A Raisin in the Sun: Abortion

The situations that Lorraine Handberry's characters in A Raisin in the Sun find themselves in often lead them to make decisions that are out of character for them. We discover in the play that Walter is similar to his decease father I many ways, "And my boy is just like him- he wasn't meant to wait on nobody. The text also informs that Walter's father was "crazy 'bout his children!", so this, at least for me, lead me to believe that Walter cared about his children a great deal as well. Also, they way he tries to spoil his son, despite the family's obvious lack of financial resources, illustrate his love for his son. Ruth also shows great passion towards her son. She works herself to exhaustion to help provide for him every day. The loving exchange before he leaves for school when Ruth teases him with "I wouldn't kiss that woman goodbye for nothing in the world this morning!" also shows a special mother and son bond. The evidence of the parents' care for their son made Ruth's decision to consult an abortionist even more shocking. To add on to the situation, Walter doesnt even say Nything to sway his wife's irrational thinking. I feel bad for both of them because based on their previous behaviors this is not what either of them really want. They are both feeling the pressures the world has placed upon them as parents and are folding at the fear of the challenge of another life for which they are responsible.