Alone

Each character in A Raisin in the Sun is alone. No two characters are alike. They are all separated by their ideas, beliefs and desires. No two characters want the same things.

Walter Lee feels completely alone in his own home, surrounded by his family. He even vocalizes his feelings of loneliness in the first act. He wants to have a real discussion with his wife about his hopes and dreams for their lives and livelihood. She responds by telling him to eat his eggs. He is tired of no one sharing his dreams and no one being willing to listen to him, sympathize or lend a kind ear. He is alone because none of the people in his life are supportive of his dreams or endeavors. It is not just about the ten thousand dollars, although no one in the house supports his plan for investing the money. Outside of that plan no one will even listen to his goals or why he wants to spend that money. When he is at home, surrounded by his entire family he feels completely out of place and alone. He feels that he needs to leave home in order to find any sense of peace and Mama recognizes that this is a truly dangerous thing.

Beneatha is also alone. She is separated from her family, namely her mother, by her beliefs and values. She is searching for her identity and her heritage. She wants to find out where she comes from. That is why she is drawn to Asagai. She wants to marry for love, not for money. Her sister and mother cannot grasp this concept. They do not understand why she prefers Joseph to George. She does share one thing with her brother. She dreams of a better life for herself. She is not content with being a nurse or a housekeeper or any typical role she is expected to play. She has bigger dreams. She wants to be a doctor. Her brother is not entirely supportive of this dream even though he shares a similar dream of a better life for himself. Beneatha is alone.