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Walter Lee Younger: A Materialist Portrait
words, become clear as he believes in the power of money more than in his family. Walter’s eagerness for the insurance money for the investment of the liquor business reflects his monetary interest as the only way to meet his family’s needs. He believes that using bribes to obtain his liquor store may be the only way, “Why? You want to know why? ‘Cause we all tied up in a race of people that don’t know how to do nothing but moan, pray and have babies!” (II,i, 73) considering the economic shadow in which Blacks at this time face. Walter views his economic prosperity at winning the battle against race and white power over this market.
Furthermore, in the play Walter relies on money to meet his family needs rather than believing in Mama and the families growth, because his dreams and goals relate to achieving materialistic goals in order to please the family and himself. His constant unbalanced pursue in the field of monetary interest to fulfill family needs, fails to conceive the necessities of emotional support, implied behind the complex needs of a family, “Baby, don’t nothing happen for you in this world ‘less you pay somebody off!” (I, i, 2.) Here Walter again clearly states his strong belief in the power of money in fulfilling all he thinks he needs. It is important to contrast Walter’s views of society where money determines success to Beneatha’s case as she is more humanistic and idealistic, characteristics which influenced impart by Asagai’s interactions. Walter uses the excuse of the low quality of life the family is living to convince Mama to give him the money. “ I’m thirty-five years old; I been married eleven years and I got a boy who sleeps in the living room- and all I got to give him is stories about how rich white people live…” (I, i, 22.) Once again improving the monetary needs of the family seems more important to Walter than the sentimental needs, as it proves to him that he may take on the responsibility of being the head of the household. “You wouldn’t understand yet son, but your daddy’s gonna make a transaction… a business transaction that’s going to change our lives…” (II, ii, 88.) In this example, Walter’s discussion with Travis reveals his very intimate expectations for the family’s future, he seems very optimistic. His need to acquire numerous goods and not to assimilate into the white man’s world of violent racism, seems to be his focus, furthermore, he tends to forget that the lack of money is not the only reason of their condition. Walter bases his responsibilities as the man of the house on the search for money and does not give the family positive sentimental affection.
Like wise, in the play Walter relies on money to meet family’s needs rather than believing in Mama and the families growth as it becomes characteristic of Walter in his development in the play that whenever the economic stability exists his outlooks for [next page]