A Path of Dignity: Through Racism and Poverty

Comparable to Hamlet is Walter Lee Younger in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Walter reaches the lowest point of his life, losing all of his family's money, respect, and hope to fulfill his dreams. At this moment, Walter must make the ultimate decision that will affect the course of his entire family's life.

Lowest Point

You... you are a disgrace to your father's memory.

Respect

Walter Lee Younger is not a perfect man. Leading up to Walter's lowest point, we see flaws in his character. When Ruby needs Walter the most, when his unborn child needs him the most, Walter runs away. As he walks out the door, Mama lashes out at Walter, calling him a disgrace. Walter, a man whose core motivation is his family, abandons his family when they need him the most.

In addition to walking out on his family, Walter selfishly invests all of the money. Ignoring Mama's orders to put three-thousand dollars aside for Beneatha tuition, Walter loses all six-thousand five-hundred dollars. When Mama hears about Walter's greediness being punished, Mama starts berating Walter. Meanwhile, Beneatha refuses to talk to him, and Ruth does nothing to help him. At Walter's lowest point, all of his actions accumulate and cause his own family to lose respect for him.

You just name it, son... and I hand you the world!

Dream

From the beginning of the play, Walter wants to open up a liquor store. His desire seems to come from his obsession with money. But, the real reward Walter was searching for was not shallow wealth but rather dignity. To be able to provide for his family and more. Walter's true intentions show when he promises his son the world, "You just name it, son... and I hand you the world!" However, the world crushes his every possibility to fulfill his promise by taking away the money made out of his father's flesh.

Context

A Raisin in the Sun takes place in Chicago in the twentieth century. A time where the government enforced Jim Crow laws. Laws that made it impossible to bring people of light and dark skin together. These laws mandated the segregation of white and black Americans in schools, public areas, restaurants, and even drinking fountains. In Chicago, Illinois, Jim Crow laws were in effect to separate a mix of races in a community. It was a time where people openly believed that dark-skinned individuals had less value. It was a time where hope for a better future was too far away to grasp.

While making his decision to sell the house to Lindner, Walter must consider all these conditions. Is it safe for the family to move into an entirely Caucasian community? What appearance does Walter display if he gives in to Lindner's deal? How long until someone steps up to say that enough is enough? If not Walter, then who?

Actions

After making the worst decision of his life, Walter must now make another life-changing decision. Walter must choose whether to sell the home that Mama bought. But that is not the depth of the choice Walter must make. Walter must choose between fulfilling his dreams, or giving his children a chance to do so. Not just Travis, or his unborn baby, but all black Americans who face oppression. In the worst place of Walter's life, Walter sacrifices his desires for everyone else. And thereby, Walter stands firm with dignity.

Conclusion

The version of Walter at the beginning of the play would sell the house to keep his dreams alive. However, through the hardships that he experiences, Walter's strength does not falter. Suffering tireless beatings by the universe, Walter remains steadfast in his search for dignity. At Walter's lowest point, he chooses the path not for his interest but for his family and for the movement against racism. Walter fits under Arthur Miller's description of a modern hero, relentlessly fighting the injustices of the world, regardless of how many times Walter loses. Every time he falls, he gets back up to continue fighting, clinging to even the littlest taste of dignity. When his situation is full of despair, Walter makes the tough decision to help his family. Walter might not be around to see the fruits of his labor, to see equality between all Americans. But, Walter has planted the seed and courageously takes the first step to achieve the goal. Walter's story is a lesson and an inspiration to all, a character who is truly deserving of being called a hero.

References

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun: A Drama in Three Acts. New York: Random House, 1959. A Raisin in the Sun Scene Image