Walter And His Reaction To Mr Linder example essay topic

By: Erica Rivero A Raisin in the sun topic: What is Walter Lee Youngs reaction to the association and how does it transform him Many black men have to deal with an organized racism that affects their role in society. Walter Lee Younger has the unfortunate situation that he is constantly posed on the edge of greatness, but steadily affixed to the certainty of being the Achilles' heel of society. I think to understand Walter and his reaction to Mr. Linder, the representative from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, it is necessary to look at who Walter is, what Walter's situation is, how Walter's reaction transforms him. Walter Lee Younger Walter is a very misunderstood man by his family. He feels surrounded by dominating women who cannot see his dreams as more than silly talk.

He has so many dreams it is driving him out of his skin. He has the burning desire for the American Dream, but with the circumstances of his surroundings, he has not yet found a way to realize them. He is searching for his identity with money; the job that he holds can only provide so much for the family and he is not even capable of providing his son Travis with some pocket change without becoming broke himself. Walter Younger is thirty-five years old and all he will ever be is a limousine driver. He is unhappy with his job and he desperately seeks for an opportunity to improve his family standing.

He is not ready to accept his station in life. He does not want to be the chauffeur driver; he wants to be the man that retains the chauffeur. What type of "breadwinner" can a black man be in America He wants to provide for his family and give them all their dreams: a house, an education, fancy clothes, and the opportunity to be more than someone's servant. At th beginning of the book, we see how a family of five shares a one bedroom, dilapidated apartment, on Chicago's south side, which is similar to the Thomas's living conditions in Native Son. He sees his future just like Bigger Thomas in that he is continuing the cycle of the poor, powerless black man.

He is going to be a servant dominated by the matriarchal black woman. He will stay in the same rattrap that his father spent the majority of his life. In addition to this, he will watch the same occurrence happen to his son... Walter's Situation Walter's mama gives him the money for him to use as he wishes in hopes that he will realize that money is not the only thing in life. This is an important part of the process of maturing for Walter. If she had not given the money to him then maybe he would spend the rest of his life thinking he would have been successful with it, but was not given the chance.

Ultimately, Walter's blind desire to get rich and his belief that money is life is what tears him down and forces him to grow into man hood. He is nave with the American dream and is willing to chance his entire family for it. He loses all of the money his mama entrusted him with, and in the process, Walter shows a lack of character by using Beneatha's money in his business deal, even though its very risky and loses his only possession, his future. He begins to believe that he will be forced to swallow his pride and learn to bow to the "Man".

Out of utter desperation, he contacts Mr. Linder and invites him over to! arrange the details for the Association to buy the house from them. He assumes he is being the man of the house, when all he is doing is selling all the dreams his family has ever had, the only thing that has ever belonged solely to them. Walter's Reaction and Transition When Walter first encounters Mr. Linder, he is very gracious. Walter welcomes him in with open arms, but quickly begins to realize that this man has not come as a friend, but as a foe.

He is quite surprised that Mr. Linder has the nerve to come all the way to their apartment and make such an outrageous request. He still holds the belief that money is life and people are not divides by race, but by income level. His ideals seem to change after he loses all the money; it is Walter's dreams deferred and now he seems to dry up like a raisin in the sun. He no longer believes in the American dream he once held.

He has come to believe that there are the people who have and those who have not. He is the part that has not and he is going to sell his soul to the devil to be the one who has. However, after an argument between his sister and mother, he realizes his need for a change of attitude. When Mr. Lindner arrives to give them the money Walter sees a light. He almost seem!'s possessed by a higher or inner power; his attitude towards Mr. Linder is of empowerment. Up to this point, his fixation with getting rich quick causes a great deal of strife within the family because Walter's greed seems to hold the reigns of his power, and his family's power as well.

That is until Walter refuses the offer and proclaims that the family will move into the house. At this point Walter finally becomes a man in the eyes of his family and gives power to himself. His fixation on money is at this moment appeased by the life lesson he has learned. This is Walter's time to be the man. He realizes the sacrifice his father went through to provide this opportunity for his family; that this house is made of his father's blood and tears, it is made up of five generations of blood, sweat and sacrifice. I found this to be a very positive transformation for Walter because instead of letting himself dry up with his dream, he decides to fight for his dream.

He is no lo! n ger the victim; he is a strong, powerful black man. The type of man Bigger Thomas could have been if he had made the right choices. Walter Lee Young has become a real threat to the dominating white society that represses them.