Values In A Raisin In The Sun
Plays always have important values. These values are critical throughout the play. Furthermore, these values can create conflicts between characters. Therefore, there are major values in A Raisin in the Sun. These crucial values in A Raisin in the Sun are family, God, and money.
An important value in A Raisin in the Sun is family. For example, when Mama was talking to Beneatha about Walter she said, “Yes – I taught you that. Me and your daddy. But I thought I taught you something else too… I thought I taught you to love him” (3.1.111). Parents teach their children that they need to love each other at a young age. Mama is telling Beneatha that she should love Walter because family love is important in the Younger family. Additionally, when Mama was talking about her late husband, she said,
Crazy ‘bout his children! God knows there was plenty wrong with Walter Younger – hard-headed, mean, kind of wild with women – plenty wrong with him. But he sure loved his children. Always wanted them to have something – be something. That’s where Brother gets all these notions, I reckon. (1.1.206)
Parents are not perfect, but they love their children and are always trying to give them the best. Mama here revealed that her late husband, Big Walter, had flaws, but he still had love, and he supported his family. Ultimately, Mama’s comments on loving family and her explaining the love Big Walter had for his children demonstrate the value of family in A Raisin in the Sun.
In A Raisin in the Sun God was a meaningful value. According to Mama, her late husband, Big Walter, once said, “[God] did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while” (1.1.206). God gives families’ children so they are able to provide for their future generation. Mama believes that God gave her children and a grandchild so she could provide for them. In fact, when discussing Mama said to Beneatha, “In my mother's house there is still God” (page 51). God is a big role in many families and they give thanks to God when they are given blessings. Beneatha saying to Mama that she did not believe in God and that she should not thank God for every good thing that happens in their lives goes against Mama’s beliefs about God. In short, god with a value that was essential for Mama yet Beneatha believed that God should not be thanked for every good thing that happens in their lives.
Money was a critical value throughout A Raisin in the Sun. For instance, Walter said to Mama,
Mama – sometimes when I’m downtown and I pass them cool-quiet-looking restaurants where them white boys are sitting back and talking ‘bout things…sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars…sometimes I see guys don’t look much older than me. (Act I, scene II)
When people have economic struggles and are surrounded by people that are rich, they will want to have that wealth. Walter is telling Mama that he wants to be wealthy as the man that he is surrounded by at his job. However, mama said to Walter, “Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it's money.”(Act I, scene II). When the Great Migration was in action when slaves wanted their freedom. Mama told Walter that money is not the only thing in life because Walter is only worried about having money. Overall, financial struggles have created Walter to want more money and he does not see what would be good for the rest of the family.
In A Raisin in the Sun The main values are family, God, and money. Family brought everyone together, even if they were arguing because everyone had to have love for one another. Additionally the belief of God made Mama have an argument with Vanessa as she does not want to believe in God, but mama made it clear to everyone in her house should believe in God. Finally money was a crucial value as the younger family was struggling financially.
