Characters

This is the family from the movie (fictional family)

 The Younger family lives in a very torn and beat up apartment, one bedroom apartment, five people. The Younger's family members occupying this apartment consists of Walter, Ruth (Walter's wife), Travis (Walter and Ruth's son), Beneatha (Walter's Sister) and lastly Lena, more commonly known as Mama to everybody, is Walter and Beneatha's suffering mother. There is more to these characters than just the role they play in this struggling family. For starters, Walter is a chauffeur which for those who are unaware isn't exactly a great paying job and he despises every aspect of it, especially his boss. Walter has a dream of owning and running a liquor store and feels that no one understands him or his dream. This often results in him acting selfish, careless, and lashing out at others in the play and these traits cause conflict throughout the play. Ruth is the common "woman of the house" at this time period. While the family continues to struggle with money, Ruth does everything to hold down the fort at home. Her and Walter's marriage is not the best; far from it in fact, but she hopes to change that and always does the best she can to be supportive of him and his dream. Travis, the child of the house, does not have a bedroom in this small apartment, he sleeps on the sofa. Travis is not unaware of the family's financial problems and is always begging to help by going to the supermarket and carry grocery bags and earn a few cents. Beneatha has a higher intellect than the rest of the Youngers. The 20 year old attends college and hopes to be able to go to medical school to become a doctor which is extremely rare for women in this day and age especially a black woman. She wants to find her true African self with help from Joseph Asagai, a man who is head over heels in love with Beneatha. Last but not least, Mama. Mama is a prime example of a mother figure, still trying to raise her kids, who she refuses to accept, are already grown adults. She is a tremendously moral and religious woman. Mama inherits $10,000 from the insurance company after the passing of her Husband, Walter Sr,. A large fraction of this money is used to purchase a house they always wanted.