In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun there is a constant appearance and discussion of money. Throughout the duration of the play, we see a constant struggle for the Youngers centered around money. They never really had money to begin with, so they all admire money and yearn to be something successful, but everything circles back to finances. In many cases money brings hope and prosperity to their family and future but also causes the demise of people and relationships.
There are many positive and negative connotations attached to money throughout the story. One negative aspect is the relationship between Mama and Walter. With the check coming in Walter starts to go crazy. He cannot handle that he has no control over the money and what gets done with it. Not only does this show how money can make a person insane but it shows the struggle for masculine power. In the dialogue between Walter and Mama when speaking about the check Mama states “Son- how come you talk so much ‘bout money?” Walter replies, “Because it is life, Mama!” and Mama rebuttals “Oh- so now its life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life-now it’s money. I guess the world really do change…” (Hansberry 74). This conversation, especially in the film, shows a lot about both characters. Walter at this point is completely consumed by the idea of money. He thinks it is the only way and has lost sight of his family, values, and morals. Mama is upset that her son has become so ignorant and cannot enjoy what he has which is freedom and a healthy family rather than chasing money. Their relationship begins to become uneasy because of the idea of money and the future.
Additionally, another aspect where money is seen as evil is when Mama presents Walter with the remaining check. Mama puts her trust and everything she has left into her son to give him confidence and sustainability. She gives up a piece of herself when she hands this check over to him and he completely overrides it. This shows how money can physically tear a relationship. He is so selfish and does not put aside the $3000 for Beneatha’s schooling like he is told and goes to open a liquor store which is exactly what his mother told him not to do. This all goes back to him having such an ego thinking he knows best and wanting to be the “man of the house.” These events all lead to the turmoil of Walters character. Hansberry states “(Turning madly, as though he is looking for Willy in that very room) Willy! Willy! Willy!…don’t do it …please don’t do it…Man, not with that money…Man, please, not with that money…Oh, God…Don’t let it be true… (he is wandering around, crying out for willy, and looking for him or perhaps help from God) Man… I trusted you…man, I put my life in your hands… (he starts to crumple down to the floor as Ruth just covers her face in horror. Mama opens the door and comes into the room, with Benetha behind her) Man… (He starts to pound the floor with his fists, sobbing wildly) THAT MONEY IS MADE OUT OF MY FATHERS FLESH-” (Hansberry 128). This scene speaks a lot of volume. All around we see Walter going insane over this money. He is speaking to people who are not present, punching things and throwing a fit like a child all because of money. This money is completely consuming his mind and actions and taking over his life. Also, this shows how he failed his father’s legacy and how he experienced self-pity from that as well because he was unable to provide better for his family. His masculinity, morals, mind, and relationships with his family were all ruined from the existence of this check.
Moreover, money in this play can also been seen as a savior and hope. The youngers never had anything much, so they always wanted better. The only way in that day in age to be something more seemed to be to have more money to afford a better lifestyle. In many cases when money was presented to them it gave so much hope. For example, when Walter gives Tarvis 50 cents and then an additional 50 cents to go to school with he is so excited and especially in the film we see him jump into his father’s arms. Also, money is seen as a savior when Mama decides to buy the house for the family, and she tells Ruth. She is so relieved when Mama tells them she was able to buy them a new home that she prances around screaming and crying tears of joy. Also, although the money did have a negative effect on Walter, the idea of the money and his intentions for it were pure. The thought of possession of money was an escape for him and a way out of the misery he had been stuck in.
A quote from the bible states “”For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (Timothy 6:10). This quote is a direct correlation of everything Mama stands for and the scene from which she slaps Beneatha for disregarding God and his ideals. Mama is deeply religious and just wants the best for her family. She watches every day as her children become so consumed and caught up in the idea of money when all she wants is for them to appreciate what they have and how far they have come. This quote directly correlates to this play and a message that money cannot be the be all end all. Overall, Money is a big part of the youngers fate and surfaces in many ways throughout the duration of the play.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you believe the benefits of the check outweigh the issues and problems that came along with it?
- What other characters represent a positive or negative effect from coming into money? How?
Works Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Vintage Books, 1994
Money is the root of all evil. EnglishClub.com. (n.d.).
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Hi Brianna! I really enjoyed your analysis of the role that money plays in A Raisin in the Sun. I particularly liked that you included a Bible quote because Christianity is a huge theme in the play and that verse is probably exactly what Mama thinks about when she considers what has become of Walter. I believe that the check could have been very beneficial, but in the case of the Youngers, it ended up doing more harm than good. Ten thousand dollars is a deceptive amount of money because it seems like a lot, but for a family as impoverished as the Youngers, it doesn’t even begin to cover the improvements that they want to make to their lives, especially since the money is being split up amongst the family. Additionally, the acquisition of the money takes on a much more somber tone when one considers that the only reason they are getting this check is because the patriarch of their family has passed away. The check represents the life of Walter Sr, which explains why Mama says “I seen him grow thin and old before he was forty… working and working and working like somebody’s old horse… killing himself…and you… you gave it all away in a day” (77) after Walter loses the money. The check is directly tied to her husband’s memory, so it makes sense that she is devastated and thrown into a rage when it is carelessly lost; it’s about much more than money to Mama. The check had the potential to somewhat help the Youngers, but it ended up throwing their family into disarray and they may have been better off without it.
Hi Brianna, I really liked your post. Your title caught my attention right away and it drew me in to read more. Your thesis was also super intriguing to me and I love the concept of money. Regarding the first discussion question, I believe the drama and arguments that resulted outweigh the benefits of the check. While it is undeniable that their lives would be changed drastically and a lot of their financial difficulties would be relieved, the conflict between characters heightened. There was a lack of understanding between Walter and his family in particular. He does not appreciate Beneatha’s quest for knowledge and justice which is coming through her schooling, as well as Mama’s trepidation about his spending of the money. There is a generational divide as well that the money brings out as seen in the quotation, “‘In my time we was worried about not being lynched and getting to the North'” (74). The money brings out the flaws in the characters and make problems arise where they potentially not have been before.
Hi Brianna, I really enjoyed your analysis! To answer your second question, I believe that George Murchinson is a negative representation of someone with money. In the play, Beneatha is dating a man named George Murchinson. He is an African American man who has a lot of money. Ruth cannot comprehend why Beneatha would not marry George Murchinson, simply because she will be financially set for the rest of her life. In reality, George Murchinson is not a great person. He doesn’t want Beneathna to share her opinions or thoughts, and he says, ” I want a nice- simple- sophisticated girl.. not a poet- O.K.?” (96). George Murchinson is representative of many rich men looking for women who will blindly follow them and never give their thoughts or opinions. Many of these rich men know they bring security to women, so they believe that as long as they have money, they can manipulate women into doing whatever they want and saying, or not saying, whatever they want.
Hey Brianna! I think that this topic also further Asagai’s point when he was talking to Beneatha after they found out what Walter did with the money, he stated, ‘where all dreams, good or bad, must depend on the death of a man?’, and where he also asked the question to Beanetha, ‘would you have had it at all if your father had not died?’, they all were thinking for the future and what they want to do with the money, yet all, but mama it seems, have forgotten how the money have reached them in the first place, they seemed blinded by the thought of money and what they could do with it that they forgot the hard work and effort of Big Walter. Him working himself to death is what got them the money in the first place. I feel like if he didn’t die, and if there was no money, then the family would seem closer rather than drifting apart.
This analysis was so interesting to me. Money is the reason for not only conflict within this plot but in the world. Families are split up because of it, murders are committed, world war, etc. I do agree that money can be the root of evil and division in our world. Despite this outlook, currency is necessary for the carrying out life. The benefits of this check in the play are being depleted because the family has different opinions on how to utilize so here we see again, money creating division and conflict. Walters’ state of mind becomes distraught over receiving this check (money). Ruth says to him, ” Honey, life doesn’t have to be like this… you remember how we used to talk when Travis was born… about the way we were going to live, the kind of house.. well, it’s all starting to slip away from us.” (89). This speaks to the consistent intense relationship they have with their dreams and the challenge of money. The bible verse you incorporated speaks to the authenticity of what our society and humanity was meant to be like versus what greed and societal competition has done to us. We have spread far away from God’s word and I think it speaks to Mama’s character in that even though they are struggling and money can save their quality of life, she prioritizes God and the stability of her family’s bond first.
Hi brianna! I loved how you were able to bring up the concept of money rather than blaming it all on Walter. In my opinion, everyone in the story was affected by this check in a negative way. I agree that money has been the root of all evil for this family. But I also liked how you emphasized Walter putting up a bad example for his son. Walter has been wanting the money so bad, his son is starting to become greedy. That could answer one of your discussion questions about anyone becoming greedy because of the money. It is clear that when the check comes it brings out the worst in Walter. At this point in the story, Walter is hurting his family more than helping it. Walter is drowning and he is taking his family down with him. All throughout the play Mama and Walters relationship has been tested. But Walter is the one who put this amount of stress on Ruth and Ruth has to deal with the emotional baggage. During the couples fight Walter says “I put my life in your hands” (Hannaberry 128). All the emotional stress Wlater has poured on Ruth can show how insecure and trapped Walter feels. He is blaming it on everyone instead of being there for his family.. I liked how your discussion talked mostly about Walters internal struggles rather than just the ones he shows in the book. Your closing quote and the explanation wrapped up all your ideas really well. Mamma was the one who decides where the money goes, it only makes sense that she shows her family how important it is to believe in god. If you put all your faith in one thing you could end up getting disappointed and left with nothing.
Hi Brianna! I agree that the idea of money caused plenty of problems between the family members and for them as well. If the check did not get spent how it did then I think the money would have been worth it for them. The outcome of moving would have been possible with much more ease if they did have the check. The would not have to work themselves like crazy to live in a bit more roomy home if they had the security of that money. I think that this is a very important aspect to their lives because it is emphasized throughout the book that there is just not enough room for all of them. I think that this is especially important with the knowledge that Ruth is now also expecting another baby. “It is my business- where is he going to live, on the roof?..(p.58)”. Beneatha says this when she finds out that Ruth is pregnant. As much as that is a stressor and does not make Ruth feel any better, It is something that should be thought through before the baby arrives. The check does bring hardship to the family but all in all if it was not wasted, I think it would have been worth Walter being upset for however long rather than Mama giving up most of the money to him. This way moving would be more doable.
Hi Brianna, I liked reading your analysis as well as the addition of religion to support your argument that money is the root of all evil as well as the key. Throughout the book, we observe challenges with race and poverty but the storytelling from lack of money to a flourishing amount and then again, a lack can create a journey of value. At the beginning of the book, the family had lots of issues due to the lack of money as there shows Walter’s money-based reasoning over his moral reasoning. In situations like this, it becomes evident that money is superior to morality as a shift from the Lee family’s mentality changes. To answer your second question, I believe that Mama and Walter represent opposite effects as money arises. Mama recognizes the shift acknowledging how” Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life” (Hansberry 76). With that, she continues by recognizing the shift and importance of money to Walter in comparison to moral values. She does not let money truly change her character and believes that it would most benefit her daughter in need. On the negative end is Walter, his attitude is that money has a correlation with power and regardless of need, he would like to fulfill his desires selfishly. There are many benefits and consequences to money but it Is clear that with money, there is an evident shift.