Flawed Heroism Of Walter In A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

Graham Clelan Garbutt English 9 GT 4 April 2024 The Flawed Heroism of Walter in A Raisin in The Sun In A Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Walter is an anti-hero because, while he has good intentions, he makes unfavorable and wrong decisions. When Walter’s family, the Youngers, inherit life insurance money from his father’s death, Walter wants to use that money to invest in a liquor store. Walter’s wish defies the rest of his family wishes as they want to put the money toward a new house and an education for Walter’s sister, Beneatha. After Walter takes some of the money, including Beneatha’s school money, he invests it with his sketchy friends. One of the friends takes the money and disappears and his Mom furiously questions him asking,

Despite intending to improve his family’s financial situation, he disregards their collective desires and ends up losing money that wasn’t his in the first place. This decision highlights Walter’s flawed judgment and contributes to his attributes that make him an anti-hero because his actions bring up negative consequences despite their intentions. Later in the story, the family is planning to move into a neighborhood despite it being primarily white people. Walter and his family are told that they are not wanted in the neighborhood because they are black. A committee within the neighborhood offers them money to not move into the house, but the Youngers know that taking that money would be giving into the idea that they are inferior. However, since the family has no money, Walter sets up a meeting with the man from the neighborhood and plans to accept this money. He tells his mom his plan that he has already put into motion and he talks about how he is “‘Gonna put on a show for the man. the man came here today and he told [them] that [the] people out there where [he wants them] to move - well [they’re] so upset they are willing to pay [them] not to move’” (Hansberry