Themes

The importance of family is a constant reoccurring theme which can be found through-out the entire play. The Youngers family struggles both socially and economically from the beginning to the end of the play. Socially, the Youngers is a black family facing various problems such as discrimination and being judged by color rather than their personality and values. Economically they are very poor going from pay check to pay check hoping some day they will catching break (the insurance money coming in from the death of their father) instead of going out making a change for themselves. However one thing would unite them all together, their dream of buying a new house.

Mama strongly believes in the importance of family, and she tries to teach this value to her family as she struggles to keep them together and functioning. Walter and Beneatha learn this lesson about family at the end of the play, when Walter must deal with the loss of the stolen insurance money and Beneatha denies Walter as a brother. Even facing such trauma, they come together to reject Mr. Lindner’s racist overtures. This portrays the significance of family and how the Youngers can come all together to face problem. Individually they are strong but united almost nothing will be impossible for the family. Furthermore now putting each others dreams before their own, they are able to reach their family's dream too.