How Does Walter Show Masculinity In A Raisin In The Sun

Exploring Walter’s Understanding of Masculinity in A Raisin in the Sun

Ernest Hemingway, a Nobel Prize winner, argued that “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. This is something that Walter Younger learns throughout the play. Walter, a young man living in the Southside of Chicago has an all too common perception of manhood. Living in a snug house with three other women and a son, causes Walter to want to prove his masculinity. Especially, to his son Travis. Walter has a loving wife, Ruth, and he lives with his mother and sister additionally. He and the women in his family are constantly in conflict. This causes much tension for the entire family. The conflict is

Being the only grown man in a family of five has always contributed to Walter’s perception of manhood. He believes that he, as a man, should be chasing his dreams and becoming an entrepreneur. Therefore, the women must stay back in the house and take care of everything else. He highlights this belief by saying “That is just what is wrong with the colored woman in this world…Don’t understand about building their men up” (Hansberry 32). Since it’s the 1950s, Walter feels the need to assert himself in a room full of women. Walter believes that women, especially Black women, should be there solely to support their husbands. He believes that as a man, he should have his liquor store and be a successful entrepreneur while his wife sits back and supports him. His ideas about white women versus Black different are very different. Despite being a Black man himself, he believes that white women are

He especially wants to prove this to his son, Travis. When Walter finds out that Mama put aside money for him to purchase the liquor store, his mood is immediately lightened. Travis enters the room and jumps to the conclusion that Walter is inebriated again. So, he asks Walter if he is drunk. Surprisingly, Walter responds with “ No, Daddy ain’t drunk, Daddy ain’t going to never be drunk again…” (Hansberry 107). This is him letting his guard down to his son and showing his dedication. His relationship with his son changes his perception of manhood. Instead of being upset that he immediately assumed that he was drunk, he promised to Travis that he would no longer drink. This concept of opening up was never prevalent at the beginning of the play, as men having feelings was taboo at the