A Raisin in the Sun Summary

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun portrays an African American family during the 1950s in conflict over money. Walter, Benita, and Ruth were the main characters that showed there greed over Mama’s deceased husband insurance money. This subject became a dilemma with the Younger family. There were arguments, fights, and people becoming stressed over something that were not theirs. The greed of money almost tore the Younger family apart. Each family member’s selfish desire for the use of the deceased father’s insurance money conflicted with the family common good and produced calamitous consequences for the family. The Younger family faced many consequences once the money arrived. Walter was the most selfish one out of the family. He wanted the money all to himself. Walter had this dream of opening up a liquor store. Once mama trusted Walter with the money he went and blew it, which caused the family to lose all of the money. By Walter acting this way over money, he made his self look as if he had an addiction for money, which made him seem greedy for wealth. Benita and Ruth also displayed greed toward the father’s insurance money. Benita wanted to attend medical school, get a good paying job and live the American dream, but she was only looking out for herself. As a result of her selfish ways she didn’t receive the money that was intended for her to put towards her tuition for school. Ruth on the other hand was characterized as being greedy. She wanted to move in a house that had more rooms than they could afford, before the check came. Even though the house would have been comfortable for everyone, she was just looking at it being a bigger and better place to live. As a conclusion, Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun