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Raisin In The Sun Walter Lee Character Traits

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In the script Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry I picked the character, Walter. This play was commenced in Chicago in the 1950s. Walter, in the end, had a big change throughout the last parts of the script. In the beginning, Walter was all about himself and his business idea, but near the end, he chose to move in the house for the best interests of his son. Furthermore, he realizes he is no better than Willie Harris, who stole money and wrecked their lives. In these next few paragraphs, I will give evidence and explain these shifts in his behavior. Hence, in the opening of the play, Walter's wife needs to talk to him, but he won't listen, "WALTER I’m going out! RUTH Where WALTER Just out of this house somewhere— RUTH (Getting her coat) I’ll come too. WALTER I don’t want you to come! RUTH I got something to talk to you about, Walter. WALTER That’s too bad." ( Act I, Scene …show more content…

When Mama orders Travis to stay upstairs, "MAMA (Opening her eyes and looking into WALTER’S) No. Travis, you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where our five generations done come to. (WALTER looks from her to the boy, who grins at him innocently) Go ahead, son—(She folds her hands and closes her eyes) Go ahead." (Act III, 134) When Mama says this, Walter starts talking and then realizes he would be similar to Willy if he took the money so, "WALTER And we have decided to move into our house because my father—my father—he earned it for us brick by brick...We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors. And that’s all we got to say about that. (He looks the man absolutely in the eyes) We don’t want your money. (He turns and walks away)" (Act III, 147) Near the end of the script, Walter transformed from a selfish man to a selfless

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In the beginning Walter is basically perceived as a jerk-he doesn’t seem to get along with anyone, not even his own family. His character likes to turn discussions into fights, make rude comments to his wife, and act all around immature. A part that accurately shows the way Walter conducts himself is when he is arguing with Ruth and says “Man say: I got to change my life , I'm choking to death, baby! And his woman say- Your eggs is getting cold!”

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This changes him because he realizes that not everything has to go his way. The second example of Walter changing is when he loses the rest of the money. This changes him because he realizes how irresponsible and childish he was acting. The final example of

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He is hitting the white man’s nineteen fifties social ceiling, yet wants to go past that and max out at his own status ceiling. One reason Walter acts the way he acts could possibly be because of his environment, in Act 1 Scene 1, Walter is talking to Ruth about the insurance money and how he wants to invest in a liquor store. Ruth shut him down by saying “ eat your eggs”(Hansberry 1547). Ruth is trying to tell Walter to “walk the line” and do what you have always done, don’t try new things and possibly dig the family into a deep hole, Walter does not like this response from

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After Mr. Lindner told the Youngers his whole speech they sent him away in a fury. In the third act of the play Walter Younger called Mr. Lindner to tell him he needed to talk and need the money he offered them early. Mama tells Walter that his father would not do this because he and his family would find a way to get more money. Walter then chooses to tell Mr. Lindner to leave again because they will come to the house. “And we have decided to move into our house because my father -my father- he earned it for us brick by brick.

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He believes he is “..see[ing] life like it is” (141) in order to rightfully take his place as the head of the family by making this decision for them, regardless of the hope this house brought them all. The rest of the Younger family is disconcerted by this new business deal, and asks Walter if this is what he truly wants and believes is right, to which he responds that he’s “Going to feel fine…[like] a man…” (144). Due to internally knowing he still had prove himself but not physically doing so, Walter’s delicate, false pride in being a man doesn’t allow him to consider how his actions affect

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This shows that he is very stubborn and is not easy to get along with. He says “And you turn mine too, baby! That was my biggest mistake” This quote means he regrets marrying Ruth. This created a big problem between everyone because they don’t like how Walter has started to act upon these conflicts. Walter has a problem with himself in this play due to him not being able to do his best for his family.

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(114-115) By giving up the money, Walter is shown to be spontaneous and quick to trust. He made a quick decision about giving Willy the money, without even thinking about the consequences, which shows his spontaneity and trust issues. He also didn’t even think to put any money away for Beneatha and he just trusted Willy to get the license before actually getting to know him. The play A Raisin in the Sun, shows how Walter settles on a brisk choice to give his Mamas insurance money to the character Willy Harris so he could purchase an alcohol store. Thus, his choice accounts Willy Harris to steal the cash which causes an apathetic temperament in the story and makes lost expectation in the family.

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Although Walter does not deserve the power, the manhood of Walter Lee enables him to “control” the family. Conversely, Beneatha’s talkativeness and her aggressive personality are against how a 1950s African American should act. Ruth asks “Can’t you be a little sweeter sometimes? (Act 1, Scene 1)” to indicate the modest characteristics women should have. Furthermore, Ruth’s decision of abortion at the beginning of the play was unconventional since it was against gender expectation because it is against her duty as a wife and a mother.

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Since nobody thinks it is a good idea, Walter ends up being harsh towards everybody else. In the play, in Act II, Scene I, Walter says, “No he don’t! Excuse me for what? What you always excusing me for! I’ll excuse myself when I needs to be excused!

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Walter states that the Youngers are a calm, good family who “don’t want to make no trouble for nobody,” and are not looking to stir up trouble. All they intend to be is hard working, peaceful “good neighbors” and that give them every right to live in Clybourne Park. Afterwards, Mama, talking to Ruth about Walter, states that, “he finally come into his manhood today,” (151). Walter made his family proud and after much struggle they feel that he has matured. For Mama proudly exclaims that Walter “come into his manhood” by doing the morally right thing “finally.”

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You show where our five generations done come to.” (147). Walter realizes in this moment that the acceptance of the Clybourne Park community’s money to stay out of the neighborhood would highly affect the dignity, hope, and dreams of not only himself, but the rest of his family. From here Walter attempts to explain their family 's pride in being “..very plain people” (147), bringing Travis to his side as he speaks for the whole family rather than only himself. He ultimately states, “.. we have decided to move into our house because my father- my father- he earned it for us brick by brick” (148) implying that they deserve what they 've earned, and a chance to become even more.

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Especially towards his family. “Oh, Walter…(Softly) Honey, why can’t you stop fighting me? WALTER (Without thinking) - Who’s fighting you? Who even cares about you?” Walter was also very stressed and angry about his current situation.

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The main problem Walter deals with in the play is mamas inheritance money from Big Walter ( Their father and Mamas late husband ). Walter wants all the money for himself to open up a liquor store with his friends Bobo and Willy Harris. While mama a devoted christian does not want anything to do with thinking it won’t get her in the pearly gates of Heaven. This causes a lot of arguing in the house Walter saying to mama “ You just don’t understand, Mama, you just don’t understand “ (Page 74) In one of their heated arguments.

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The American Dream has been rooted in the culture of the United States for several centuries now. However, many people do not have access to this dream because of lack of opportunities. As the amount of people in poverty increases each year, the magnitude of the effects of poverty dramatically increases. A shocking 15% of people live in poverty in the United States (Poverty Rates). That means around 45 million people in this country lack basic necessities and economic security.

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Walter’s statement tries to tell the women that he didn’t try to make the world the way it is now. Yes, he wants luxurious items for him and his wife. However, even though he seriously messed up, he’s still the man in the family and will continue to make the decisions for the

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