Lorraine Hansberry's, "A Raisin in the Sun" focuses in the struggles of the Youngers, and illustrates how nothing is stronger than family ties. .
From the very outset of the play it is clear that the primary focus of the play is that of family values. The play opens as Walter, and wife, Ruth, are seen having a fight over Walter's dream to become a "mover and shaker" CITE in the business world by using an insurance check as a down payment on a business venture. Walter tells his wife that, "I'm trying to talk to you 'bout myself and all you can say is eat them eggs and go to work", CITE. This is the primary sign that Walter feels that if someone in his family would simply listen to him and assert their faith, his dreams would come to fruition. Following this argument, Walter leave to his job as a chauffeur - one which he detests as fantasizes about life with his employer, Mr. Arnold, as his personal chauffeur. This occurance illustrates a major conflict throughout the story; as Walter's dreams intensify, he overlooks things such as his family. This movement away from family is against the furtherance of the values and morals of the Younger family. While his father would have been satisfied simply working and caring for his family, Walter is preoccupied with becoming successful in the business world without thinking about the resulting consequences for his family. .
Once again, family ties proves itself to be the theme of "A Raisin in the Sun." Later in the play, Beneatha, the younger sister of Walter, initiates a conflict by speaking in an unacceptable manner about God - rejecting values that have been taught to her since childhood. This illustrates yet another instance in which a family member threatens to ruin the inherent stability of the family structure by trying to build in a manner which is completely incompatible with the rest of the structure. Beneatha, although believing to be bettering herself, is leaving an important part of herself and her heritage behind.
