Walter Younger can be really hard to get along with. For most of the first Act, he’s nasty to just about every other character in the play. He picks fights with his sister, Bennie. He says all kinds of mean things to Ruth, his wife, and is even short with his long suffering mother, Lena.
All his nastiness seems to come from the fact that Walter is totally disgusted with his life. Working as a chauffeur for a rich white man has gotten him completely dissatisfied with life. There is no room for advancement, and he hates having to suck up to is boss all the time. Basically, Walter feels like less of a man; because, he is in his thirties and can still barely provide for his family.
The only time Walter seems to get excited in the early sections of the play is when there’s talk of the ten thousand dollar insurance check that’s soon to come in the mail. Walter plans to use the money to invest in a liquor store with his buddy, Willy Harris. He sees this investment as an opportunity to be his own boss and finally provide for his family the way he feels he should. …show more content…
Ruth tells her husband that he shouldn’t trust Will Harris, and Lena, a devout christian thinks it is sinful to sell liquor. Lena even flat out refused to give the money to Walter at first; the insurance policy is in her name, so she has control over it.
Instead of giving her son the money for the liquor store, Walter’s mother takes a portion and puts a down payment on a house in a white neighborhood. This sends Walter into the depths of despair. He goes on a three-day drinking binge and refuses to go to
All his nastiness seems to come from the fact that Walter is totally disgusted with his life. Working as a chauffeur for a rich white man has gotten him completely dissatisfied with life. There is no room for advancement, and he hates having to suck up to is boss all the time. Basically, Walter feels like less of a man; because, he is in his thirties and can still barely provide for his family.
The only time Walter seems to get excited in the early sections of the play is when there’s talk of the ten thousand dollar insurance check that’s soon to come in the mail. Walter plans to use the money to invest in a liquor store with his buddy, Willy Harris. He sees this investment as an opportunity to be his own boss and finally provide for his family the way he feels he should. …show more content…
Ruth tells her husband that he shouldn’t trust Will Harris, and Lena, a devout christian thinks it is sinful to sell liquor. Lena even flat out refused to give the money to Walter at first; the insurance policy is in her name, so she has control over it.
Instead of giving her son the money for the liquor store, Walter’s mother takes a portion and puts a down payment on a house in a white neighborhood. This sends Walter into the depths of despair. He goes on a three-day drinking binge and refuses to go to