In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter Lee Younger is portrayed as the big dreamer of the Younger family. His dream is to become rich and he spins up schemes with this friends, particularly with Willy Harris. When the play opens, he wants to invest his father's insurance money into a liquor store. He believes that it is the perfect escape from his job as a chauffer, which he despises so much that he doesn't even consider it to be a real job. He has nothing to say when his pregnant wife Ruth announces that she is considering abortion. His drinking problem does get him into trouble with his employer. Instead of going to work for the last three days, Walter Lee explains that he has been wandering all day, (often way into the country) and drinking all night (at a bar with a jazz duo that he loves).
             Mama, Walter's mother, feels guilty about his unhappiness. She gives him the remaining 6,500 dollars of the insurance, telling him to deposit 3,000 dollars for his sister Beneatha's education and to keep the last 3,500 dollars. Walter Lee suddenly becomes more confident and energized. He talks to his son Travis about his plans: he is going to "make a transaction", which is going to make them rich. Walter Lee's excitement builds as he describes their future house and cars, as well as Travis' potential college education.
             Bobo arrives in the middle of a family celebration over Mama's gifts. He, after some stumbling, announces that Willy Harris has run off with all of the money that they invested in the liquor store deal. It turns out that Walter Lee invested not only his 3,500 dollars, but also the 3,000 dollars intended for Beneatha. Mama becomes livid and begins to beat Walter in the face.
             In the final act, Walter Lee rushes in from the bedroom and out the door amidst a sarcastic monologue from Beneatha. Walter Lee returns: he has called Mr. Linder and invited him to the apartment. Wa
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