A Raisin in the Sun - generation gap

A generation gap definitely exists between the Youngers of A Raisin in the Sun. Mama does not understand what is important to her children, but she loves them all the same. However, this does frustrate Mama as is shown through Hansberry's characterization of Mama. When Walter tries to convince Mama of his plan again and says everything is about money, Mama responds in her stoic way, "(Quietly) Oh--(Very quietly) So now it's life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life--now it's money. I guess the world really do change...(74)." Mama's response such as these throughout the story are what made me love Mama's character. This quote characterizes Mama because it shows that her values are based in her childhood which was much different from Walter's and Beneatha's. Mama's childhood involved escaping the lynchings of the south. Her children takes this for granted because they have always had it which is why Walter believes money is life since he believes that is what he needs in his life now. Additionally, Mama does not understand Beneatha either. Beneatha searches for what expresses her such as guitar or horse back riding. Mama does not understand Beneatha's intellectual way of thinking, so this does not make sense to Mama. At the end of the novel, Mama accepts her children's thinking when she mocks Beneatha by saying her plant expresses her. This is just another example of one of Mama's responses that just made me love her.