A Raisin in the Sun Act I Scene II

In keeping in accordance with human nature, essentially every character in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun is seemingly in the constant pursuit of a better way of life. Of all the characters, however, Walter Lee and Beneatha appear to strive for this improvement by achieving their dreams with the most passion and fervor. Interestingly while Beneatha and Walter’s dreams definitely manifest themselves in different goals, both are united in the sense that they desire to improve their lives by overcoming African American stereotypes to become exceptionally successful.

                Hansberry quickly distinguishes Beneatha from most young African American women of the time by revealing that Beneatha wishes nothing more than to become a doctor. Additionally, although she greatly differed from her brother in this regard, she did not view money as the ultimate definition of success. ON the other hand, Beneatha is more interested in rejecting African American assimilation and learning more about her culture’s origins in Africa. These aspects of Beneatha’s vision for her life are embodied in the two men who pursue Beneatha, or Bennie, throughout the play, George Murchison and Joseph Asagai. While Murchison is unusually rich and successful, Bennie feels no emotion for him; rather, she appears to love Asagai, a Nigerian intellectual who seeks to improve the lives of his fellow Nigerians. Because Asagai’s characteristics and desires align more closely with Bennie’s he is also the man who understand her more fully. He calls Bennie “Alaiyo” as a nickname and explains, “…it means One for Whom Bread- Food- Is Not Enough” (Hansberry, 65). With their statement, Hansberry defines Bennie’s quest for a better way of life by her need for more than a simple, typical African American woman’s life in Chicago.

                In addition to Bennie, Walter also desires passionately to improve the quality of his life. Unlike Bennie, however, Walter views money as the only means by which to attain this improvement. Walter believes the only way to earn this money is by opening a liquor store with some friends, and this obsession has grown to such an extent that it has overpowered everything else in Walter’s life. Walter commiserates with Mama when he complains that his only vision of the future consists of a dark, empty expanse of pointless work, little money, and sheer misery. When Mama asks why he obsesses over money so ardently, Walter is so bold as to say, “Because it is life, Mama” (Hansberry, 74)! Therefore, although I highly doubt Walter’s pursuit of money will ever truly satiate him, the fact that he intends to bring more wealth to his family by opening a liquor store and therefore improve his life is undeniable.