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Act 1 scene 1

“Well, Lord knows, we’ve put enough rent into this here rat trap to pay for four houses by now…” (Hansberry 44)

Act 1 scene 1

“Yes, life can be a barrel of disappointments, sometimes.” (Hansberry 45)

Act 1 scene 1

“Ain’t nothin’ can tear at you like losin’ your baby.” (Hansberry 45)

In the start of the play, we get an introduction to who Ruth is, and the type of dreams she has. Even though she is disconnected from life at first and we’re not directly told what these dreams are in the beginning, quotes in the play evidently depict what her problems are, and what she wishes she had. In the first quote, she calls her house a “rat trap”, symbolizing she does not feel comfortable with her living situation. The Lee family’s poverty is emphasized throughout the play multiple times. Ruth expresses that she wishes she lived in another home instead of where she is as of now. She is unhappy and feels that life comes with lots of disappointments, like quote two states. But, we are able to tell what her priorities are, and the most important for her is definitely keeping her family safe, as she says nothing can tear you like losing your baby. Clearly, she is a women with aspirations of a better life and always keeping her family out of any situation that will prejudice them.

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“I ain’t rightly decided. Some of it got to be put away for Beneatha and her schoolin’—and ain’t nothing going to touch that part of it. Nothing. Ben thinking that we maybe could meet the notes on a little two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime, if we use part of the insurance for a down payment and everybody kind of pitch in. I could maybe take on a little day work again, few days a week” (Hansberry 44).

This quote is from Act 1 scene 1 almost in the middle of it. In this quote we see Ruth and Mama talking about what would be coming in the mail soon. They were waiting for a big check of money to come in. When Mama and Ruth were talking Mama was talking to Ruth how she would want so save some money for Beneath’s medical school. She would also want to invest with the money in a house for her family. It shows how she doesn’t want her family to struggle anymore so they live a nice long life together. Mama’s dream of owning a house got her family is shown all throughout the play but here is where her dream actually starts.

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Beneatha: “(Dropping to her knees) Well—I do—all right?—Thank everybody! And forgive me for ever wanting to be anything at all! (Pursuing him on her knees across the floor) FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME!” (Hansberry 37)

In Act 1 Scene 1, this quote begins to demonstrate Beneatha’s point of view on her life in the Younger household. Beneatha feels a lack of appreciation for her dream and future life. Beneatha goes to medical school, and feels the pressure from Walter after he brings up the cost of her school. We can see in this quote that dreams aren’t always so easily attained, especially along with the hardships Beneatha was dealing with. Ultimately, Beneatha has to make the choice whether to continue following her dream, or to focus the money more on the family and their home.

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“I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy…Mama – look at me.” (Hansberry 73)

In Act 1 scene 2, Walter tries to help Mama understand his point of view by explaining how his dreams are so numerous and unattainable, that he feels his mental health is deteriorating. They are very poor and don’t have enough money to give everyone what they want. This overall represents how things aren’t just handed to you. If you want something you need to work for it and show improvement and effort to get the longing opportunity you’re working for. Walter’s comment shows how having dreams could be dangerous for a poor Black man in the 1950s.

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For Mama the house is the symbol of her dream. It’s such a big part of her dream because she wants to have a better life for her family. In the play the house is very significant because it shows how Mama wants a home for her family to live great lives. When Mama buys the house she hopes when she does this it will keep the family together for as long as she can.

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The symbol of money has a big effect on each of the characters dreams. Mama, Beneatha, and Walter Lee all have dreams that money has an influence over. Mama wants to use the money to put towards a new home, While Walter and Beneatha want to put some of it to their futures. The symbol of money demonstrates how challenging it can be to reach a dream, especially while also having to think of the lives around you.

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Act II scene 1

“Well-well!-All I can say is- if this is my time in life- MY TIME- to say good-bye- to these goddamed cracking walls and these marching roaches!- And this cramped little closet which ain’t show now or never was no kitchen!… then I say it loud and good, HALLELUJAH! AND GOOD-BYE MISERY… I DON’T NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN!” (Hansberry 93-94)

This quote emphasizes Ruth’s dream of a better life, specifically living situation. Throughout the play, it is shown a lot that Ruth hates where she lives. She feels extremely cramped and uncomfortable. This is leading her to feel lost. She has so many mixed emotions in her daily life due to where she lives. When she finds out she is moving, an overwhelming joy she craved fills her body. Her happiness goes to show how much suffering she was going through before. Her happiness not only comes with excitement, but with relief too.

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Act II Scene 1

“You are looking at what a well-dressed Nigerian woman wears—(She parades for Ruth, her hair completely hidden by the headdress; she is fanning herself with an ornate oriental fan) Isn’t it beautiful?” (Hansberry 76)

In Act II scene 1, Beneatha is showing her family her Nigerian robes. These robes were given to her by Joseph Asagai to help her embrace her culture. This quote shows Asagai’s influence over Beneatha and how he inspires her to be herself. Beneatha went through a lot of character development regarding her culture throughout the book, and Asagai was able to help her embrace it. In the beginning of the novel, Beneatha tries to fit in to the cultural norms by straightening her hair, but starts to embrace it naturally. Her dressing up in the Nigerian robes show another step she has taken to embrace her heritage and not giving in to the stereotypes of the culture.

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Walter: You wouldn’t understand yet, son, but your daddy’s gonna make a transaction . . . a business transaction that’s going to change our lives. . . . That’s how come one day when you ‘bout seventeen years old I’ll come home . . . I’ll pull the car up on the driveway . . . just a plain black Chrysler, I think, with white walls—no—black tires . . . the gardener will be clipping away at the hedges and he’ll say, “Good evening, Mr. Younger.” And I’ll say, “Hello, Jefferson, how are you this evening?” And I’ll go inside and Ruth will come downstairs and meet me at the door and we’ll kiss each other and she’ll take my arm and we’ll go up to your room to see you sitting on the floor with the catalogues of all the great schools in America around you. . . . All the great schools in the world! And—and I’ll say, all right son—it’s your seventeenth birthday, what is it you’ve decided? . . . Just tell me, what it is you want to be—and you’ll be it. . . . Whatever you want to be—Yessir! You just name it, son . . . and I hand you the world!

(Hansberry 108-109)

In Act 2 scene 2, Walter is telling Travis as he’s tucking him in bed that he will move quickly to invest the money that Mama has just given him when part of it is meant for Beneatha’s future schooling costs. Walter envisions that being a gardener makes it seem that Walter wants to live a life that he has seen others enjoy and be like the people he has serviced. He explains his dream of the future in detail. He explains to Travis that he will have a choice among all the best colleges and that they will have enough money to send him to whichever one he chooses. Walter wants the money to make his own business, but at heart, he wants to provide for his family and reduce their cares.

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“Mama, stands, at last alone in the living room, her plant on the table before her as the lights start to come down. She looks around at all the walls and ceilings and suddenly, despite herself, while the children call below, a great heaving thing rises in her and she puts her fist to her mouth to stifle it, takes a final desperate look, pulls her coat about her, pats her hat and goes out. The lights dim down. The door opens and she comes back in, grabs her plant, and goes out for the last time (Hansberry 151).”

In Act 3 these are the final stage directions that can be read on the last page of the act. Ruth, Travis, Walter, and Beneatha have already walked out of their home and Mama is in there alone. In these stage directions it is shown how Mama is taking a final look around before they move out of that home forever. While she is looking around and getting ready to walk out of there she remembers to grab her plant which she had cared for throughout the duration of the play. She has so much love for this plant because it is a sign for growth in her family and the care she gives to her family. Also, hope is also shown through every aspect of the play.

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The liquor store represents Walter’s dream of escaping poverty and providing a better life for his family. To him, it means independence, financial success, and control over his future. He believed that owning the store will make him feel important and give him the power to shape his own destiny.

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"He said he made an investment! With a man even Travis wouldn't have trusted with his most worn-out marbles. And it was gone."

(Hansberry 132)

In Act 3 scene 1, Walter is explaining to his family how his dream of owning a liquor store has fallen apart because of the man he trusted with the money, Willie, stole it. This represents the feeling of betrayal to his family because he wanted to lift them out of poverty through a business venture. Walter's dream of the liquor store was his way of trying to find independence and to improve his financial situation. His desire to start the business shows how much he wants control over his own life and future but also realizes the false hopes that come with making it happen.

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In the play we can see how much Mama cares, nurtures, and loves her plant. This plant is a symbol for her family at the beginning of the play. We can see that the plant never gets enough water and is trying to survive due to their living conditions. Mama has noticed this so she makes sure to care for it and give it lots of water so it can still live. We can see that the plant never dies due to Mama’s nurturing manner. This symbol is so important because Mama is the main person that keeps the family together while they have disagreements in the play and cares for them just the way she would care for the plant. Also, the plant is a symbol for their dream which is owing a home. Which reflects a family roots and hopes of their future.

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Nigerian Robes symbolize the African heritage and culture of not only Beneatha and her family, but also Asagai. Beneatha goes through several cultural developments throughout the play, and the robes symbolize her journey. She is starting to embrace her African Heritage more and more, and begins to wear these robes to show her love for her heritage.

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Act III scene I

“Lena-I’ll work… I’ll work twenty hours a day in all the kitchens in Chicago… I’ll strap my baby on my back if I have to and scrub all the floors in America and wash all the sheets in America if I have to-but we got to MOVE! We got to get OUT OF HERE!!” (Hansberry 140)

This quote vividly shows how bad Ruth is longing to move. Throughout the play, it is evident she’s not comfortable where she’s at right now but we really see her feelings about moving shine through when it comes to the opportunity to leave. Clearly, she is in distress and wishes that she does end up moving. Her desperateness makes this really obvious.

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Act III Scene I

Beneatha: “That that was what one person could do for another, fix him up—sew up the problem, make him all right again. That was the most marvelous thing in the world… I wanted to do that. I always thought it was the one concrete thing in the world that a home being could do.” (Hansberry 133)

In Act III Scene 1, Beneatha is having a conflict within herself. This quote is showing how Beneatha feels about her dream to be a doctor. This was her dream since she was little, but she feels like she has little support for her passion now. At this point in the play, Walter has lost the money through an investment, and it gets Beneatha to start to think if her dream is still worth it. Beneatha wants a future where she can help the world, and she starts to wonder if her dream was just an idealist’s view.

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For Ruth, the symbol of the house represents her dreams in terms of her living situation. The time period this play takes place in makes it extremely difficult for Ruth and her family to live in a more comfortable living space. From the beginning of the play, she complains about how little and deteriorated the apartment is. As the play progresses, she continues to complain, except this time in a more straight forward and aggressive manner. Clearly, the house is a main source of most of her stresses. She talks about how bad she wishes to move. She dreams of a better home and comfortable life.

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“Walter: (Stares at the money) You trust me like that, Mama?

Mama: I ain’t never stop trusting you. Like I ain't never stop loving you (Hansberry 107).”

This quote is from Act 2 scene 2. Before this happens the check of money had already got to their home. Also before Mama gives Walter the money she had already put a down payment on the house they wanted to buy. This quote form the play shows how Mama gives Walter the rest of the money to put into a savings account, some for Beneatha’s medical school and the rest in a checking account for him. He was shocked when this had happened because he didn’t know that she trusted him despite of what has happened with him storming out and getting upset due to Mama not putting the money into his liquor store and putting the money into the house. Mama also gave Walter the money because she felt that he was responsible enough to have the money. She also gave him the money so he could stop asking her and begging her for money for the liquor store which is his dream that he wants to accomplish.