Character Analysis and Themes in A Raisin in the Sun

Walter Lee

The flawed protagonist. Wants to use the insurance money to open a liquor store.

Beneatha

Mama's daughter and Walter's sister. In college, and better educated than the rest of her family. She wants to be a doctor. She has had many hobbies; Afrocentrism is her latest cause.

Mama

Walter and Beneatha's mother. She wants to use the insurance money to get a house in a better neighborhood. She worries about her family falling apart.

Ruth

Walter's wife and Travis's mother. She is caught in the middle of the fight over the money. Discovers she is going to have a baby and considers an abortion.

Travis

Walter and Ruth's young son. Eager to help his family. Plays outside with the rats. Sleeps on the sofa because there is no room.

Joseph Asagai

Nigerian student who is dating Beneatha. Proud of his African heritage, wants Beneatha to return to Nigeria with him.

George Murchison

Wealthy African-American man who courts Beneatha. He ignores his African culture and is becoming absorbed into the white culture, which makes him an assimilationist. He and Beneatha argue about this.

Mr. Karl Lindner

The only white character in the play. Tries to pay the Youngers NOT to move into an all white neighborhood.

Willy Harris

A friend of Walter and coordinator of the liquor store plan. Ruth frequently criticizes him.

Chicago

The setting for A Raisin in the Sun. Specifically, the southside.

Clybourne Park

The white neighborhood where Mama plans to buy a house.

assimilationist

A member of a minority group who tries to blend in with the majority culture.

Chauffeur

Walter Lee's job.

Maid

Mama's job.

Mama's plant

A scraggly, unhealthy plant that symbolizes the unhealthy state of Mama's family, because they live in such a bad environment.

Carrying groceries

What Travis wants to do to help out his family.

Eat your eggs.

Ruth's response when Walter tries to tell her about his dream for a better life.

Lorraine Hansberry

Author of A Raisin in the Sun.

Jim Crow Laws

Laws that restricted the rights of African Americans and enforced segregation.

Insurance policy

$10,000 check coming to the family because of the death of Walter Senior.

A Raisin in the Sun

The first play on Broadway that was written by an African-American woman.

Joseph Asagai's nickname

It means 'One for Whom Bread - Food - Is Not Enough.' It is appropriate because he as well as Beneatha and Walter want more from life than just survival. They want a better quality of life.

Ruth's discovery at the doctor's office

She was pregnant.

Beneatha's attitude towards God

She said she did not accept the idea of God -- 'there is only man and it is he who makes miracles.'

What does Mama say is 'dangerous'?

She says it is dangerous 'when a man goes outside his home to look for peace.'

Where did Ruth actually go instead of the doctor's office?

She went to see a woman about having an abortion.

Why did Mama call Walter a disgrace to his father's memory?

He had become overly concerned with money and had lost his traditional family values, so much so that he didn't try to convince Ruth not to have an abortion.

Why didn't Beneatha want to be a doctor anymore?

She used to think that fixing people's ailments was the best thing to do. Now she thinks that physical ailments aren't the problem of society. People's hearts aren't true. She gives up on the human race and calls them 'puny, small, and selfish.' She sees no human battle worth fighting.

How did Asagai define 'idealists' and 'realists'?

'[Life] is simply a long line -- as in geometry, you know, one that reaches into infinity. And because we cannot see the end -- we also cannot see how it changes. And it is very odd but those who see the changes are called 'idealists' -- and those who cannot, or refuse to think, they are the 'realists.'

What does Asagai ask Beneatha to do?

He asks her to marry him and return to Africa with him to live.

What fault does Mama find with herself?

She says she aimed too high -- had too-high dreams.

What solution does Walter have?

He thinks accepting the money from Lindner will solve their problem.

Why didn't Walter take the money Lindner offered?

Walter is a good, decent man underneath. His conscience and moral upbringing wouldn't let him ruin his family's pride.

Did the Youngers stay or move?

They did move.

Who was Karl Lindner, and why did he visit the Youngers' house?

He was from Clybourne Park Improvement Association. He was calling to ask the Youngers not to move into their white neighborhood. The association members were willing to pay the Youngers not to move in.

What was Walter's reaction to Lindner?

He told him to get out of their apartment.

What presents did Mama get?

She got gardening tools and a hat.

What news did Bobo bring to Walter?

He tells Walter that Willy took all of the money and left without a trace.

How did Ruth find out Walter hadn't been going to work?

Walter's boss called.

Where had Walter been going instead of to work?

He had been driving and walking and watching people.

What did Mama do for Walter?

She turned the remaining money over to him. She said he should use $3,000 for Beneatha's school, and that he could do whatever he wanted with the remainder.

What was Beneatha's family doing when George came in?

Beneatha was in Nigerian dress. Beneatha and Walter were dancing and singing Nigerian songs. They looked rather crazy, and Walter was quite drunk.

What are 'assimilationist Negroes'?

'Someone who is willing to give up his own culture and submerge himself in the dominant, and in this case, oppressive culture.'

What did Mama do with her money?

She bought (made a down payment on) a home.

What was Walter's reaction to Mama's purchase?

Walter was very disappointed.

What was Ruth's reaction to Mama's purchase?

Ruth was elated.

Themes

Identity, Dreams, Justice, Heritage, Prejudice, Self acceptance, Poverty, Sacrifice.

Essential Questions

How do family dynamics play a role in identity formation? How do racial and socio-economic factors play a role in identity formation? How does one's heritage play a role in identity formation? What attributes in one's character are helpful in overcoming obstacles? How do we define our own dreams? What forces impact the pursuit of these dreams?

Secondary Texts

Theme for English B, Every Day Use, A Dream Deferred, Civil Rights Documentary, Every Day Use Film, A Raisin in the Sun Film.

Literary Devices

symbolism, foreshadowing, imagery, characterization, indirect characterization.

Time Period

Civil Rights Movement, 1960's.

Parallels/Contrasts between texts - characters and themes

-Bennie and Walter, George and Asagai, Beneatha and Lucy- finding where they belong in society/ searching for identity.

Work Completed for this

Essay/ Analytical Paragraph, vocab, test, quotation worksheet, characterization worksheet, Chapter Questions.