Examples Of Betrayal In A Raisin In The Sun

Betrayals of A Raisin in the Sun

One simple act of betrayal can break bonds between two people once one dishonors the other. In the play A Raisin in the Sun written by the playwright Lorraine Hansberry the reader witnesses various acts of betrayal from family members and friends throughout the selection based on a black family living in the South Side of Chicago during the 1950s. After Walter finds out Mama has used the insurance money from Big Walter’s death to buy a house he feels as though she has no interest on his dream in life. Mama feels bad so she trustingly gives the rest of the money to Walter. As a result she is expecting him to follow her wishes to put some away for Beneatha’s school funding. Walter betrayed Mama by investing all of the money into his liquor store business he proves this by telling his son Travis “You wouldn’t understand it yet, son, but your daddy’s gonna make a transaction...a business transaction that’s going to change our lives…”(Hansberry 108). He tells his son Travis his good news, and yet he still does not realize the act of selfishness he has committed.

Walter thought that everything was well although something had gone horribly wrong. One of his partners he was working with for the liquor store named Willy Harrison had taken the money and ran off with it. He betrayed the trust Walter Lee and Bobo had for him “What’s the matter with you, Walter! When a cat take off with your money he don’t leave you no road maps!”(Hansberry 128). When Mama finds out her son had used Beneatha’s schooling fund and lost the rest of the insurance money she becomes angry with Walter “ You mean… your sister’s school money… you used that too… Walter?”(Hansberry 129). She trusted him and he abused her