Many people in the world nowadays only care about money. So much to the point where they devote their lives to trying to make money and will do that at the cost of anything, rather it be family and happiness, or their own pride. This creates a seemingly pointless world; this is why there needs to be a shift in our focus on life back to where life is about happiness and pride. In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Hansberry tries to show to the reader that as a society, nobody should value money over anything because it creates an affectation of happiness which is not what we should want in life. Overall, Hansberry shows her audience that money will not always lead to success even though it will help them, they still need to work hard
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The first lesson that Hansberry gives about wealth is that yes wealth is important--but not necessary--but it is fatuous for wealth to be all that someone strives for in life. Hansberry develops this when she says: “Check coming today?” (pg 165) This quote is some of Walter’s very first words in the play. He is so worried about this check coming in, even though it is not his money. This establishes Walter’s character as someone who cares only about money and believes that if he does not have money, he can not be happy or successful in life. Hansberry establishes Walter’s belief in the importance of money in life in this quote, “Because it is life, Mama.” (pg 197-198) This quote comes from Walter responding to Mama when she asks him why he talks so much about money. It shows how enveloped Walter is in the idea that money is the most important aspect of life and if someone does not have money, they can not be …show more content…
One quote that develops this lesson is “Once upon a time freedom used to be life-- now it’s money.” (pg 197-198) This statement is Mama trying to explain to Walter that when she was younger they only cared about freedom because that meant they got the opportunity to have a life of their own. This is Hansberry’s way to show her audience that life used to be solely about freedom--at least for black people--and that it is wrong for money to be the only goal in life because it does not lead to true happiness and success. There are many other feelings in life that will create happiness someone should want that is not materialistic like money. Another example of this lesson is “In my time we was worried about not being lynched and getting to the North if we could and how to stay alive and still have a pinch of dignity too.” (pg 197-198) This is Mama talking to Walter after he says that “money is life”. Mama says this to give Walter an idea how much the world has changed and that people used to want more emotional feelings in life rather than what he and almost everybody else want (money); when it is really just a piece of paper that gives the ability to get more unnecessary items. Hansberry wants people to not chase materialistic happiness in life because that will not make them truly happy. Mama’s reaction to the check
The first lesson that Hansberry gives about wealth is that yes wealth is important--but not necessary--but it is fatuous for wealth to be all that someone strives for in life. Hansberry develops this when she says: “Check coming today?” (pg 165) This quote is some of Walter’s very first words in the play. He is so worried about this check coming in, even though it is not his money. This establishes Walter’s character as someone who cares only about money and believes that if he does not have money, he can not be happy or successful in life. Hansberry establishes Walter’s belief in the importance of money in life in this quote, “Because it is life, Mama.” (pg 197-198) This quote comes from Walter responding to Mama when she asks him why he talks so much about money. It shows how enveloped Walter is in the idea that money is the most important aspect of life and if someone does not have money, they can not be …show more content…
One quote that develops this lesson is “Once upon a time freedom used to be life-- now it’s money.” (pg 197-198) This statement is Mama trying to explain to Walter that when she was younger they only cared about freedom because that meant they got the opportunity to have a life of their own. This is Hansberry’s way to show her audience that life used to be solely about freedom--at least for black people--and that it is wrong for money to be the only goal in life because it does not lead to true happiness and success. There are many other feelings in life that will create happiness someone should want that is not materialistic like money. Another example of this lesson is “In my time we was worried about not being lynched and getting to the North if we could and how to stay alive and still have a pinch of dignity too.” (pg 197-198) This is Mama talking to Walter after he says that “money is life”. Mama says this to give Walter an idea how much the world has changed and that people used to want more emotional feelings in life rather than what he and almost everybody else want (money); when it is really just a piece of paper that gives the ability to get more unnecessary items. Hansberry wants people to not chase materialistic happiness in life because that will not make them truly happy. Mama’s reaction to the check