A kink in the hose...

In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Walter's actions constantly set back the dreams and goals of his family. For instance, when Mama talks to Walter in the kitchen she says, "Oh-so now it's life. Money is life... You something new, boy" (74). This shows how Walter's actions constantly set back his family's goals and dreams because it is Mama's goal in life to bring up her children to be successful and kind people, and he lets her down and delays her dream from coming true when all he thinks about is money. Mama strives to teach her children to appreciate the important things in life, and he sets this goal back by letting money consume his life. Walter's actions not only affect Mama's dreams, but others in his family as well. For example, when Walter and his family find out that Willy stole the inheritance money from Walter,  Beneatha "leans forlornly against a wall, fingering a piece of red ribbon from the mother's gift" (129). This displays the way that Walter's actions set back the goals and dreams of his family because he was not responsible enough to put Beneatha's college money in the bank, and her dream to be a doctor cannot come true unless she has money to finish college. This will make it harder for Beneatha to achieve her life goal. Walter's irresponsible actions get in the way of his family's life plans coming true, just as many other  selfish people's actions negatively affect the dreams of hard-working people in the world.