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Reality In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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When Dreams Meet Reality The United States was believed to be a prosperous time for all American citizens in the 1940s. However, this was a dream that could not be farther from the truth. There are two plays that are set in the 1940s that show the truth of the era. The first play is titled A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The second is the Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Through these plays, people can live and understand the reality of what is perceived to be the American Dream. Walter Lee is one of the main characters from A Raisin in the Sun. His goal was to be able to make enough money to provide for his entire family. This includes his wife, Ruth, son, Travis, sister, Beneatha, and mother, Lena. He was a chauffeur for wealthy white men and absolutely hated it. After his father passed away, his mother received ten thousand dollars due to his life insurance policy. Walter wanted to take all of the money to start a liquor business with two other men. However, one of the men, stole all of his money. Walter’s attempt to do what he believed was best for his family left him broken and lost after it backfired on him. At left we ca see …show more content…

He did what he believed was going to make that a reality, however it just hurt the family more. Willy Loman is a character from the Death of a Salesman. He has a similar problem in life. He believes he is the best salesman in the New York area. In reality, Willy was a below average and unknown salesman. His son makes this known to the readers when he says “You were never anything but a hard-working drummer who landed in the ash can like all the rest of them” (Miller 98). Willy worked his entire life to provide for his family. In fact, the greatest sale he made was when he “sold” his life so that his family would receive twenty thousand dollars through his life insurance policy. Walter and Willy both had aspirations of providing for their

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Walter thought that everything was well although something had gone horribly wrong. One of his partners he was working with for the liquor store named Willy Harrison had taken the money and ran off with it. He betrayed the trust Walter Lee and Bobo had for him “What’s the matter with you, Walter! When a cat take off with your money he don’t leave you no road maps!”(Hansberry 128). When Mama finds out her son had used Beneatha’s schooling fund and lost the rest of the insurance money she becomes angry with Walter “ You mean… your sister’s school money… you used that too… Walter?”(Hansberry 129).

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The American Dream is a byproduct of pride that is shown in the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, and in the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. In A Raisin in the Sun, the play follows a black family’s struggle to achieve their American Dreams to fruition. Walter Lee Jr. is the head

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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.

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He wants to be a businessman and own a liquor store. He wants to be able to provide for his family and give them what they have never had. Walter also wants to take his mother’s position as the head of the house and make the financial decisions for the family. Walter can be seen as selfish as instead of putting the money for him and his sister in the bank he uses it all and loses it trying to fulfill his own dreams with no regard to his sister’s dreams or the rest of the family’s.

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1414 Words | 6 Pages

Walter goes into immediate denial, making excuses for where Willy, their second business partner, could be with the money. He continues on until he realizes “THAT MONEY IS MADE OUT OF MY [HIS] FATHER’S FLESH-” (128) and he had lost it all; he felt he lost his chance of pursuing a better life now that he had even lost his father’s support. His false pride is severely injured up until he is struck with an idea which he believes could save the family. He abruptly calls Mr.Lindner, who he had originally turned away, and tells him to come by because he wants to take his offer of being paid to not move into the new house.

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However, Willy does not see Walter the same way, as he betrays Walter and runs off with his money. This is a prime example of Walter being kept from his American Dream, because his investment was taken away. Walter whimpers “Man … I trusted you … Man, I put my life in your hands …” (101). Walter gave all he had for this dream, Willy Harris took all Walter’s money for his own; therefore Willy Hariss took Walter's American Dream.

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That money was the core of all the dreams in the younger family, and now it is gone. Walter Younger is the irresponsible person in the family. Walter is irresponsible because“… [He] ain’t been to work for three days! ”, according to Ruth. Walter has been skipping work and going to a bar to drink instead of following his responsibilities. Walter

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In A Raisin in the Sun, a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, the audience was able to obtain a sense of the struggle for the American dream. We are introduced to the Youngerś a black family living in the Southside of Chicago around the 1950’s. Each member of this family has their own meaning to what is the American dream. A Raisin in the Sun teaches us that even though life might be full of conflicts, it is important to not give up on our dreams.

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