Beneatha
Younger does not seem to care about money. She “flits” from one expensive hobby
to another (47). Unlike the other members of the family, she seems
to have no limits, although the money spent on her horseback riding, camera
equipment, acting lessons, and guitar lessons could be used for more financially
relevant things. This could be why Walter Lee is so frustrated by her desire to
go to medical school. He feels as though he and Ruth have sacrificed enough and
it should be his turn to get a shot at his dream. He is frustrated with the
fact that Mama is so willing to fulfill Beneatha’s wishes yet so resistant to
support his.
Mama’s willingness to fulfill her
daughter’s requests, is the same way Walter treats Travis. When Travis asks for
money, Walter gives it to him. When Beneatha decides she wants to take up
another hobby, Mama barely resists. Like any parent, she just wants to see her daughter succeed and
have a better life than she has. She already gave “up one baby to poverty and
[she] ain’t going to give up nary another one” (75). Walter has already been
given up to poverty but Beneatha still has a chance. She has the chance to get
the education they never had and succeed in a way they never have. Same with
Travis, he has the chance to get the education they never had and succeed in a
way they never have. That’s why Walter fanaticizes about Travis “sitting on the
floor with the catalogues of all the great schools in America around [him]”
(109). He wants to pave the way for his son’s success. But, he cannot seem to
find a way to do it without that ten thousand dollars. 
Mama ends up helping all of her children in several ways. She buys the house because she believes that is what will help her family the most, but she also keeps some money aside. Mama took "three thousand dollars and put it in a savings account for Beneatha's medical schooling" (pg 107) and left three thousand five hundred dollars for Walter to use for whatever he wanted. This touched Walter and helped him become a better family member.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned that Mama wants to see her children succeed. Mama has a passion for family. In fact, she is the person who holds her family together. She lets her children have their own opinions, yet reminds them that she is the head of the household. While her dreams aren't necessarily manifested in her children, Mama encourages her children to become the best person they can become. Her children are exposed to more opportunities then she was, which she realizes, and it is ultimately their choice to take advantage of them.
ReplyDeleteAs Nick mentioned, when all is said and done, a parent will do anything to support the dreams of a child whom he/she has faith in and wants to see succeed in life. Not only does Mama give unconditional support to the dreams of Beneatha throughout the play, but she gives support to Walter, as well. Ultimately, Mama does what she does because she wants to see her family prosper.
ReplyDelete