A play about the fighting black American pride and morality amidst
poverty, with a touch of colonial African identity. The Youngers are
sixth (Travis the grandson), fifth (Walter and sister Beneatha the
children) and fourth (Lena the mother) generation black Americans. The
old couple have worked hard amidst biting poverty so that the two kids
can have a better life, but with their dreams of achieving more in life
constantly being deferred. Beneatha in college now wants to be a doctor,
while Walter, married with a son, dreams of leaving his lowly chauffeur
job and starting a business.
The
long-awaited dead dad’s insurance check for $10,000 finally arrives.
What should be done with it? Should the mother of the family, the widow
of the man, splash it on herself as dreamily contemplated by her
daughter-in-law Ruth? Or should Walter have it all for his business
dream? The wise woman buys a house, sensing the imminent collapse of her
family, but in a white neighborhood. After making a down payment of
$3,500, she finally decides to trust her protesting son to deposit
$3,000 in a bank for Beneatha’s schooling, and then manage the rest as
he deemed fit, like the head of the family and the man of the house he
ought to be. But then Walter gives all the $6,500 to a business
colleague. The family receives a crushing blow on hearing that this
person has vanished with the money.
Now what should they do? Lena begins considering giving up the new
house. And Walter makes a sudden attempt to give up the cherished family
pride, by accepting a pay-off from the white people that didn’t want
them moving in. But with the family strongly against this, he finally
makes the right choice for them to overcome their crisis and positively
move on.
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