A Raisin In The Sun

The Influences and Interference of Mama

In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, influence and interference plays a role in everyday life. The Younger family occupies a small living space in a boarding house, they are always together. Mama is an influence yet interference to the family. The characters that feel this way is Walter, Beaneatha, and Ruth.

Without Mama the Younger family would get nowhere in life. Although Mama did not tell Walter to buy the liquor store, she was an influence by giving him money to spend on what he wants. Mama stated, "Monday morning I want you to take this money and take three thousand dollars and put it in a savings account for Beneatha's schooling. The rest you put in a checking account - with your name on it. And from now on any penny that come out of it is for you to look after" (106). Mama only wanted her children to be happy. She is a wonderful mother for giving them money. She is a wonderful and caring person but she can also be an interference. Mama maintains reality in the household. She helps her family with decisions they have to make. For example, Beneatha told Mama that Asagai asked her to marry him and move to Africa. Here is their conversation, "Beneatha: Mama Asagai asked me

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to marry him and go to Africa" (149) "Mama: He did? You ain't old enough to marry nobody" (149). Beneatha should stand up for herself and decide what to do on her own. Mama needs to stop interfering in her children's life. Influencing or interfering, Mama is a helpful and loving person.

Mama had the hardest time trying to influence Ruth to talk to her husband, Walter. Ruth has been having a hard time with communication in her marriage. " Walter: That is just what is wrong with the colored women in the world...Don't understand about building their