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Character Analysis: A Raisin in the Sun - Walter, Mama, Beneatha, Ruth, Travis, and more, Summaries of Theatre

An in-depth analysis of the main characters in Lorraine Hansberry's play 'A Raisin in the Sun'. Each character is described in detail, including their background, personality traits, and role in the plot. The document focuses on Walter, Mama, Beneatha, Ruth, Travis, Asagai, Lindner, Bobo, George, and Mrs. Johnson. It explores their motivations, relationships, and conflicts, offering insights into their experiences as African Americans in the mid-20th century.

Typology: Summaries

2021/2022

Uploaded on 09/12/2022

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A Raisin in the Sun:
Walter
Walter is a chauffeur and aspiring business owner in his mid-30s.
He follows current events in the civil rights movement and is
unhappy in his job working for a rich white man. He's the main
character, or protagonist, of the play and goes through the most
significant change. He's lean and fidgety, and he has an
emotional, outspoken, passionate personality. His relationship
with his wife, Ruth, is alternately loving and antagonistic.
Walter expresses a need to provide for his family, especially for
his son Travis, and to become the man and authority of the
house. Walter's ambition drives much of the plot. He pursues his
goal both selfishly—imagining himself becoming a rich
businessman in an office—and out of concern for his family.
Mama
In her early 60s, Mama is a beautiful, gracious woman with "wit
and faith." She speaks with a soft voice and tends to "wander
conversationally." Mama lost her husband, Big Walter, before the
play takes place. The cause of Big Walter's death is implied to be
work related. Mama once worked outside the home for a white
family but doesn't work any longer. Mama is devoted to her
family and to her religious faith. She struggles to understand
Walter and Beneatha. When Mama notices the confusion and
ambition of her two children, she worries that they're changing
for the worse and that her family is growing apart. Despite being
widowed and living in poverty, Mama remains an optimist.
Beneatha
Beneatha is Walter's younger sister. Like her brother she has a
lean figure and an intensely emotional personality. She
represents a new generation of African Americans, smart and
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A Raisin in the Sun: Walter Walter is a chauffeur and aspiring business owner in his mid-30s. He follows current events in the civil rights movement and is unhappy in his job working for a rich white man. He's the main character, or protagonist, of the play and goes through the most significant change. He's lean and fidgety, and he has an emotional, outspoken, passionate personality. His relationship with his wife, Ruth, is alternately loving and antagonistic. Walter expresses a need to provide for his family, especially for his son Travis, and to become the man and authority of the house. Walter's ambition drives much of the plot. He pursues his goal both selfishly—imagining himself becoming a rich businessman in an office—and out of concern for his family. Mama In her early 60s, Mama is a beautiful, gracious woman with "wit and faith." She speaks with a soft voice and tends to "wander conversationally." Mama lost her husband, Big Walter, before the play takes place. The cause of Big Walter's death is implied to be work related. Mama once worked outside the home for a white family but doesn't work any longer. Mama is devoted to her family and to her religious faith. She struggles to understand Walter and Beneatha. When Mama notices the confusion and ambition of her two children, she worries that they're changing for the worse and that her family is growing apart. Despite being widowed and living in poverty, Mama remains an optimist. Beneatha Beneatha is Walter's younger sister. Like her brother she has a lean figure and an intensely emotional personality. She represents a new generation of African Americans, smart and

unafraid to go after what they want. Her character arc, in many ways, foreshadows the coming civil rights movement. She differs from the older Youngers in her pursuit of formal education and her "modern" ideas. Her goal is medical school, but she dabbles in artistic endeavors like photography and guitar playing, to the amusement and bewilderment of the family. Beneatha refuses to believe in God due to the suffering in the world, which brings her into conflict with her devout mother. Beneatha is well read and approaches the world with a critical, sometimes cynical eye. She's concerned about the African American community's assimilation—their blending into the white community and ignoring of their own heritage. Her two suitors, George Murchison and Joseph Asagai, function as foils, or contrasting characters, for different aspects of Beneatha's personality and opposing views of African American culture in general. Ruth Ruth is about 30 years old and described as good-looking but weary. She approaches life with resignation and practicality—a "settled woman." Though she's stern with her husband and son, she loves and wants the best for them. She also greatly respects Mama Younger. She's close to Beneatha, despite seeing Beneatha's academic and artistic airs as frivolous. Ruth works as a cleaning woman for a white family and also does much of the Younger family's housework. She seems defeated at the play's beginning, with a lack of control over her life. As the play progresses, Ruth shows that she hopes for better circumstances and longs to rekindle her relationship with Walter. She's ambivalent about having a second child but eventually accepts the idea. Travis

Mrs. Johnson Mrs. Johnson, a loud, opinionated elderly neighbor of the Younger family, shows solidarity with the Youngers but not with their goals of education and better jobs.