Money Theme in A Raisin in the Sun (Literary Essay Example)

In most books, money is something that improves life and there is no downside to having it. In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, however, money is shown as something that comes with a give and take. The book begins with the Youngers, a poor family, about to receive a check for 10,000 dollars. This seems like a good thing at first, but in reality, it is a bad thing because it causes disputes since different members of the family want to do different things with the money. Lorraine Hansberry’s play shows how wealth can come with a price, usually a moral one. 

It is said by Ruth many times throughout the play that Beneatha should marry George Murchison because he is rich. However, if she marries George, Beneatha would be setting aside her intellectual passion. “Shallow what do you mean he's shallow? He's Rich!”(Hansberry 48). This quote shows the importance that is placed on money. To Ruth, money is enough to make her see past things like a bad personality. Beneatha on the other hand doesn’t seem to care particularly about money. “but first I'm going to be a doctor”(Hansberry 50). This is an important quote as it shows a critical difference between Ruth and Beneatha. Despite having the option to take the easy way out in life and marry into money, Beneatha shows that she is deadset on becoming a doctor because she cares about helping people, not money. Ruth, however, would have likely married George had she been in Beneatha’s place. This may be because she’s married to Walter and this has changed her because she has had to live in poverty for so long and judging by Walter’s personality, he likely convinced her at one point that he would be rich and buy her anything she wanted. 

In the play, it is shown that a rejection of wealth is actually a good thing. When Walter gives Travis the 50 cents for school, it at first seems like this will cause yet another problem in Walter and Ruth’s marriage but it is shown that it’s actually helpful. “(Looks at him, then warms; teasing, but tenderly) Fifty cents? (She goes to her bag and gets money) Here take a taxi!”(Hansberry 39) This helps strengthen the bond between Ruth and Walter as well as show the reader what type of person Ruth is. When Walter comes back to ask Ruth for money he is nervous and it seems as though he has learned a lesson. Ruth realizes this and despite having the opportunity to mock him or berate him she decides to hand the situation in a joking manner. When Walter rejects money from the Welcoming Committee in the climax of the play it is shown to bring the family together and make them unite. “And we have decided to move into our house because my father my father he earned it for us brick by brick. (MAMA has her eyes closed and is rocking back and forth as though she were in church, with her head nodding the Amen yes)” (Hansberry 148). At this moment Walter sacrifices money for pride which is the right call. After all that has happened to each member of the family and how broken the family is as a whole, money will not fix their problems, only a boost in their morale will, which is what Walter does in this scene. Although money may be able to buy material things it cannot fix emotional problems between people permanently. 

A Raisin in the Sun is very unique. At first, the reader is led to believe that it will be a story about a family that receives money and goes from rags to riches when in reality the story is about a family uniting despite losing so much money and facing so many hardships. Hansberry’s play demonstrates that although money may be useful, oftentimes it can actually be the root of the problem rather than the solution.