Original "A Raisin in the Sun" Trailer

Friday, May 16, 2008

Question #8

In the climax of the play, Walter calls Karl Linder to tell him that he is willing to accept his offer of money from his neighbors not to move in; however, Walter changes his mind and declines his offer. Does Walter's decision to decline the money for the 2nd time now come as a decision to please his family or to keep his dignity as an African American man?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great question. I think its a little bit of both. Throughout the play Walter wants to please his family and provide for them he knows that if he accepts the money his family will be disapointed. Also he doesnt want to be pushed around and held at lower standers because of his race and he wants to set a good example and be a good role modle for his son.
JAE

Anonymous said...

I think it is both but mostly to please his family. He knows that he has been a bum and not a very good husband lately. Walter doesn't want his son Travis to see him as a coward or a bad father. Walter also wants to prove to Linder that African Americans stand up for what they believe in. At that moment Walter wanted to prove to his mother that he could be a man and the head of the household. Walter also wanted to start fresh in the new house so that he could make his family happy and keep his dignity.
KIA

Anonymous said...

I agree that Walter is trying to please his family, but i feel that Walter is finally realizing what money has done to him, and he wants his dignity back. Because Travis is standing there, watching him, he doesnt want to teach this appeasement to his son. Walter realizes what he has done, and decides that he is a changed man, wanting his dignity more than anything.
KDB

Anonymous said...

I think it is to keep his dignity as an African American. The money could have helped everyone in the family (ex. help pay for Bannie's school) but there had to be a good reason for Walter to not take it. When at the appartment, Mr. lindner tells the family that the neighborhood doen not want them living there because they think the Younger family will do better with "people of their own kind." Walter tells him that they are still moving into the house and sre not taking the money. By Walter doing that, he shows that he will not be put down or denied a house because of his race.
KES

Anonymous said...

I agree with JAE this is a great question. I think that Walter rejecting the money for a second time however, is to salvage his dignity, as KES touched on. By accepting the money he would have shunned his African American dignity and self dignity, along with the dignity of all of the members of his family that went before him, that fought the very hatred that he has a chance to face in his time and do something about. I also do agree with KIA and KDB that he wants to please his family to an extent, but again it comes down to Lena reminding him of where he came from and Walter applying that to his conversation with Linder.

KCH

Anonymous said...

I believe that Walter makes his choice to pleaes his family as well as keep his dignity. He finally sees that his family is being effected by all the choices that he makes, not just himself. He also wants to keep his dignity because if he were to beg for his money, he would show that he depends on other people to make his dreams come true and would rather take the easy way out in life than to try to actually do it himself, even if it was a little harder. Walter's choices were assisted by both is family and his epiphany, or relization.
BCW