Lena (Mama) Younger: The Family Matriarch

Lena Younger, also known as Mama, is a central figure in A Raisin in the Sun. At around 60 years old, she embodies the older generation's values and dreams, playing a crucial role in the family dynamics.

Lena's Key Characteristics:

• Widowed, having lost her husband Big Walter
• Deeply religious and family-oriented
• Dreams of owning a house with a garden
• Protective and loving towards her grandson Travis

Highlight: Mama's character represents the importance of family unity and the pursuit of the American Dream in the face of racial discrimination.

Lena's actions and decisions drive the plot:

1. Supports Beneatha's medical school ambitions
2. Buys a house in a white neighborhood with the insurance money
3. Gives Walter the remaining money, trusting him to make the right decision

Conflicts arise from Lena's traditional values clashing with her children's modern aspirations:

• Worries about Walter's obsession with money
• Disapproves of Beneatha's lack of faith
• Opposes Ruth's consideration of abortion

Quote: "There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing."

Lena's behavior is characterized by:

• Strong moral convictions based on her faith
• Unwavering love and support for her family
• Willingness to make sacrifices for her children's future

Definition: Characterization through action occurs when a character's personality and motivations are revealed through their decisions and behaviors in the story.

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.