A Raisin in the Sun

     In A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, almost all of the characters are searching for a better way of life. However, they are all very different in going about this.
     Mama and Ruth seem very similar in their dreams. Not only do they want a better life for themselves, but they really care about the well-being of their families. They work to improve their ways of live with their families in mind. They are extremely unselfish in everything they do and never seem to think how their actions will benefit only themselves.
     Walter and Beneatha, however, are just the opposite. While they, too, want a better way of living, they are much more selfish about it. Beneatha wants to become a doctor so that she will live a good life as an  adult. She doesn't seem to care that it is her families money that will get her her education. She only has herself in mind, not her family. Walter, as well, seems to have this mind set. While he says "I want to hang some real pearls 'round my wife's neck" (529) I don't think he is always thinking of Ruth and Travis. Through indirect characterization throughout the play, I have come to the conclusion that Walter Lee is a very selfish character. He makes it seem as though he is thinking of his family, but he is really thinking of just himself. The fact that he took his families money to start his own business, and lost it, shows that if he really cared about his family he would have been a little more careful with his investments.