Under Pressure

In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, many characters are easily influenced into conforming to the desires of the outside world.  Some things are small things, like when Beneatha cuts her hair in order to satisfy her boyfriend.  She initially believed this was a good idea, but upon ridicule from her family and her other boyfriend, she conformed again to their ways.  Another example is Walter's sheer willingness to conform to the romantic image of being rich.   He was willing to risk all the money they had, including the money designated for Beneatha's medical schooling, in a business deal with people that seemed like they were shady.  Under the pressure of society, he gave in and decided to chase the dream of improving his life in a quick and exorbitant manner.  The most notable case of pressure is not when someone conforms, but when someone must make a move to try to save her family.  Mama believes that by buying this new, nicer house,  she will unite the family, and ultimately save them from breaking up.  She reveals her motives when she says, "I-I just seen my family falling apart today... just falling to pieces in front of my eyes... we couldn't of gone on like we was today.  We was going backwards 'stead of forwards- talking 'bout killing babies and wishing each other was dead... When it gets like that in life- you just got to do something different, push on out and do something bigger... (She waits) I wish you say something, son... I wish you'd say how deep inside you you think I don't the right thing-" (Hansberry, 94).  Mama would likely used the money for something else, but due to the fighting she believes will tear the family apart, she is forced to buy the new house.  Mama likely believes that by lifting the family out of the house that is practically falling apart around them, she will raise their state of minds above what they were then.