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A Raisin In The Sun Mama's Maturity

Decent Essays

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry centers on the Youngers, an African American family in the late 1950s, and the struggles they all individually endure in the racist, sexist society they live in. Walter Lee Younger, “man of the family,” seemingly struggles the most throughout the course of the play. Walter constantly reverts to the mindset like that of a teenager, or even a child. Although, Walter is the only living male in the Younger family, he never truly is the man of the house. Mama relentlessly reminds her children, Beneatha and Walter, of the hierarchy that takes place, and how she is the sole monarch. Mama slowly begins to believe that she is to blame for Walter’s immaturity due to her refusal to cede the position of head of the family to him for so long. The deficiencies in Walter’s character, whilst partially Mama’s doings, are due to his own trusting nature, selfishness, and drive for success. To begin with, Mama has never given Walter the opportunity to grow up on his …show more content…

Walter invests all the money Mama inherited from the passing of her husband into his new business endeavors. Unfortunately, Walter’s business partner, Willy Harris, did not have any intentions of using Walter’s money for business purposes. Willy Harris vacates town with all of Walter’s money, leaving him with nothing but broken dreams. Walter was too blinded by his visions of prosperity to see through Willy’s lies. “I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy…Mama – look at me” (1.2.222). Walter’s desire to make something out of his life causes him to make irremediable choices. Walter acts simply on impulse, which severely butchers the well-being of his family. By acting upon such impulses Walter represents the thinking process of a teenager, thinking only of himself, and not acknowledging the repercussions that can be bestowed upon the entire Younger

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