How Does Walter Give Up In A Raisin In The Sun

Vidur Jain
Ms. Grande
Academic English I
9 February 2023

A famous American professional boxer, Muhammed Ali, once said, "You don't lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down." This quote states that they encounter many difficulties trying to achieve their dreams, but they should keep on trying until they succeed. In the play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Mama, and Walter never give up, even though they face many obstacles in pursuing their dreams. Many African-Americans struggled to financially support their families mainly due to the racial discrimination they faced in their society, whereas Mama and Walter continued to struggle attempting to achieve their dreams due to various factors in society. Despite all this,

Hansberry illustrates the idea that they should not give up on their dreams and goals despite the inequalities they face, as Walter and Mama work tirelessly to achieve their dreams and overcome the injustice of society.
Walter initially dreams selfishly, disregarding others' thoughts, but then he realizes his mistakes and becomes selfless. As a lower-class male, Walter feels that the only way to provide for his family is to "make a transaction .. . a business transaction that’s going to change [their] lives"(108). Family members such as Mama don't want Walter to start his business as she doesn't "want that on [her] ledger this late in life"(42). Even though Walter wants to start a business that provides for his family, Mama strongly disagrees with his idea as selling liquor to people is against her beliefs. Due to this decision, there are continuous arguments between Mama and Walter regarding the liquor store. Eventually, Mama agrees with Walter and lets him put the money "in a checking account with [his] name on it"(107). Mama trusts Walter to spend the money wisely and she thinks he is capable of becoming the "head of this family from now on like [he's] supposed to be"(107). Mama shows extreme confidence in Walter by trusting him to properly use the allotted money.