Family Dynamics in A Raisin in the Sun

The intricate relationships between family members in A Raisin in the Sun form the core of the play's dramatic tension and thematic exploration. Each character's dreams and conflicts contribute to the overall family dynamic.

Key Relationships:

1. Lena (Mama) and her children:

   • Supports Beneatha's medical school aspirations
   • Worries about Walter's fixation on money
   • Wants her children to maintain religious and moral values

2. Walter and Ruth:

   • Strained by financial stress and differing priorities
   • Walter feels unsupported in his business dreams
   • Ruth struggles to understand and cope with Walter's frustrations

3. Beneatha and her suitors (Asagai and George):

   • Represents her internal conflict between African heritage and American assimilation
   • Highlights her journey of self-discovery and independence

4. The family's relationship with Travis:

   • Symbolizes hope for the future and motivation for the adults' sacrifices

Highlight: The family's conflicts and interactions reflect broader themes of generational differences, racial identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Character Development:

• Walter's journey from frustration to responsibility
• Beneatha's exploration of identity and culture
• Ruth's struggle between personal desires and family obligations
• Lena's adaptation to her children's changing world

Example: The decision about how to use the insurance money reveals each character's priorities and dreams, driving the plot forward.

The family's interactions are characterized by:

• Love and support, despite disagreements
• Tension between individual aspirations and family unity
• The impact of external societal pressures on internal family dynamics

Quote: "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" - Langston Hughes, whose poem inspired the play's title and themes.

Walter Lee Younger: A Complex Protagonist

Walter Lee Younger is a central character in A Raisin in the Sun, embodying the frustrations and aspirations of African American men in 1950s America. In his mid-thirties, Walter works as a chauffeur but dreams of greater success and financial stability for his family.

Highlight: Walter's character represents the struggle between societal limitations and personal ambition, a key theme in the play.

Characterization of Walter in Act 1:

• Desperate and frustrated with his life situation
• Dislikes his job as a chauffeur
• Believes a man's worth is tied to his ability to provide for his family
• Fixated on the idea of owning a liquor store as a path to wealth

Walter's conflicts stem from his intense desire for success and his feelings of inadequacy:

1. Questions his sister Beneatha's dream of becoming a doctor
2. Clashes with his wife Ruth, who doesn't know how to handle his unhappiness
3. Feels his mother favors Beneatha over him
4. Opposes Ruth's consideration of abortion

Quote: "I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy..."

Walter's behavior is characterized by:

• A short temper
• Frequent drinking
• Separation from his family due to his obsession with money

Definition: Characterization is the way an author presents a character's personality, motivations, and conflicts through their actions, dialogue, and thoughts.