Untitled Essay, Research Paper
By: Erica Rivero
A Raisin in the sun
topic: What is Walter Lee Youngs reaction to the association and how does
it transform him
Many black men have to deal with an organized racism that affects their role
in society. Walter Lee Younger has the unfortunate situation that he is
constantly posed on the edge of greatness, but steadily affixed to the certainty
of being the Achilles’ heel of society. I think to understand Walter and
his reaction to Mr. Linder, the representative from the Clybourne Park
Improvement Association, it is necessary to look at who Walter is, what Walter’s
situation is, how Walter’s reaction transforms him.
Walter Lee Younger
Walter is a very misunderstood man by his family. He feels surrounded by
dominating women who cannot see his dreams as more than silly talk. He has
so many dreams it is driving him out of his skin. He has the burning desire
for the American Dream, but with the circumstances of his surroundings, he
has not yet found a way to realize them. He is searching for his identity
with money; the job that he holds can only provide so much for the family
and he is not even capable of providing his son Travis with some pocket change
without becoming broke himself. Walter Younger is thirty-five years old and
all he will ever be is a limousine driver. He is unhappy with his job and
he desperately seeks for an opportunity to improve his family standing. He
is not ready to accept his station in life. He does not want to be the chauffeur
driver; he wants to be the man that retains the chauffeur. What type of
“breadwinner” can a black man be in America? He wants to provide for his
family and give them all their dreams: a house, an education, fancy clothes,
and the opportunity to be more than someone’s servant. At the beginning of
the book, we see how a family of five shares a one bedroom, dilapidated
apartment, on Chicago’s south side, which is similar to the Thomas’s living
conditions in Native Son. He sees his future just like Bigger Thomas in that
he is continuing the cycle of the poor, powerless black man. He is going
to be a servant dominated by the matriarchal black woman. He will stay in
the same rattrap that his father spent the majority of his life. In addition
to this, he will watch the same occurrence happen to his son. .
Walter’s Situation
Walter’s mama gives him the money for him to use as he wishes in hopes that
he will realize that money is not the only thing in life. This is an important
part of the process of maturing for Walter. If she had not given the money
to him then maybe he would spend the rest of his life thinking he would have
been successful with it, but was not given the chance. Ultimately, Walter’s
blind desire to get rich and his belief that money is life is what tears
him down and forces him to grow into man hood. He is naпve with the
American dream and is willing to chance his entire family for it. He loses
all of the money his mama entrusted him with, and in the process, Walter
shows a lack of character by using Beneatha’s money in his business deal,
even though its very risky and loses his only possession, his future. He
begins to believe that he will be forced to swallow his pride and learn to
bow to the “Man”. Out of utter desperation, he contacts Mr. Linder and invites
him over to !
arrange the details for the Association to buy the house from them. He assumes
he is being the man of the house, when all he is doing is selling all the
dreams his family has ever had, the only thing that has ever belonged solely
to them.
Walter’s Reaction and Transition
When Walter first encounters Mr. Linder, he is very gracious. Walter welcomes
him in with open arms, but quickly begins to realize that this man has not
come as a friend, but as a foe. He is quite surprised that Mr. Linder has
the nerve to come all the way to their apartment and make such an outrageous
request. He still holds the belief that money is life and people are not
divides by race, but by income level. His ideals seem to change after he
loses all the money; it is Walter’s dreams deferred and now he seems to dry
up like a raisin in the sun. He no longer believes in the American dream
he once held. He has come to believe that there are the people who have and
those who have not. He is the part that has not and he is going to sell his
soul to the devil to be the one who has. However, after an argument between
his sister and mother, he realizes his need for a change of attitude. When
Mr. Lindner arrives to give them the money Walter sees a light. He almost
seem!
s possessed by a higher or inner power; his attitude towards Mr. Linder is
of empowerment. Up to this point, his fixation with getting rich quick causes
a great deal of strife within the family because Walter’s greed seems to
hold the reigns of his power, and his family’s power as well. That is until
Walter refuses the offer and proclaims that the family will move into the
house. At this point Walter finally becomes a man in the eyes of his family
and gives power to himself. His fixation on money is at this moment appeased
by the life lesson he has learned. This is Walter’s time to be the man. He
realizes the sacrifice his father went through to provide this opportunity
for his family; that this house is made of his father’s blood and tears,
it is made up of five generations of blood, sweat and sacrifice. I found
this to be a very positive transformation for Walter because instead of letting
himself dry up with his dream, he decides to fight for his dream. He is no
lo!
nger the victim; he is a strong, powerful black man. The type of man
Bigger Thomas could have been if he had made the right choices. Walter Lee
Young has become a real threat to the dominating white society that represses
them.
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