The Ambitious Dreams and Life Outlook of Mama in "A Raisin in The Sun"

Dreams are an individual’s most powerful motivators. In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, “A Raisin in the Sun”, the dreams are the motivating forces that drive its main characters. Unfortunately, dreams always have the chance of failing. With this possibility an individual must possess the strength to accept the disappointment. In “A Raisin in the Sun”, the strongest member of the Younger family is Mama. Mama has dreamt very ambitious dreams that have failed, and these experiences are what shaped her outlook on life. Mama’s outlook on life includes being very family oriented and strongly fervent to religion while instilling pride and gratitude upon her children as well as herself.

Throughout the play Mama demonstrates her devotion to her family in the way she treats them individually and as a whole. Mama is always there to comfort each family member as they struggle through conflicts with each other. For example, in Act II Scene Il it states, “MAMA…1 want you to take this money and take three thousand dollars and put it in a savings account for Beneatha’s medical schooling. The rest you put in a checking account with your name on it. And from now on any penny that come out of it or that go in it is for you to look after. For you to decide. …”. Mama shows how much she deeply cares for her children by using a portion of the insurance money to pay for Beneatha’s schooling and by giving Walter the remaining Insurance money. She cares for Ruth as well by consoling her when Walter ignores her. Mama demonstrates her greatest devotion to her family when she purchases a house for the whole family to live in. In Act II Scene I. Mama tells Travis, “MAMA… what you think your grandmamma gone and done with that money?… She went out and she bought you a house… You glad about the house? It’s going to be yours when you get to be a man.” In this conversation between Mama and Travis, Mama emphasizes the purpose of her buying the house by stating how the house will be Travis’s when he is older. Mama bought the house because she wanted her family to have a home that they can proudly call their own.

Mama also demonstrates her dedication to religion throughout the play when she condemns Walter’s desire to invest in a liquor store and when she disapproves of Ruth’s consideration to abortion. In Act I, Scene I, Ruth describes to Mama how strongly Walter Wants to invest, “MAMA… But liquor, honey…. whether they drinks it or not ain’t none of my business. But whether I go into business selling it to ’em is, and I don’t want that on my ledger this late in life.” Partaking in liquor goes against Mama’s Christianity and she rejects Walter’s idea of investing in such an un-Christian business. She also exhibits her dedication to religion when she disapproves of Ruth considering aborting her baby. In Act I, Scene II Mama tells Walter, “MAMA… I’m waiting to hear how you be your father’s son… Your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I’m waiting to hear you talk like him and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them…” The concept of abortion is a taboo practice in the religion of Christianity which is why Mama condemns it. Mama’s religious fervor influences the way she responds to her family member’s actions and behavior.

Another aspect of Mama’s philosophy on life is encouraging pride and gratitude to her children. Mama wants Walter and Beneatha to be proud and thankful of what they have, and to earn their desires by working hard. This is the reason why she initially denies Walter the money he needs to invest in the liquor store. In Act I, Scene II Mama tells Walter, “You ain’t satisfied or proud of nothing we done. I mean that you had a home; that we kept you out of trouble till you was grown; that you don’t have to ride to work on the back of nobody’s streetcar…” In this scene, Mama was very disappointed in Walter because he wanted to earn money by investing money rather than earn money by working hard for it. Mama also becomes disappointed in Beneatha when she spoke bitterly about God. In Act I, Scene I. Beneatha and Mama are arguing. “BENEATHA Why? Why can’t I say what I want to around here, like everybody else? MAMA I don’t sound nice for a young girl to say things like that you wasn’t brought up that way. Me and your father went to trouble to get you and your Brother to church every Sunday.” Mama wants Beneatha, as well as Walter, to be proud and thankful for their religion. Nevertheless no matter how ungrateful or unsatisfied Walter and Beneatha are with the situation of their lives, Mama will always be proud of how her children turned out.

In conclusion, Mama’s philosophy on life are what makes her the strongest character in the play, Mama’s unconditional affection and nurture for her loved ones are what keep the family strong and intact. ller passion for religion and her standard for unwavering pride affect how she treats her children, her family as a whole, and her home. Mama embodies the most important attributes of a family matriarch; maternity, religion, and moral. These attributes are what command her actions throughout the play. Without these attributes the Youngers would not have a new house with a yard where Travis could play in.”

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