In understanding the play, intrinsic element is the most important aspect. It is show the reader about the basic story in a play. The elements of the Hansberry’s play include plot, characters, setting and theme.
4.1.1 Characters
There are eleven characters that played in this story, such as :
1. Lena Younger (Mama)
Lena is an old woman in early sixties. She is full-bodied and strong woman. She has two children ; they are Walter and Beneatha. She is mother-in-law of Ruth and grandmother of Travis. Lena’s husband dies and leaves his family ten thousand dollars in insurance money that written in Lena’s name. The existence of insurance money, make a dream for her to buy a house with backyard . She is a religious Christian …show more content…
You a good-looking boy. You got a job, a nice wife ,a fine boy and—“
WALTER: “A job. (looks at her) Mama a job ? I open and close car doors all day long. I drive a man around in his limousine and I say, "Yes, sir; no ,sir; very good ,sir; shall I take the Drive, sir?" Mama, that ain't no kind of job . . .that ain't nothing at all. (very quietly) Mama ,I don' t know if I can make you understand.” (Hansberry, 1958:73)
Beside that, sometimes Walter talks rudely and fighting with his mother, his sister and his wife. He is an obsession person that wants to open business for make his family happy and no grief about their economy. He deals a business with his partner; Willy and Bob for open a liquor store but sadly, Willy gone, deceive and leave them with no road maps. It can be seen by the quotation as below :
BOBO (to her): “This deal that me and Walter went into with Willy — Me and Willy was going to go down Springfield and spread some money 'round so's we wouldn't have to wait so long for the liquor license . . . That's what we were going to do……” (Hansberry, 1958:127)
WALTER: “Gone, what you mean Willy is gone? Gone where?......” (Hansberry, …show more content…
(Pause.) I gave her a five-dollar down payment.”
MAMA (presently): “……….Your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I'm waiting to hear you talk like him and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them……” (Hansberry, 1958:75)
5. Travis Younger
Travis is the son of Walter and Ruth. He is the youngest of Youngers family. He is an energetic child who ten years old and likes to play outside with his friends. He is close to his parents and loves his grandmother so much. He is excited to moving into new house because he always wants to live in a house. He is a prospects in new generation in the Youngers family. He can do something independently, for example makes up his bed and beg to his mother for go carry some groceries in front of the supermarket.
TRAVIS (presently): “Could I maybe go carry some groceries in front of the supermarket for a little while after school then?” (Hansberry, 1958:29)
6. Joseph Asagai
Asagai
7. George Murchison
8. Karl Lindner
Lindner is the only white character in the play. He is a representative of the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. He is the spokesman of white association who tells the Youngers family for move to another place where is the Negro families living. Beside that, he also tells that the moving of the youngers family into white neighborhood are not wanted and threatened. It can be seen from quotation as below