Professor Kristen Over of Northeastern Illinois University explains the main characters in Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun. Walter Lee Younger, often called just Walter, is the man of the Younger household and has the goal of starting a small business.
We, the audience, are more aware of his suffering than Bobo, who is, throughout, a pathetic intellectual dwarf.
Bobo looks to Walter for direction, for even as unschooled as Walter might have appeared to us initially, we see that Walter is far brighter than Bobo. Bobo's thought processes are sluggish; we see that he hardly knows the right words to use as he tries to explain to Walter what happened to their money.
We pity Bobo because of his shabby appearance, his limited intelligence, and his inability to ever escape his environment. We, the audience, are more aware of his suffering than Bobo, who is, throughout, a pathetic intellectual dwarf.
Bobo is Walter's buddy. Just like Walter, he gets ripped off by Willy Harris in the great liquor store catastrophe. Poor Bobo only gets one extremely short scene so we never learn much about him. He pretty much just shows up, gives Walter the bad news, gets throttled by Walter, then shuffles off.
Never appearing onstage, Willy Harris is Walter Lee's supposed friend and business partner. Willy Harris swindles Walter Lee and Bobo out of their investments in the liquor store, disappearing with the money and leaving Walter in a state of despair and financial ruin.
Bobo is, as his name suggests, somewhat dimwitted, but he is basically honest and appears to be a loyal friend. When he comes to Walter's apartment to deliver the bad news about the insurance money, he is so mannerly and polite to the women in the Younger household that he appears almost ridiculous.
Walter Lee YoungerLesson Summary Walter Lee Younger is one of the main characters and the antihero, or unconventional hero, of Lorraine Hansberry's award-winning play A Raisin in the Sun. Walter feels useless as a man because he doesn't make enough money to provide for his family.
Bobo is a portmanteau word used to describe the socio-economic bourgeois-bohemian group in France, the French analogue to the English notion of the "champagne socialist". The term is used extensively in Paris, France.
What news does Bobo bring to Walter? Bobo tells Walter that their friend, Willy, has ran off with all the money that they invested into their liquor store.
How does his visit change the family's mood? Bobo is Walter's friend who Walter wants to buy a liquor store with. Bobo came to see Walter and tell him that Willy stole all of their money. This makes the family sad and worried since all of Walter's money was all of the Younger's money.
Bobo is at the door, and he brings news of the liquor store.
SpringfieldBobo, in quiet desperation, explains the distressing news. Willy was supposed to meet Bobo and travel to Springfield to quickly obtain a liquor license. Instead, Willy stole all of Walter's investment money, as well as Bobo's life savings. During Act Two, Scene Two, Mama entrusted $6500 to her son, Walter.
Mama is the most nurturing character in the play, and she constantly reminds Walter that all she has ever wanted is to make her children happy and provide for them. She cares deeply for Walter and shows this care by giving him the remaining insurance money.
Interestingly, Hansberry makes Mama, Lena Younger, the strongest character in the play. She always seems to have the right answers while the other characters do not.
Walter Lee Younger the true protagonist in antagonist way. The true hero from anti-hero.
Character Analysis Bobo. Character Analysis. Bobo. Bobo is, as his name suggests, somewhat dimwitted, but he is basically honest and appears to be a loyal friend. When he comes to Walter's apartment to deliver the bad news about the insurance money, he is so mannerly and polite to the women in the Younger household that he appears almost ridiculous.
Bobo looks to Walter for direction, for even as unschooled as Walter might have appeared to us initially, we see that Walter is far brighter than Bobo.