In Act II of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, there are so many important things happening in the plot line. We are fully now in understanding what the family dynamics are and what kinds of things all of the characters are struggling with.
We now know that Mama has decided what to do with the insurance money that she received. There is one theme that I keep seeing in this text and it is becoming more and more apparent as I read on. That theme relates to gender roles and the function they play in the family dynamics and even in society as a whole.
Walter is the prime example of an African American male that is struggling with his identity as a man, as a husband, and as a son. Walter talks about how much he hates his job and how frustrating it is for him not to be able to fully support his family and how unfulfilling his job actually is to him. It really highlights the internal struggle that must be going on inside of him every day.
I want to draw attention to a specific part of the Hansberry text where she writes “(He makes his weaving way to his wife’s face and leans in close to her) In my heart of hearts (He thumps his chest) I am much warrior!”(78) . This is a scene where Walter is taking on the persona of a an African warrior man who is prideful, fierce, and protecting of his family and his life. I don’t think Walter feels that kind of passion at all in his real life as it is, and that is HIS dream. Everyone has their dream in this play, and dreams are very important to understanding the text.
Perhaps Walter’s struggle is the reason that he has become an alcoholic and is so down on his life. He feels his dreams are slipping away day by day and he can’t do anything to control or stop it. That feeling of helplessness leads to shame for the fact that he can’t even take care of his growing family and support his wife the way he thinks a man should, which in turn may make him resent his wife and the other women in his family in one way or another.
I will leave you all with some questions to think about in relation to this topic:
What could happen if Walter continues on the bad path that he is on? Consider the example he is setting for his son and the cycle perhaps continuing with Travis.
Can you think of present day issues or examples that are similar to what Walter is going through?
Chelsie,
I agree that Act 2 Scene II contains very important moments for the progression of the play. It is evident that Walter turns to alcohol to forget his struggles. I was honestly surprised to learn that Mama gives such a large portion of the money to Walter to use as he wishes because of his recent behaviors. This represents a theme of love for family that emerges in this scene. Mama places her trust in Walter because she loves her son and would do anything for him. In turn, Walter recognizes this and is inspired to put the money to good use so that his own son can have a better life than him. Both Mama and Walter both want what is best for their children; they want them to have better lives than they had.
To answer your question, I believe that if Walter were to continue on the bad path that he is on, he could drive his family into poverty. He would set a bad example for Travis, who could potentially follow in his father’s footsteps. I believe that Walter’s struggle can be compared to the modern-day issues faced by the LGBTQ community. They are similar in that they both face identity crises and confusion about fitting in.
Chelsie,
You have a great analysis for this scene in the book! I agree with the themes that you believe are relevant in this scene, especially when you talk about gender roles and family dynamics. I believe that the reason why Mama gave Walter the rest of the insurance money was not only because she trusted him, but because she has watched him struggle with becoming “the man of the house”.
Once Mama gave Walter the rest of the money, I believe that he felt a sense of renewal. He finally has the chance to start over and make something out of himself and provide what is needed for his family.
At the end of the scene, Walter talks about the future with his son. He tells Travis that he was never going to drink again and talks about his son going to college when he turns 17. Walter wants what’s best for his son and wants his son to have a better life. Lastly, Walter’s view on college seems to be a lot different when it comes to his son compared to his view on his sister going to college. I believe that Walter wants to take the credit for his son’s success.
Hi Chelsie,
The current path Walter is on is a drunkard stumbling through life and reeking havoc behind him. He stopped going to work because his pride is hurt for being someone’s chauffeur. The money that Mama has given him is a large portion of the life insurance money. If he continues this path, he will most likely tear his family apart as well as place them in even worse financial hardship. When Walter asked Travis what he wanted to be when he grew up, he simply states that he wants to be a bus driver; very similar to the job that his father currently has. Thus showing how much influence his father has on him and how badly that could affect his future if Walter does not change his ways.
Walter is going through an identity crisis which is very similar to reformed convicts. Some convicts after doing time in prison want to go straight but no one will hire them because of their criminal history. They do not know where they fit into this world in a life without crimes. There’s a sense of direction with no way of executing their plans, hopes, and dreams.
Hi Chelsie!
I think your response to Act II included many accurate responses and inferences into Walter’s character that I also shared. What I find most interesting in the text is the dialogue, which shows how each characters’ inner conflicts lead them to express themselves and create the challenging relationships they have. The chaotic dynamic throughout Act II makes me wonder if the story will have a positive outcome for the Younger family. To your question about Walter’s effect on Travis as a father, I definitely think it’s possible for Travis to have the same issues as Walter in the future. Even though Travis may know Walter’s actions are extreme, he has been exposed to his behavior for so long it must seem normal to him. Travis is unaware of a life without alcohol abuse. Most children of alcoholics have an increased risk of substance abuse as adults as well. He looks up to Walter, so there could be a similar pattern in Travis later on.
If Walter continues his behavior and doesn’t change his ways he will continue to be toxic to his family and they will eventually lose everything. I think Walter would feel guilty about this, however, Walter’s current guilt and self-doubt just cause him to drink more. If Walter were to continue down that road he could spiral into depression and his family might resent him for it. I think his identity crisis can apply to current issues of people suffering from anxiety and bullying. Everyone want to find their passion and purpose, and a lot of people struggle with that.
Chelsie,
I really liked that you brought up the theme of dreams throughout the play. Each character has a specific goal / dream they are trying to attain. In particular, I liked that you made the connection between Walter’s dream and the scene in the kitchen when Walter said, “(He makes his weaving way to his wife’s face and leans in close to her) In my heart of hearts (He thumps his chest) I am much warrior!”(Hansberry, 78). Walter wants to be the strong, successful, and respected leader of his household. The idea that he hasn’t been able to provide for his family in a way that he sees fit is a crushing blow to this dream and his self-esteem. I think that if Walter continues down this path of coping with alcohol and arguments with his loved ones, he won’t end up where he wants to be. Life can get in the way of dreams sometimes, and that is understandable. But until Walter takes initiative, he will be stuck in the same vicious loop forever.
If Walter continues to stay on this bad path he will only cause his family harm. By jeopardizing and causing his family’s goal of becoming stable and never having to worry about being in poverty unreachable. Walter remaining like this is not going to set any good examples for his son at all. Especially for Travis, it will only show him that it is okay to let your problems burden you and do nothing about them. Letting him think its okay to give up when your struggling. Even though Walter may not like the way his life or his job is, just by showing hard he is willing to provide for his family can set a good example for his son and Travis. I feel like Walter’s struggles can also be compared to many musicans and rappers who face struggles in there lives. Most artist go through daily struggles feeling like they are unable to better themselves and feel helplessness so they often turn to drugs. Whether if its that they feel unrecognized or just not good enough. Drugs may “ease” the pain but can contribute to an undesirable ending, which recently resulted in one of favorite rappers Mac Miller’s death.
Chelsie, I love how you touched upon the gender roles in the story and how they have effected the plot line. Gender roles are clearly evident throughout the whole story and they may negatively affect the Younger family.
Because of gender roles, Mama gave a large portion of the money to Walter. In the 1950’s, men were expected to support the women and children. Walter is the man of the family and since he was unable to provide for his family, he turned to alcohol in order to drown his sorrows. Because he is given the money, he can now use it to start up his business and possibly create a better life for his family. Because Walter has once failed his family by not being able to provide, one setback in his journey to starting his business could possibly put him back into his old ways. Because Travis looks up to his father and is a young male, he’ll believe that turning to alcohol in your failures will be the answer.
Walter wants the best for his family and I also believe that is why Mama chose to give him the money. She loves her son and even though he is on a bad path, she wants him to succeed and provide for his family. Current examples still exist in today’s society.
Our world is currently evolving and now more than ever people are deciding to not continue into higher levels of education like college. Not everyone learns the same way and some people find it difficult to succeed in a classroom setting. In our society, a college degree determines your success so when people decide to choose another path that isn’t a college education, it can be looked down upon. Now more than ever people are finding success in social media and other platforms that don’t require a college degree. This can be difficult for older generations to understand because they are unaware of many opportunities that social media has to provide. Even though Mama is hesitant about Walter’s career choice she is still supporting him because she loves him.
If Walter continues on the path he’s currently on, then he may only cause harm to his family. I believe that he believes that he has good intentions, but doe not understand what his dreams are compared to reality. He dreams large, but his actions don’t match those of someone that’s truly trying to achieve their dreams. Meaning, he seems to be all talk. He goes on and on all day about living the good life and not having to chauffeur, but continues to drink and set a poor example for Travis, regardless of how he claimed that he would hand him the world (109). Travis may see how his dad views his job, or how he didn’t even go to work for three days, and not understand the severity of the reality, that you need to work to achieve dreams, rather than just talk about them happening.
Hello Chelsie,
I really enjoyed your analysis of this section of the book. I thought it covered the nuances of a perceived social identity, and the negative effects that that can have, very thoroughly. Walter’s heightened sense of masculinity colors almost every interaction he has. At home, he’s berating his job, since its not one that any true man would have, or his sister, for doing something that’s just not ladylike, or his own mother, for having more say over the household than he does. It consumes him and defines him, and in a way, his dream of becoming successful and making money and providing for his family is rooted in the idea that if he does these things, he’ll actually be a man.
And so I think it’s inevitable that these traits pass of onto his son. The effects of a person’s childhood are incredibly powerful and long lasting, and since Travis has been raised with Walter as a father, it’s inevitable that his ideals will imprint on Travis in some way. This case is proven with Walter even. His own father always told him “…being any kind of servant wasn’t a fit thing for a man to be. He said a man’s hands were made to make things, to tend to the earth – not to drive someone else’s car…” (Hansberry 103). And Walter carries this same exact mentality as well, to the point where it’s even harming his family’s well being.
hey Chelsie,
You did a really nice job analyzing a scene that contained so much detail. I enjoyed the fact that you attached a greater and more general theme, allowing for a discussion with various possibilities. To answer your question, I feel that if Walter continues on this bad path he will doom his whole family. Although it may not seem so, Walter is still a provider for his family through his job as a chauffeur. If he continues this path he may give up and lose his job. This would have him and his family relying on Mama. This sets a terrible example for Travis seeing that it is teaching him to give up on your dreams or quit when your dreams don’t come true. It shows him that it is ok to rely on others and stop trying. All in all, if Walter’s bad path continues it will damage the lives of his family no as well as for generations to come.
I think if Walter continues down the bad path he’s on, he’ll lose his family. While Walter’s on this path I don’t think he’s setting a good example for his son Travis. After receiving the money from his mother before the ending of scene II, Walter is happy. Travis then walks in the room asking his father if he’s okay and then asks him if he’s drunk. From what Travis said I immediately thought that he only saw the joy on his father face when he’s drunk. I found that really saddening. Then when Walter asks Travis what he wants to be when he grows up, Travis responds saying his mother asks that same question and says that he would like to be like Walter. Travis then says that Ruth sometimes says she doesn’t want him to be like Walter when he grows up and sometimes she does. It seems like Ruth also sometimes doesn’t think Walter is setting a good example for their son too.
I agree with the statements you made regarding Act II and Walter’s behavior. Since starting the book I always felt a sense of pity for Walter. Not only is he trying everything in his power to provide for his family, but he also does this while all the supportive figures around him tend to just shoot down every dream he has. Unfortunately if Walter does continue on the path of destructive behavior then the family dynamic of the story will start to change rapidly with everyone seeming to turn on Walter. The example he’s setting for Travis may be the best out of the rest of the family though because although they are a very poor family, Walter made sure that Travis had the money he needed for the bus and then even some extra as well. This clearly shows that Walter’s primary goal is making his family happy. A similar present day issue that Walter might have faced would probably be making a bad investment and having that debt continue to snowball to the point where it is virtually impossible for Walter to pay it back.
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