While reading through the play A Raisin in the Sun, I could not decide whether or not Mama made the right decision. Although she was trying to get her family out of the overcrowded, tiny building they live in was it worth it to spend the entire check on a new house. Walter wanted to take all of his father's insurance money and invest in a liquor store with his friends. While this may have brought great fortune to the Younger family, it was risky and Mama refused to invest in an alcohol business. A compromise that may have went over better with Mama would have been investing into a more family based business, such as a restaurant or perhaps a deli of some sorts.
Beneatha on the other hand, most likely needed money to pay for her schooling in order to become a doctor. Although earlier on in the play Mama said that some of the money would be set aside for Beneatha's schooling, she spent it on this house in Clybourne Park.
Mama's intentions were good but, was this the correct time to relocate to a new house? It is made apparent in this play that as soon as the insurance money was known about, members of the family started to behave differently. Should the money have been used to invest in Walter's business or to push Beneatha through school? What may have been a better compromise besides quickly buying a new house?
Great title Joe! Mama definitely chose the most conservative option that would benefit the whole family without favoring anyone. I think she made the right choice; however, I do not think she should have ran off and purchased a new house without telling anybody. She should have sat down with the whole family and made a coherent decision. Another option could have been to equally split the money between her children and let them use it how they please. This would have given Walter a little kickstart to his liquor store investment and allowed Beneatha to continue pushing through college.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Joey when he says they should have sat down as a family and made the decision on what to do with the money. While buying a new house does seem very enticing at first notice, the location is not ideal for this back family. During this time period, racism was a very powerful idea and neighborhoods were still very segregated. Black families lived with black families and white families lived with white families; that is just how society worked. The thought of moving into a white neighborhood is crazy, and at first, it is only Walter who recognizes this. They're not going to be treated kindly by their neighbors and life will only get harder for them. Personally, I think Mama should have asked her family about the whole housing situation, and asked if anyone had any sort of money saved up. Walter probably had money saved up for his "liquor store investment" that they could have used to possibly move into a black neighborhood. If Mama would have told everyone that she was buying a house, I think they would have chipped in some money in order to get a better house in a better location. Overall, I think the house was a good investment, but I think Mama should have told her family so they could have chipped in in order for them to move into a more black friendly neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI think that Mama stepping up and investing in a house was the best decision for the whole family. Walter Lee was just being selfish and had almost no thought about the "what if's" of his idea. His Liquor store could have not gotten enough business to maintain any type income. Walter shows how he is incapable of seeing the big picture. He believes that nobody listens to him, but in reality it is himself that isn't listening. The house that Mama invested in could definitely help the family in the long run because it allows the children to grow up in a better neighborhood with more privacy, and it makes it a lot easier for Ruth to make the decision to keep her baby.
ReplyDeleteI think Mama made the best decisions that was available to her at the time. She saw her family falling apart around her. The house will give everyone more space for one another and contribute to less fighting. While Mama should have discussed her decision with the family she made an executive decision, which ultimately she had the right to do. It was her money. Mama used the money on her family in the way she felt most appropriate. I also think that she was trying to protect Walter. I think Mama knew the liquor store plan would not pan out. By using the money on something else for the whole family she is indirectly cutting of Walter's dream instead of just bluntly refusing on principle. I think this softens the blow to Walter's ego, even though he still takes it pretty hard.
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