A Raisin in the Sun Character List

Character Overview in "A Raisin in the Sun"

• Walter Younger: Central character, son of Lena, husband to Ruth, and father to Travis; dreams of owning a liquor store while working as a chauffeur.
• Ruth Younger: Walter's wife and mother to Travis; faces unexpected pregnancy and desires to move into a new home.
• Lena (Mama) Younger: Matriarch of the Younger family; mother to Walter and Beneatha; receives life insurance from her deceased husband, Big Walter, and intends to use it for a house deposit.

Family Dynamics

• Beneatha Younger: Walter's sister and aspiring doctor; struggles with her cultural identity while juggling relationships with two suitors, George and Asagai.
• Travis Younger: The young son of Walter and Ruth; currently sleeping on cushions in the living room and is resourceful, seeking ways to earn money.

Relationships and Influences

• George Murchison: College peer of Beneatha; comes from affluence and has traditional expectations for Beneatha's behavior in their potential marriage.
• Asagai: Another college friend of Beneatha from Nigeria; critiques her assimilation into American culture; proposes marriage and a life in Nigeria for her to practice medicine.

Community Interactions

• Mrs. Johnson: Overly inquisitive neighbor who provides the Youngers with information about local racial tensions, specifically a bombing in their prospective neighborhood.
• Karl Lindner: The story’s sole white character; represents the Clybourne Park Improvement Association; attempts to dissuade the Youngers from moving into their new house by offering to buy it back for a profit.

Betrayal and Friendship

• Willy Harris: Walter's accomplice in the liquor store venture; betrays Walter by absconding with their investment money.
• Bobo: Another friend of Walter; shares the shocking news that Willy has run off with their money, leading to a significant turning point for the Younger family.