In A Raisin in the Sun, the characters all have their own dreams that often clash with each other. These dreams cause conflict and division among the characters. The source of their dreams is a ten-thousand dollar check. Walter, Beneath, and Mama Younger all have different dreams that conflict with each other, making it difficult for them to achieve their goals. Mama Younger, who is the mother of Walter and Beneath, has dedicated her life to her children and will do whatever it takes to make their dreams a reality.
She was retired and waiting for her husband’s insurance money to arrive. With the $10,000 check, Mama decided to purchase a house in Clubhouse Park and put some of the money in the bank for Beneath’s medical school. Mama Younger expressed her thoughts, “Some of it has to be saved for Beneath and her schooling, and nothing will touch that portion. Nothing. I have been considering the possibility of meeting the payments on a small two-story house somewhere, with a yard for Travis to play in during the summer. If we use part of the insurance money as a down payment and if everyone contributes, it could work. I could possibly take up some day work again for a few days each week” (Act 1, Scene 1, p. 44). She expected everyone to be pleased with her plans for the money, and they were, except for Walter Younger – Mama’s son. Walter had set his hopes on using the money to invest in a liquor store, and he became upset when he found out his mother had used the insurance money for the house. He believed it was unfair that Beneath received a portion of the money for her medical school while he received nothing for his business.
Mama, who always wanted her son to be happy, ended up giving the rest of the insurance money to Walter including the money for Beneath schooling. Mama Younger said to her son, “And from now on any penny that come out of it or that go in it is for you to look after. For you to decide. It anti much, but it’s all got in the world and I’m putting in your hands. I’m telling you to be head of this family from now on like you supposed to be” (Act 2, Scene 2, Pig. 107). He appreciated the fact that his mother had enough trust in him to follow his dream.
Walter gave the money to his friend, Wily, to help him get his liquor license, but he betrayed him and ran off with the money. Walter’s dreams of owning a liquor store were destroyed, and he regretted not listening to Mama or his sister Beneath. Beneath, on the other hand, focused on becoming a doctor after college. She was upset upon learning that Walter hadn’t saved any of the money Mama gave him for her medical school. Her dreams were shattered by her brother’s actions, leading her to give up on her aspiration of becoming a doctor.
Beneath expressed her frustration, stating, “While I was sleeping in that bed in there, people went out and took the future right out of my hands! And nobody asked me, nobody consulted me – they just went out and changed my life” (Act 3, Pig. 134)! However, Sagas, her friend, reassured her that there was still hope and reminded her that she wouldn’t have had the money if her father hadn’t passed away. Beneath’s dream returned and she also realized that she wanted to marry Sagas and pursue her medical career in Nigeria, Aegis’s homeland.
The ten-thousand dollar check became a hindrance to the dreams and led to conflict among the characters. Despite the money-related conflicts within the Younger family, it served as motivation to pursue their aspirations. It allowed them to escape feelings of hopelessness and embark on a fresh start in a new home. Despite the challenges of starting over and dealing with a discriminatory neighborhood, they viewed it as an opportunity for a fresh beginning. The play demonstrates that determination is required to hold onto dreams and attain success.
