The Character Analysis for the Main Character Walter Lee Younger

Introduction

After World War II, Lorraine Hansberry came up with a play "A Raisin in the Sun." The play took place in Chicago, and it tells us the story of a family who considered themselves as lower class and they were struggling to gain the acceptance by the middle-class families and even to get in the upper-class society. This play began with Mama (Lena Younger) who was the mother of the family was waiting to receive $ 10,000 check which she was supposed to receive from the death of her husband. Then, there was a conflict that centered on the family due to how the check was to be spent.

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The Ambitious Walter Lee Younger: A Visionary or a Risk-Taker?

Walter Lee younger who was the son of Mama was the main character in this play. Also known as the brother, Walter was a very ambitious and desperate young fellow. He had plans that the whole of the check should be invested in the liquor stores with two other different investors/ partners, by the name Willy Harris and Bobo. In his dreams, Walter Lee was hoping that he would gain a better financial and social status so that he would become a better provider for the family. This venture was strongly objected to her mother because of her ethical and moral reasons.

Walter Lee's Vision: Investing in Liquor Stores and Challenging Socioeconomic Status

In this play, Walter has shown to be the main character in many instances, for instance, when Mama took $3,500 and decide to put them as down payment for the three bedroom house which was located in Clybourne Park, located in Chicago, Illinois, and its neighborhood was predominantly occupied by whites. It was him (Walter) who strongly disagree with the decision and was really disgraced by his mother because of how she was to spend her money. We also realized that her mother was mentally and emotionally distressed when they had a constant arguing with her son (Walter). According to her mother, her son's was so important to her than having any amount of money. She was once quoted saying "There ain't anything worth holding on to, money, dreams, nothing else_ if it means it's going to destroy my boy" (Gates, 2004). This is, therefore, the reason why Lee Younger was entrusted with the remaining money $6,500. Her mother instructed that he (Walter) should take $ 3,000 and place them in a saving account for her sister (Beneatha) tuition and medical fee. On the remaining 3500, Walter was to open her personal account and use the money on how he sees that it fit. Walter then wasted no time and he went on secretly to invest on the liquor store he had always wanted.

We can see that the family suffered a blow when Willy Harris, Walters friend, and a business partner ran away with money that Bobo and Walter had invested. When Lee Younger realized that he had done a mistake and he had nothing else to do. He decided to back to his family and told them what had transpired. He revealed that all his money, also including her sister's tuition money had been stolen. The family never backed down, they decided to move to continue with their plans to move to Clybourne Park, which was a neighborhood that did not openly welcome the blacks.

The Transformation of Walter Lee: From Missteps to Redemption

The play mostly displays Walter Lee characters throughout the play as visionary, risk taker and many at times he over-shadowed his sound judgments. The 35-year-old was a very intense guy in his mid-thirties (Gates, 2004). He was described to incline to erratic speech habits, nervous and quick movements. He always believed that being financially stable will earn him the respect that he had always wanted. He believed that he will be seen as the real man and his family will also see him as such.

With his risk-taking behaviors, the Son of the younger's family (Walter) eventually succeeded in his vision. He got all the material this he always wanted and gained some respect. He led the way in challenging the social climate and the status quo of the era. Walter in his part explored business ownership and also struggled and ensured that he owned a house. He always opposed the tendency of settling for mediocracy in the family's socioeconomic status. He was also in front in challenging the social climate of racial integration in Clybourne housing industry of that time. Walter also loved that the families should embrace the risk-taking, and should be visionary so that they can establish their families. Although the efforts he made to reach his status were admirable by many, many did not admire the steps he took to get there.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be stated Walter Lee younger was the main character in this play as his storyline has been featured since the beginning of the play through to the end of the play. His characters were well featured and his efforts and mischiefs were recognized throughout the play. It can be easily be stated that the theme of the play was to showcase the story of Walter Lee Younger.

References

Hansberry, Lorraine. A raisin in the sun. Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, 2007.Rao, Nyapati R. "A Raisin Brings the Sun." Psychiatric Services 68.8 (2017): 762-763.