Role of Money in a Raisin in the Sun
Hansberry portrays severy characters where the money promises three things: a gift to be kept and fought for at whatever reason, and is a promise for salvation. However, this is not the case as the story unfolds; the younger family often weigh their wish for material wealth against their desire for materialistic items. In the development, the characters seem to choose three abstract ideas: love, dignity, and education- to other favors that hold out promise for money. However, Hansberry asserts that material wealth might be desirable as people may think by dramatizing crises the character undergoes before arriving at a decision. She further shows the sacrifices individuals take for their freedom.
In the beginning, family members behave as if material wealth is so precious that they can be parted with. In the first place, Travis is seen asking for fifty cents from her mother; the petty cash is seemingly for the impoverished Ruth to fall in love blindly. Similarly, the story tells of Beneatha, who seems not to love George Murchin, but now that he comes from a well off family, her family advises her to continue dating as she takes pride in the match. Walter is also seduced by a financial offer from Clybourne Welcoming Committee: according to him, such monetary assistance would enable him to start a business and ultimately be rich. On the other hand, Ruth believes only abortion would be a solution because the unborn child might drain the little money. Consequently, Walter urges his mother to give him about ten thousand dollars to boost his liquor store scheme suggesting the family would reap more benefits from the sales. In essence, the characters depict their occasion lust for material possession( money).
The youngers have to relinquish valuable items every time they are faced with an opportunity of either saving or gaining money. If Travis gets the fifty cents he had asked from his mother, he foregoes furthering education as that would rob him of an opportunity of taking part in classroom lessons. Beneatha is likely to sacrifice her intellectual passion if she settles for wealth George thus spending the rest of her with a man she believes hates books. The younger would have capitulated to a racist demand when she accepts the offer from Clybourne Welcoming committee. The whites do not want to live in an interracial community; they have offered monetary wealth to the younger. According to mama, it would be a form of moral defeat to the younger over Ruth’s money-saving abortion scenario. She further asserts that a family lacks love and energy to care for the newborn member. Money meant to boost Walter’s liquor business could as well serve two purposes: invested in a house for Travis less Lucrative Ideas or be used to pay school feel for Beneatha’s education; nonetheless, mama is in support of Walter’s dream. In the story, does a character hold onto or guiltlessly accepts his or her money.
Among Hansberry’s characters, the rejection seems to be the cause for celebration oftenly. Walter gives his fifty cents to her lover, and Ruth laughs; however, the couples believe that generosity is the right decision. Beneatha announces her rejection of a wealthy man George, but mama does not object, and Beneatha cites several reasons while commenting on her rare instances of material understanding. Walter finally rejects the Welcoming committee’s offer bringing the story to a climax. In the meantime, Ruth and her mother seem to declare their pride in the deeply flawed man. Ruth, to mama’s relief, resorts not to procure an abortion. All of the family members, apart from Walter, are delighted in Travis’s house investment. According to Walter, dignity and wisdom are paramount as far as the family’s decision was concerned. As one turns the easy financial offer down from the story, others tend to applaud their farsightedness and strength.
Surprisingly, in Hansberry’s story, money is turning out to be a villain as far as the younger family case is concerned. In the beginning, one could guess that Ruth and Walter would prefer any cash offer as a blessing. Such assistance would have represented a rare chance for younger stars to abandon the dingy apartment and start a new life. However, as the story unfolds, things are not way as they seemed to be. According to Hansberry, no price is high enough for freedom. Finally, the black characters act contrary to what was expected of them from the beginning. She describes the younger family must defend their right to a sense of self-worth, a loving home, and the right to better education. Their firm stands in protecting these rights as depicted when the whites community is willing to pay them when they abandon such deals. A sense of anger and disgust is conveyed throughout the story. In essence, the family has the right to go against youngers’ wishes as their aspirations are repeatedly deferred.
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