Question

What does the liquor store represent for Walter Lee? Support your answer with at least

Answer 1

Answer:

The liquor store represents Lee's power to be his own boss.

Explanation:

Walter Lee is the 'Brother' in the play 'A Raisin In the Sun' written by Lorraine Hansberry. Lee is the only grown-up male, after his father, in the Younger's family.

Lee aspires to open a liquor store from the insurance money of his father's.

The play can be seen as a struggle of a black poor family, who struggles to gain economic status in the society through the insurance money which amounts $10,000.

For Lee, opening a liquor store from this amount, mean to gain power in society to be his own boss and to provide for his family. For him, this store represented economic and social status. This store also represents his dream of 'taking hold of the world and a chance to change his life.'

Textual Evidence:

'WALTER (Straightening up from her and looking off) That’s  it. There you are. Man say to his woman: I got me a  dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. (Sadly, but  gaining in power) Man say: I got to take hold of this here  world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat your eggs and go  to work. (Passionately now) Man say: I got to change my  life, I’m choking to death, baby! And his woman say—(In  utter anguish as he brings his fists down on his thighs) —Your eggs is getting cold!'

Another evidence from the play, which represents his desire of gaining social status is when he says to his wife that the stories that he got to tell to his  son is just 'how rich white people live.' This also asserts that he just do not want to tell tales of rich white people to his son but also wants to give his son that desirable life, as of rich white people.

' and all I got to give him is stories about  how rich white people live …'