The American Experience
Hailey Bean
  • Home
  • Hip
  • Chasing an Ideal
  • The Tragic Impulse
  • Abstract Ideas
  • Works Consulted

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Walter Lee's dignified sacrifice for the benefit of his son, Travis.

back to the tragic impulse
Walter Lee was similarly delusional to Willy Loman, but also changes by the end of the play. Despite Walter Lee's obsession with wealth throughout his life, he manages to grow and change as a person when he has a revelation of values and gives up on his delusional dreams. Walter Lee sacrifices his desire for money to own a liquor store for the sake of his family owning a house and his son's well being in the future. He realizes the importance of family values once his dream fails and knows he has to do something about it. 

Walter Lee sacrificed the last chance he had at achieving his dream by turning down the money and instead taking the house. His sense of dignity allowed him to see the more sentimental things that he should value, like Mama does; by choosing the house over the money, Walter Lee was able to hold on to his dignity. Mama felt like Walter Lee was finally filling his father's shoes because he "came into his manhood" when he used his father's life insurance money to uphold his dignified values and for the benefit of the family.

Walter Lee not only carried on the legacy of his father's manhood, but he passed down his tragic flaw to his son, Travis. It took a lot of strength for Walter Lee to let go of his dreams of wealth, and when he took responsibility and did the right thing, Travis was able to see the reality of his father's strength as a tragic hero. Walter Lee learned responsibility by embracing family values as a way to maintain his dignity and finally giving up on his delusional dreams. This manhood that Walter Lee acquired provided initiative for Travis to be tragically flawed himself in the future. 
next source
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.