A Raisin in the Sun: Walter Lee Younger Character Analysis
“You name it son… and I hand you the world” – A Raisin in the Sun analysis Lorraine Hansberry
This was Walter Younger’s way of sharing his dreams with his son, Travis. In Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” a constant theme of hoping for better and a new life kept coming into play. Throughout the play, it is quite obvious that most characters would like to have a little more in life, but I think this theme is best shown through Walter.
Walter Lee Younger is a middle-aged, African-American male who works as a chauffeur. He had been doing so for many years and was not very fond of it.
This was Walter Younger’s way of sharing his dreams with his son, Travis. In Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” a constant theme of hoping for better and a new life kept coming into play. Throughout the play, it is quite obvious that most characters would like to have a little more in life, but I think this theme is best shown through Walter. Walter Lee Younger is a middle-aged, African-American male who works as a chauffeur. He had been doing so for many years and was not very fond of it.
He lived in a very small home with a crowded amount of people and was also tired of that. “ Mama- I don’t need no nagging at me today”. Walter was a hard working man who had big dreams. He planned to go into business with a couple of his friends running a liquor store in town. He was going to do so with the insurance money the family was going to get because of the death of their father. Although most of the household was against Walter and his plans, he continued to try to persuade Ruth and Mama to just trust him and let him use the insurance money. The continued to doubt and ignore Walter.
During the play, Walter at times mentions to others about his plans and visions; “Listen, man, I got some plans that could turn this city upside down”. At this time Walter tries to share with George his plans about the liquor store. But, before he even starts, the two get into a slight argument because Walter is offended by George’s uptight behavior. Walter wanted to be in control of the entire ten thousand dollars that the family got from the insurance company. But Mama, Ruth, and Benny all had other plans. Instead of investing in a liquor store, Mama, Ruth and Benny were all in favor to get a house with the insurance money.
By doing so they would be moving away to a somewhat better neighborhood, where they would have more space for the family and a better lifestyle. Also, getting a house, part of the insurance money would have been put away for Beneatha’s schooling. Everybody hoped for something better. But Walter had it all planned out and wanted more for himself and more importantly, his family. “ Just tell me where you want to go […] Whatever you want to be […]” . These were the words of Walter as he assured his son that he would be able to have, go, and do as he wanted by the time he was seventeen.
Throughout the play Walter seemed very ambitious and persistent to accomplish what he had planned. Although Walter’s plans didn’t go as he had planned, things still did work out for the better of him and his family. Instead of taking the money from Lidner, Walter decided to sacrifice his dreams move into the new house. He realized that his family was more important than the plans he had, and that moving into the new house was the best move for him and his family. The new house was a sign of a new and hopefully better life.
