External Conflict

In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, there is a cycle of external conflicts. Throughout the course of the novel, each of the characters express an external conflict that influences the rest of the family. Ruth's determining on whether or not to get an abortion affects Walter and Mama. It affects Mama because it brings back the memories of Big Walter. It affects Walter because he has to make the decision and stand up for his son just as his father (Big Walter) did. Another external conflict that affects multiple family members is when Willy takes Walter's money. It affects the family because not only do they not have the money that was for the liquor store, but Walter did not invest any money, so they lost all of the money. Walter states, "that money is made out of my father's flesh" (Hansberry, 128). It also affects Travis because they force Walter to explain this in front on his son. Travis learns to act like a man and take responsibility for the things he does both right and wrong in his life. The external conflicts throughout the course of the novel we learn not only impact the person individually, but also the people surrounding them.