Walter- A Raisin in the Sun

In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter faces many challenges. From the beginning, the stressful lifestyle the family lives is evident. The family is obviously struggling and is not very well off. The always present knowledge of the check they will receive only causes more problems. Walter has his own dreams and believes that because he is the man of the house, he should be able to decide what to do with the money. His idea of a smart investment turns out to be a scam and he loses all the money. I think that this horrible experience actually helped Walter to grow. He may lose all the money, but in the end, it is him who keeps the family together. He stands up against the white man in order to preserve his families honor. He also has the ulterior motive of his son. He knows that if he gives in and acts like a coward, he will be failing to show his son how "a real man" acts. In the end, he steps up and becomes a man for the family.

Realistic vs. Nonrealistic- A Raisin in the Sun

I thought that this play employed mostly realistic conventions. The dynamics of the family are realistic in that the family is not perfect and they fight often. The dialogue between them is realistic for the financial situation they have been put in. Their dreams of a better life and the eventual failure in achieving some of these dreams is also realistic. People will often be disappointed in their dreams just as Walter was with the liquor store and Benethea was with her dream of going to medical school. The dangers that the Younger's face because of racism and struggling equal rights are also realistic for the time they lived in. African American families were still fighting for their rights and were treated just as the Younger family was. In the end, the play was extremely realistic and their were little to none nonrealistic parts.

Themes in A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun has many themes which are expressed throughout the entire play. One theme which I noticed was the pursuit of the American dream and the struggle which comes along with it. The Younger family is the perfect example of a family which is struggling to reach the "American Dream" They are always looking to reach bigger and better things in life. This starts with Walter's outlandish dream to open up a liquor store with money that he just doesn't have. He ends up wasting the little money his family inherited on his dream which he thought would get him rich. Mama is also trying to achieve the American dream when she buys the house for her family to live in. The importance of family and the dysfunctional tendencies of a family are also highlighted in this play. While the family ends up seemingly okay in the end, there are many times when they struggle just as a normal family does. They fight and disagree many times, but in the end, they pull together for the good of the families honor.