Character Relationships and Conflicts

This page delves deeper into the complex web of relationships and conflicts within the Younger family and their associates in "A Raisin in the Sun".

The family dynamics are illustrated through a diagram showing the connections between characters. Walter Lee and Ruth are married with a son, Travis. Beneatha is Walter's sister, and Lena (Mama) is the mother of both Walter and Beneatha.

Example: The relationship between Walter and Beneatha is particularly strained, with Walter feeling jealous of the money their father left for Beneatha's education.

The play is rife with conflicts, both internal and external. These conflicts often stem from differing values, generational gaps, and the struggle between tradition and progress.

Definition: Generation conflict - disagreements or tension between different age groups, often due to differing values or perspectives.

Key conflicts include:

• Walter and Ruth's marital tension over money and Walter's dreams
• Mama and Beneatha's disagreements about religion and Beneatha's dating choices
• Walter and Beneatha's rivalry over their father's insurance money
• The family's collective struggle against racial discrimination, personified by Karl Lindner

Highlight: Many of these conflicts can be traced back to the family members' unfulfilled dreams and frustrations with their current life situations.

The language in A Raisin in the Sun reflects these tensions, with characters often resorting to yelling, shouting, and provocations during heated arguments.

Character Analysis Techniques

This page provides a framework for analyzing characters in "A Raisin in the Sun" and literature in general. It outlines key aspects to consider when developing a comprehensive character analysis.

1. Personal Data: Include basic information such as name, age, sex, ethnic group, religion, birthplace, home, and nationality.

2. Outward Appearance: Describe the character's physical attributes, including body type, facial features, and clothing choices.

3. Role & Function in Society: Identify the character's social roles, such as their occupation, family position, or community standing.

4. Main Traits/Personality: Analyze the character's dominant personality traits, such as being jealous, kind, shy, aggressive, selfish, or naive.

5. Language: Examine how the character speaks, including their vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and overall communication style (e.g., polite, rude, formal, informal).

Example: Walter's use of informal language and slang contrasts with George Murchison's more educated manner of speaking, highlighting their different backgrounds and values.

6. Actions, Behavior, and Mood: Observe the character's actions throughout the play and how their behavior and mood evolve.

7. Thoughts & Feelings: Analyze the character's inner world, including their motivations, fears, and desires.

8. Relationships with Others: Examine how the character interacts with other characters and how these relationships develop over time.

9. Function in the Story: Determine whether the character is a protagonist, antagonist, main character, or minor character.

Definition: Round character - A complex, multi-dimensional character who undergoes significant development throughout the story.

Definition: Flat character - A simple, one-dimensional character who remains largely unchanged throughout the story.

This framework can be applied to analyze the complex characters in "A Raisin in the Sun", such as Walter, Beneatha, and Mama, to gain a deeper understanding of their roles in the play and their significance to its themes.