daddy's gonna make a transaction... a business transaction that's going to change our lives" (Hansberry 547).

Read More
676 Words | 3 Pages

She lets Walter control how to spend the rest of the money. Walter decides that he has a better idea. He gives all of the money to a buddy, who is supposed to obtain a liquor license, however, his buddy never gets one. Walter later admits to his family that he never put the money away for his sister's schooling and had lost it all. With all that had happened, Walter’s wife, Ruth, is not considering aborting her

Read More
1375 Words | 6 Pages

Mr. Lindner is a character in A Raisin in the Sun that tries to prevent Walter Lee and his family from moving into a neighborhood that is against the idea of anyone moving in that isn’t a rich, white, Christian family that fits their perception of acceptable. So Mr. Lindner offers a Faustian deal of trading the pride of the family for money and originally Walter Lee is against it like the rest of his family. But the second that he loses what he wants he reconsiders the deal with no regard for his family and what they

Read More
1414 Words | 6 Pages

Walter goes into immediate denial, making excuses for where Willy, their second business partner, could be with the money. He continues on until he realizes “THAT MONEY IS MADE OUT OF MY [HIS] FATHER’S FLESH-” (128) and he had lost it all; he felt he lost his chance of pursuing a better life now that he had even lost his father’s support. His false pride is severely injured up until he is struck with an idea which he believes could save the family. He abruptly calls Mr.Lindner, who he had originally turned away, and tells him to come by because he wants to take his offer of being paid to not move into the new house.

Read More
213 Words | 1 Pages

Liberal ideology believe that the government is the best entity to ensure justice, equality as well as create opportunities for America. Liberals strive to protect individual’s rights, but allow the government to interfere in the social and economic aspect in American families. Liberals tend to focus on the reason criminals commit crimes, and contribute crime to poverty, unemployment, poor education as well as unequal opportunities. Liberals believe that most of the law enforcement community is focused on the poor and disqualified, and prejudices apply in the criminal justice system.

Read More
861 Words | 4 Pages

Although Walter eventually does the morally correct thing he still has bad morals. Walter does the right thing by standing up to Lindner. When Lindner actually arrives and Walter is about to disgrace himself and the black community by begging Lindner for the money he can’t do it. Instead he says, “We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors.

Read More
1487 Words | 6 Pages

Linder understands that their family has enough self-worth within themselves to move in and uphold their family name without consent from others. In knowing this, Lindner leaves letting Walter use the pride in his family as who they are, carry them to reaching

Read More
826 Words | 4 Pages

When you have money how do you act? Many people in the world believe that being rich and having good money defines what kind of person you are. Money should not identify the kind of person you are. In A Raisin in the sun the character Walter really wants money to help him and not his family, but it should never be like that family should go first.

Read More
809 Words | 4 Pages

Being the man of the household, Walter dreams of owning a liquor store and plans on using Lena’s money to do so. Walter is always after money and believes that the only way to succeed in life is with money. For example, when Walter is talking about the check, he says, “Mama, sometimes when I’m downtown and I pass them cool, quiet-looking restaurants where them white boys are sitting back and talking about things, turning deals worth millions of dollars, sometimes I see guys don’t look much older than me” (992).This shows how Walter wanted something more out of life and not just be a poor black man. Everyone in this family had dreams but no one supported each other dreams.

Read More
1664 Words | 7 Pages

Walter wants to be free from the family’s low income lifestyle, and becoming rich is Walter’s extrinsic motivation to live. Mama said to Walter, “Son-how come you talk so much ‘bout money?” Walter responded with immense passion, “Because it is life, Mama!” Walter looks at life, and like a bride sees through her wedding vail, Walter sees through money lenses. He sees his father’s money as a possibility in a world that revolves around a minimal supply of money.

Read More
466 Words | 2 Pages

In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Loraine Hansberry, both Walter and Mama have great dreams and encounter barriers on the path to achieving their dreams. Walter dreams of owning a liquor store and being able to better provide for his family, a dream that changes when he faces the barrier of his money being stolen by Willy Harris. Mama dreams of living in a real house with a garden and also encounters barrier of her money being stolen by Willy Harris. Walter dreams of owning a liquor store and being able to financially support his family. Walter’s dream is shown in act 1, scene 1 when he explains to Ruth how the liquor store he and his friends are buying will help their family have enough money to do more than just make ends meet (32,33).

Read More
779 Words | 4 Pages

In the play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, there are many examples of sexism throughout its entirety. The character, Walter, demonstrates the acts of a sexist human being. Walter is sexist to not only women in general, but to the women in his family. Not taking into consideration of other people’s sayings and their feelings, Walter generally only thinks about himself, says what he believes, and truly only cares about money. Walter constantly is fighting with all of the women in the family as well.

Read More

More about A Raisin In The Sun Dignity Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document