The Play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Vivian Hansberry covers the hardship and the sacrifices that a small black family must make in order to survive through the segregation struggles. This powerful play brings to life many of the adversities that a black family had to go through during the early 40's such as fighting racism, poverty, future goals, ethnicity preservation, and in the case of Walter Lee is becoming in charge as the man of the family. After the death of his father, Walter Lee is the only man of the house, and throughout the play he learns how to become a man that can support his family like his father once did. Walter Lee's understanding of a man had been measured by amounts of money, which has made him distant to his family. However, he will eventually learn to become closer to his family members, stand up for their pride, and as a result turn into a man that his father once used to be. .
The play begins with Walter trying to achieve manhood by wanting to make more money, as he does not have the financial freedom that he wants. Therefore, he doesn't see himself as a role model to his son and not the strong black man of the family. "I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy Mama," (Hansberry 254). He tells his mama as what would make him happy. Walter as the only man of the family does not even think he has a real job as he complains to his mama that "I open and close car doors all day long. I drive a man around in his limousine and I say, "Yes, sir; no, sir, very good, sir" (Hansberry 254). Walter's devotion to wealth has turned him into a greedy and a materialistic man. Money has become everything to this man. To Walter money has become his social rank, his happiness, his role model status to his son, and worst of all the measuring tool of his manhood towards his family. .
Walter is so concerned about money and being wealthy that he has even forgotten his main responsibility of taking care of the family.
