A Raisin in the Sun: Generation Gap

The obvious presence of a generation gap is clearly presented in Lorraine Hasberry's A Raisin in the Sun.  There are several instances throughout the play in which I noticed the differences between the elder and younger characters, like Act I Scene One when Mama, Ruth, and Beneatha are discussing her new fascination with learning to play the guitar, and her tendency to "flit so from one thing to another".  Beneatha say that, "People have to express themselves one way or another", causing her mother and Ruth to burst into laughter.  This shows the gap in the mindset regarding the individiual between two generations.   Beneatha is already thinking closer to the mindset of people today, in the individual sense, more concerned with her own personal growth and discovery than other wordly concerns.  On the other hand, elders like Mama never had the luxury of "expressing themselves", having other priorities to worry about. Another example of this generation gap is Mama and Walter's argument about what iostnimportant in life, money or freedom. Mama says, "Once upon a time freedom used to be life - now its money. I guess the world really do change... " This shows how Mama's generation had a very different outlook on life than Walter's, creating a generation gap.