A Raisin in the Sun Poverty

Walter believes that investing a whole lot of money will earn his family their fortune. He gets a lot of crap from his family about this idea from his family, but on paper it's really not a terrible idea. Unfortunately, Walter's would-be business partner, Willy Harris, turns out to be a total crook. In the end, the Youngers remain in poverty.

Money is a consistent reason for dispute between Walter and Ruth. This quote seems to suggest that Walter doesn't care who he goes into business with as long as it will result in more money.

Walter believes he needs to spend money in order to gain money. And, in this case, he means to spend money on a bribe to help get his liquor license. It seems like Walter's poverty has helped to make him perfectly willing to be a little shady in his business dealings.

Walter tries to prevent the family's economic status from affecting his son. He wants his son to have everything he ought to have.

Walter resents Beneatha's wish to become a doctor because it will cost the family a significant amount of money. The Youngers' poverty seems to often make them turn on each other.

The ten thousand dollars is the first thing on everyone's mind because they are so accustomed to being worried about having enough money. Like many Americans the Youngers have had to struggle to make ends meet.

Ruth jokes that wealth is the most important trait in a man. Somehow we doubt that she truly believes this. Otherwise, she never would have married Walter.

The Younger family is so poverty-stricken that Ruth must deny her child money required for class. She's really short with Travis about this. We wonder if her snippiness belies a sense of shame.

Walter gave Travis his last fifty cents, forcing him to ask Ruth for money to go to work. This moment reveals a lot about Walter. For one, he's ashamed of his poverty and tries to hide it from his son even when it's totally impractical to do so. Ruth's character is also highlighted in this moment. Here, we see the kindness she shows Walter. She gives him the money even though he's totally undermined her in front of their son.

Bennie suggests that having faith does not ensure financial security. It could be that the family's poverty and struggles over the years have put a strain on the Christian faith that her mother brought her up in.

George's family is one of the few black families that Beneatha has ever met that doesn't live in poverty. Of course, she is none too impressed with Murchisons and feels like their money has made them total snobs.

The arrival of Walter's life insurance check is a momentous event. The Younger family is beside itself with the possible doors that money opens.

This statement from Lena shows a real generational gap between her and her son. There's a good chance that her parents were born slaves. Lena would have grown up with the idea that just being free was a big accomplishment. However, Walter is further separated from slavery and so being a free man just isn't enough. To him, the goal is to make money and move up the socioeconomic ladder. What do you think about this? Is Walter not appreciating what he has? Or is Lena just out of touch with the times?

After Lena receives the much-anticipated money, she realizes there is no price someone can put on a lost loved one. It seems she would remain in total poverty if she could have her husband back.

Walter feels limited from opportunities because of the family's lack of money. The poverty that he's been trapped in for his entire life is starting to drive him crazy.

The family is so poverty-stricken that the birth of a new family member is bad news. There's just no more room in their tiny apartment for another person, and there's barely enough money to feed the ones who already live there.

As is proven later by his dealings with Willy, Walter is willing to put a lot on the line in order to earn money. It seems like his life of poverty has made him a bit reckless. The ironic part is that it's this recklessness that lands him back in poverty by the end of the play.