A Raisin in the Sun

     When I began reading A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry I could not help but notice the importance of money in the lives of these characters.  The Youngers believe that money will give them a better life, a chance to achieve their dreams.  Walter tells Ruth that all he has to tell his son "is stories about how rich white people live. . ." (443).  This displays the effect that being a poor, black family has on their lives.  They do not get the chances that white people get, and they know that.  Money symbolizes a new beginning for the Younger family and with the ten thousand dollar check coming in, they are going to do anything it takes to start over again.  They want to live like all of the white families do.  They want their children to grow up happy and not have a child that "sleeps in the living room" (443).  Money is the only way that they will be able to achieve this dream and make their family happy.  Without it, they are going to fall apart.  The Youngers are ready to use this money for a new beginning, one that will shed a little more light on their lives.