Transformation
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Kelvin Estevez English 2150 December 26, 2010 Transformation The tried and true form of a story is to witness a character change, usually by recognizing and overcoming some internal conflict. After this, he or she rises to a new level and becomes anew. This typical plot occurs in Lorraine Hansberry’s play entitled “A Raisin in the Sun.” In the play, two main characters experience a transformation. The first is the protagonist of the story, Walter Lee Younger. His dream is of being a rich businessman; in which he is able to give his family something that he wasn’t able to own or experience. However, the road he is on does not coincide with his dream as he struggles to support his family as a Chauffeur. Another character that experiences change is, Beneatha Younger, Walter’s sister. She is an independent and honest college student who has dreams of being a doctor. Both of their dreams navigate around their father’s ten thousand dollar life insurance check. The check is given to their mother. Both brother and sister must decide to change their old ways of acting and thinking, in order to achieve a higher sense of being and understanding. Beneatha Younger is a young intelligent and gifted college student. Her desire in life is to become a doctor and connect with herself. Sticking to one thing is difficult for her and it is made apparent by her history of discarded hobbies. Some of her various hobbies include acting and learning to play the guitar. Beneatha is looking for a way to connect to herself and her main objective in life. Her education is on its way to face a road block as there is no money to pay for it. Now her only chance on becoming a doctor is to use some of the money from her father’s life
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insurance check and use it toward college. During the course of the play Beneatha dates different types of men. One of them is Joseph Asagai, a Nigerian immigrant student. The other is George Murchinson, a wealthy college student. From the two, Beneatha enjoys more the company of Asagai because they share similar African roots. George wants her to be an assimilationist and Beneatha even cuts her hair. She finally decides that she is better off with Asagai. Beneatha begins her transformation with a discussion she had with him. Beneatha has just found out that her brother wasted her money. He stated during their discussion that there is something wrong in a family where all dreams depend on the death of a man. With this statement, Beneatha realizes her dependence on her family and that her independence is actually non-existent. Walter Lee Younger, grew up with a father who wanted the very best for his children. His father shaped his views on the form he lives his life. Walter always wants to be in a better position, socially and economically, than he is. This form of thinking is deteriorating his relationship with his family and most of all, his wife. One of Walter’s business plans that causes regular disagreement in the household is an idea to invest in a liquor store. He will invest with the money from his father’s life insurance check. This investment is his idea of paving the way to give his family what he never has had. His entire family believes that investing in the liquor store is a failed plan from the start. Walter, disagreeing with them, believes that it is the last chance for him to succeed in life and make a name for himself. Walter Lee Younger changes his ways towards the end of the play. His mother uses part of the insurance check to pay some of the payments of the house. The remaining money is divided into Beneatha’s education and for Walter. Walter imprudently decides to invest all of the money into the liquor store. His associate, whom he invested with, ends up running away with the money. The money he used included Beneatha’s share, which was going to be used for her education. Walter is upset and still looks
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for a simple way to make money. The chance arises when Carl Linder, who is a representative from a housing association, comes to purchase the house back for the basis that having colored people disturbs the white people in the neighborhood. In resentment, Walter sells the house. When Linder arrives, Walter stands up for his family and proudly states that they will stay in the house. In retrospect, any transformation in a character is a notable and extraordinary accomplishment. One’s perspective is usually changed by a significant or remarkable incident. This happened for Walter and Beneatha Younger. Her wish of being a doctor rides on her father’s life insurance check. After her brother loses her part of the money, she learns to accept the fact as well as to learn from Asagai, that she is not as independent as she thinks. Walter’s change is seen more evidently than his sister’s. Walter’s mindset is solely on making money and to be able to attain a stable and happy home. Most of his measures and blunders hurt the family considerably, but his transformation in the last scene makes him a hero.
Works Cited Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Modern Library, 1995. Print.
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insurance check and use it toward college. During the course of the play Beneatha dates different types of men. One of them is Joseph Asagai, a Nigerian immigrant student. The other is George Murchinson, a wealthy college student. From the two, Beneatha enjoys more the company of Asagai because they share similar African roots. George wants her to be an assimilationist and Beneatha even cuts her hair. She finally decides that she is better off with Asagai. Beneatha begins her transformation with a discussion she had with him. Beneatha has just found out that her brother wasted her money. He stated during their discussion that there is something wrong in a family where all dreams depend on the death of a man. With this statement, Beneatha realizes her dependence on her family and that her independence is actually non-existent. Walter Lee Younger, grew up with a father who wanted the very best for his children. His father shaped his views on the form he lives his life. Walter always wants to be in a better position, socially and economically, than he is. This form of thinking is deteriorating his relationship with his family and most of all, his wife. One of Walter’s business plans that causes regular disagreement in the household is an idea to invest in a liquor store. He will invest with the money from his father’s life insurance check. This investment is his idea of paving the way to give his family what he never has had. His entire family believes that investing in the liquor store is a failed plan from the start. Walter, disagreeing with them, believes that it is the last chance for him to succeed in life and make a name for himself. Walter Lee Younger changes his ways towards the end of the play. His mother uses part of the insurance check to pay some of the payments of the house. The remaining money is divided into Beneatha’s education and for Walter. Walter imprudently decides to invest all of the money into the liquor store. His associate, whom he invested with, ends up running away with the money. The money he used included Beneatha’s share, which was going to be used for her education. Walter is upset and still looks
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for a simple way to make money. The chance arises when Carl Linder, who is a representative from a housing association, comes to purchase the house back for the basis that having colored people disturbs the white people in the neighborhood. In resentment, Walter sells the house. When Linder arrives, Walter stands up for his family and proudly states that they will stay in the house. In retrospect, any transformation in a character is a notable and extraordinary accomplishment. One’s perspective is usually changed by a significant or remarkable incident. This happened for Walter and Beneatha Younger. Her wish of being a doctor rides on her father’s life insurance check. After her brother loses her part of the money, she learns to accept the fact as well as to learn from Asagai, that she is not as independent as she thinks. Walter’s change is seen more evidently than his sister’s. Walter’s mindset is solely on making money and to be able to attain a stable and happy home. Most of his measures and blunders hurt the family considerably, but his transformation in the last scene makes him a hero.
Works Cited Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Modern Library, 1995. Print.
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