Argumentative Essay: A Raisin In The Sun

The play “A Raisin in the Sun'' by Lorraine Hansberry whose title comes from the poem “Harlem” by Langston Huges communicates the story of a poor African American family living on the Southside of Chicago. The household strived to survive in Chicago, which like other towns back in the 1950s suffered enormously from racism and discrimination. At first glance, when the Younger’s family were knowledgeable about the ten thousand dollars check that Mama would receive as Big Walter’s insurance money, each member of the family had their opinions of what they saw fit to do with the money. Unfortunately, each character had different dreams which contradicted one another’s and this threatened the unity of the family. But when Mama used some of the money to purchase a house, the family became united again. Within the short play “ a raisin in the Sun '', Big Walter, a character who doesn’t appear in the play, impacts Mama and Walter lee’s actions, dreams, and character development.  

In the short act a raisin in the sun, Big Walter affects Mama’s actions, dreams, and character development. Within the story, when Mama learned that Ruth was about to abort her baby, she demanded that Walter oppose the idea for Big Walter, his father would have taken the same actions. In the text, Mama asserts “I'm waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we don't give up one baby to poverty and that we ain't going to give up nary another one” page 554. Mama advises Walter Lee to let Ruth keep the baby since Big Walter would have taken the same motive. She specifically uses the words “stand up and look like your daddy” to convey the idea that it is her dream to see Walter Lee grow up and behave just like his father Big Walter. Moreover, she utilized part of the insurance money to purchase a house since she and her husband shared a common dream of owning a house one day. In the text, it mentions “Now when you say your prayers tonight, you thank God and your grandfather 'cause it is him who saved you the house-in his way.” page 561. Mama informs Travis “it was him who gave you the house” because she bought the house with Big Walter’s life insurance money and he would have loved to see his dreams get fulfilled. Equally important, not only did Big Walter alter Mama’s actions and dreams but her character development as well. Towards the end of the play, Mama realizes that, for Walter Lee to be the head of the family just like his father, she has to trust him. On page 565, when handing over the rest of the insurance money to Walter Lee, Mama declares “ I'm putting it in your hands. I'm telling you to be the head of this family from now on like you are supposed to be”. Mama ascertains to Walter Lee that “ I'm telling you to be the head of this family” because she wants him to watch over the family similar to the way Big Walter did. And as such, she entrusted him with the rest of Big Walter’s insurance money as a starting point. She specifically gave him Big Walter’s insurance money because according to Big Walter, through children a black man’s dream is kept alive. This exemplifies the idea that Mama did not only give Walter the money to accomplish his dreams but also to keep his father’s dreams alive. In conclusion, Big Walter influences Mama’s actions, dreams, and character development.

Moreover, Big Walter who doesn’t appear in the short play a raisin in the sun'' did not only influence Mama but rather impacts Walter Lee's dreams, actions, and character development as well. In the play, Walter is filled with bitterness after he learned his mother purchased a house with Big Walter’s insurance money other than giving him the money to pursue his dreams. In the text, the author states “So you butchered up a dream of mine, you-who-always talking about your children's dreams” page 563. Walter tells Mama “you butchered up a dream of mine” because she has used Big Walter’s insurance money which was Walter Lee’s last hope to make his dreams of opening up a liquor store come through. Walter specifically says that “you who always talk about your children's dream” to hurt his mother as deeply as possible since he knows that children's dreams are very important to both Mama and Big Walter. Additionally, when Mama finally entrusts Walter with the rest of the insurance money, he gives it to BoBo and Willy so they can go to Springfield and facilitate documents that will make it possible for him to open up a liquor store. However, when Walter Lee discovered Willy ran away with the money, he broke down into tears because not only are his dreams butchered but he realizes that his father's hard work has gone in vain as well. In the text, he states “That money is made out of my father's flesh” page 575. Walter says that “ That money is made out of my father's flesh” because Big Walter worked himself to death in the cause of the money and he let it go in vain. Walter Lee is extremely filled with deception because he realizes his opportunity to make his dreams come through has been deferred by a loyal one he trusted. Similarly, Big Walter did not only affect Walter Lee’s actions or dreams but influenced his character development as well. Walter Lee’s selfishness and desire for money to construct his dreams shifted towards the end of the play. Money signified life to Walter Lee, But ultimately he rejected Linder’s offer to sell the newly secured house to acknowledge his father for what he did. In the text, he states “we have all thought about your offer and we have decided to move into our house because my father-my fair-he earned it '' page 585. Walter Lee declares that “my father-my fair-he earned it'' because his father worked himself to death striving for the money that was used to buy the house. This exemplifies the idea that Walter Lee declined Linder’s proposal to make Big Walter’s dream of owning a house come through since in the cause of hustling for the family he lost his life. In conclusion, Big Walter affects Walter Lee’s actions, dreams, and character development. 

In summary, Big Walter, a character who doesn’t appear in the short play “a raisin in the Sun'', Influences Mama and Walter Lee’s actions, dreams, and character development. Though Big Walter’s insurance money played a big influence on the characters, his character as a whole impacted their behaviors as well. In the play, Mama wants Walter Lee to be just as caring as Big Walter so he can be the head of the family. Similarly, Walter Lee feels the need to get a job because he realizes the responsibility he needs to take care of, which is why he was desperate to get the insurance money. Although the Younger’s family faced financial issues, the family became more united at the end when they all decided to move into the newly purchased home rather than focusing on personal interests. Although some aspects in life can hinder one's dreams, there is always a different path to follow and achieve other things in life.