Think about the role of money in the play, A Raisin in the Sun. How does it affect different characters?

Money is
a very important theme in . On the one hand, it's presented as something
that can offer African-Americans a chance to get on in white society. It's intended that the
money from Mr. Younger's insurance policy will buy the family a new house in a white
neighborhood, giving them higher status and social respectability.

Part of
the insurance payout is also to be used to putthrough medical school. Once she's qualified as a
doctor, Beneatha will be a well-paid, highly-respected professional able to take her place in
mainstream society.

However, the flip side of all this is that money can be a
curse as well as a blessing. Instead of seeing the insurance payout as a catalyst for social
mobility,just sees it as an opportunity to invest in shady schemes. His loss of the money ruins
so many of his family's plans, holding them back from fulfilling their dreams.

In A Raisin in the Sun , then, money is both a source of salvation
and ruination, as it can so easily...