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Walter Lee's Dream In A Raisin In The Sun

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this quote represents what Walter Lee, Beneatha, and Lena all had in common, they all three had a dream that they wished to accomplish more than anything, Walter Lee wanted to pursue his dream of opening up his own Liquor Store, Beneatha dreamed of becoming a doctor, and Lena wanted to make her family’s living condition better by purchasing them a house to live in. In the play there were many complications for the Youngers, obstacles that kept them from achieving their dreams. The main thing that kept those dreams alive in the play A Raisin in the Sun was a life insurance check that was to be given to Lena Younger.

Since the very beginning Walter Lee had always wanted to be a businessman, he made it very clear to everyone including his young …show more content…

Walter Lee and her family disapproved of her becoming a doctor as it was not so common for women at the time to be doctors, Walter’s disapproval was reflected heavily when he says “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people- then go be a nurse like other women- or just get married and be quiet…” (Hansberry 38) Hansberry shows with this line what the perception of women was back in the 1950’s , and how it was almost impossible for young black women to achieve their dreams, but Beneatha wanted to pursue her dream whether her education was paid by Mama’s money or not. At the end of the play when she finds out the Walter Lee lost all the money that was supposed to be saved for her future medical education. She finds herself deeply disappointed as well as sad at the fact that Walter might’ve cost her, a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. She felt like giving up on her dream until Asagai makes her realize that her brother losing the money was just an excuse for her to no longer pursue her dream when he tells her “Your brother made a mistake and you are grateful to him so that now you can give up the ailing human race on account of it! ” (Hansberry 135) …show more content…

Now even though Walter’s dream was mostly shattered because of the money he lost Beneatha’s dream of becoming a doctor might come true if she moves to Nigeria with Asagai, and Mama’s dream of having a house for her grandson and her children to live was really the most important dream to have been accomplished. Sometimes we feel like giving up on our dreams because of the obstacles that show up but that doesn't mean we should stop pursuing them because dreams are very valuable, andt as Hansberry showed on the play at the end all that matters is that happiness is present no matter the

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On the contrary, Hansberry’s character Walter within Raisin in the Sun has different dreams than depicted in King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. From the beginning of the play, Walter dreams of being affluent and using Mama’s insurance check for personal gain. For instance, Walter, in scene one, said, “Yeah. You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five thousand and we figure the initial investment to be ‘bout thirty thousand, see.

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He finds his dignity and tells Mr. Lindner that his “son said we was going to move and there ain't nothin left for me to say.” (Hansberry 575). At this point the full depth of his character development is obvious; one can see that he finally turned into a respectable man that cares about his family and their pride. The events in the play changed Walter Lee by growing him into a more honorable man.

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856 Words | 4 Pages

“I have a dream one day this nation will rise up and live up to its creed, we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal. I have a dream” (Martin Luther King Jr). Martin Luther King had a dream to end racism while that dream is pretty much been accomplished but can be better. A Raisin In the Sun is about achieving dreams but the dreams trying to be achieved by Walter Lee Younger and his family. In A Raisin In The Sun, Lorraine Hansberry shows that Walter's Dreams can be achieved in a positive way throughout the book these actions are shown through his interactions with his mom, wife,son, and his whole family.

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This indicates Walter has forgotten just how much this means to his family and that now he has put his own greed ahead of his sister’s future. Thus, the need of money making one forget his families and needs is shown through the climax of A Raisin in the

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811 Words | 4 Pages

In the text “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, the author uses the writing strategy of conflict to develop the central idea of how oneself can become selfish when trying to achieve the American dream. The text shows that the central idea is selfishness because circumstances are presented where various characters fail to take into consideration others while seeking their dreams. For example, Walters says, “ Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ’bout messing round with sick people, then go be a nurse like other women-or just get married and be quiet…. ’’. This example of greed shows that the ambition to obtain a dream brings out the selfishness is true in the instance of Walter.

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1127 Words | 5 Pages

Along, with a want for a better life there is a sense of hope both in King’s speech and Hansberry’s play. “With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of Hope” (King). King exclaims that through all of the bad and ugly there is always a silver lining of hope. Mama Younger has the same view but her silver lining is the actually

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Primarily, Walter Younger is an example of the struggle to achieve the American dream. His dream is to one day own a liquor store, become wealthy and successful a business owner. In other words, his ultimate goal is to provide his family with a better way of life. He hopes for his kids and his wife to have everything they will ever need. “Yes, I want to hang some real pearls’ round my wife's neck.”

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Beneatha’s Dream People have dreams to do or be what makes them happy by setting goals to reach their dream. Dreams are almost like goals that people create in their mind to try to motivate them self to achieve their dream. The American Dream is the idea that everyone who is a U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to be successful and benefit through their hard-work, determination, and initiative. In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha Younger’s dream is to become a doctor and build a career/life for herself without anyone providing for her which connects to the American Dream through her independence, hard-work, and determination.

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Hardships of the Youngers In Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun, the characters of Mama, Walter ,and Beneatha are faced with hardships associated with their dreams being destroyed by discriminatory housing,racial inequality and lack of support from her family towards her education. In the play all the characters have some kind of dream. Mama wants to get a house for the family, Walter wants to have money to provide for his family and plans to do that with a liquor store, and Beneatha wants to become a doctor. Beneatha is going to school and at the same time she’s trying to discover herself,but her family is not supportive of this.

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1123 Words | 5 Pages

In his poem, he asked the question “What happens to a dream deferred?” Raisin in the Sun is an answer to his question. In her play, Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry uses Walter, Mama, and Beneatha to show the negative consequences that occur when you put off your dream. To begin, Lorraine Hansberry uses Walter to show the negative consequences that occur with putting off your dream. Walter Younger is a racist, sexist, selfish, dissatisfied man in his thirties who lives in a small two-bedroom apartment with the rest of his family.

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833 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the 1950s, people of color have struggled with achieving their dreams due to the lack of equality that is portrayed in that specific time era. It has been a constant battle for equality for all races and genders over the course of time. In Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin In the Sun the character Beneatha struggles with her racial inequality, education, and gender stereotyping. These specific struggles are the blocks she deals with trying to achieve her dream.

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1664 Words | 7 Pages

Chicago served as a home to numerous walks of life in the 1950’s, and much of the differences in realities were based on differences in race and people’s opinions of segregation. Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun is based off of real life experiences, and it authentically tells the story of an african american family that strives for equality and The American Dream. Walter Younger, the father of the family, battles with deferred dreams of his own and for his family. Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun and Nina Simone’s song “I Wish I knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” both portray Walter’s emotions throughout his daily struggles with his family as they dealt with segregation and destitution. Money was a large contributor

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793 Words | 4 Pages

Trusting Walter, her son, she mistakenly gave him the money. Mama specifically told Walter to put away some money away for Beneatha Walter's sister. Like Walter Beneatha has big dreams. She wants to go to medical school

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816 Words | 4 Pages

She defies the ideal life for a woman and expresses her opinion loud and clear. Beneatha throughout the play finds herself and her African American roots. Walter does not approve of Beneatha’s hopes to become a doctor he tells her, “If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people---then go be a nurse like other women---or just get married and be quiet. . .” (1.1.125) These social issues that the characters faced in their lives made them out to be the people that they were meant to be.

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466 Words | 2 Pages

In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Loraine Hansberry, both Walter and Mama have great dreams and encounter barriers on the path to achieving their dreams. Walter dreams of owning a liquor store and being able to better provide for his family, a dream that changes when he faces the barrier of his money being stolen by Willy Harris. Mama dreams of living in a real house with a garden and also encounters barrier of her money being stolen by Willy Harris. Walter dreams of owning a liquor store and being able to financially support his family. Walter’s dream is shown in act 1, scene 1 when he explains to Ruth how the liquor store he and his friends are buying will help their family have enough money to do more than just make ends meet (32,33).

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