Student Question
Who holds the most power in A Raisin in the Sun, and what type of power is it?
Quick answer:
For most of Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun, power is equated with money, and whoever controls the wealth appears to have the most power. At the end, however, Walter Lee becomes the most powerful character, when he refuses to accept Lindner's offer, uncoupling power from money, and taking control over the family's future.
One could argue that Lena Younger possesses the most power throughout the play A Raisin in the Sun. Lena Younger not only controls the financial destiny of her family but also emotionally influences Walter Jr. to make the right decision at the end of the play. Lena Younger initially receives the ten thousand dollar insurance check after her husband passes away and it is her decision how to spend the money. Even though Lena does not possess any significant dreams of her own, she wishes to benefit her entire family. Unfortunately, each person in the Younger home has their own idea of how the money should be spent. Beneatha wants to use the money to pay for her college education while Walter dreams of owning a liquor store. After Lena initially rejects Walter's dream, he is driven to despair, which profoundly impacts her decision to lend him the money....
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Many can argue that Brother's ability to emotionally manipulate his mother gives him power over Lena, but I would argue that Lena's charity and sympathy for her son are the reasons she chooses to lend him the money. Lena also makes the important decision to put a thirty-five hundred dollar down payment on a home in Clybourne Park, which is a significant aspect of the play. After Walter Jr. learns that Willy Harris took the sixty-five hundred dollars Lena had given him, he calls Mr. Linder to discuss selling the house back to the white community. However, it is Lena Younger who influences Walter Jr. not to sell the home. She says the following:
"No. Travis, you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where our five generations done come to. Go ahead, son—Go ahead" (Hansberry, 63).
In the end, Lena Younger's dream of providing a comfortable home for her family comes true. Her ability to control the family's finances and influence Walter Jr. at the end of the play are evidence that she possesses the most power in the household.