Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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Amber Fortenberry D. Swain Composition II (ACTS: ENGL 1023) 22 April 2015 Lena Younger is Mama Lena Younger, also known as Mama, is Lorraine Hansberry’s character in the play, “A Raisin in the Sun”. Lena is an African American middle-aged woman in her early sixties, whom is also the head of her household and crazy about her family. She is the mother of two. A son named, Walter Lee and a daughter named, Beneatha. Mama is also a grandmother to Walter Lee and Ruth’s son, Travis. The play takes place between World War II and the present, somewhere on the south side of Chicago. Mama makes ends meet as a maid so she can help take care of her household. Walter and Ruth also work while Travis and Beneatha go to school. Lena does not have much when…show more content…
She tells Beneatha what kind of clothing to wear and gets onto Walter for not eating well enough. When her daughter-in-law, Ruth, is feeling sick, Mama is the only to notice. She also always helps Travis, cover up his errors. Mama is a wonderful mother who gives great advice and makes wise decisions and she proves that time and time again throughout the play. Mama gave Walter some money after he got mad that she spent money for a down payment on a new house. He ends up losing all the money she had given him, she was furious and ends up hitting him, then later asks forgiveness and wisdom from God. Mama will not let the Lord’s name be used in vein in her…show more content…
She wants to put a down payment on a house in an all-white neighborhood even after the neighbor tries to scare her. She knows that her family is strong enough to handle anything that comes to them, but when the insurance money is stolen, she has no choice than to keep her family in the apartment that is not good enough for her family, Mama thinks. The apartment is a nasty little place that has rats and Mama does not like for her family to live there. She wanted the little house so they all could live comfortable. There is nothing that can destroy Mama’s strength or faith. Mama is so use to facing hardships that she has become stronger than the strongest. Mama has already faced everything bad there is to face. From living below poverty, to losing a child and husband, to all the bad discrimination, to the theft of her money that would get her family out of the apartment, but Mama still keeps her head high. Her faith in God and her family keeps her going strong. As long as she has her family and God on her side, nothing can break
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