This play illustrates a major conflict throughout the story. As Walter dreams bigger and bigger, he seems to leave the 'smaller' things such as his family behind. This movement away from the family is against the furtherance of the values and morals of the family. Where in the past his father would have been happy working for another man and caring for his family, Walter is more concerned with becoming self-employed or at least in a management position without thinking about the consequences which may be imposed upon his family. As seen later in the story, Walter learns that for the overall good of the family he needs to set his dreams aside and get his 'head in the game' so that all may succeed.
On the other hand, Beneatha, the younger sister of Walter, starts yet another internal conflict by speaking in an unacceptable manner about God at which point her mother slaps her because of her insolence to values that have been taught to her since childhood. Beneatha is unlike the rest of the family, and seeks to confront conflicts by being selfish and only thinking of herself. She strives to be unlike the rest of the family to set herself apart, which is why she wants to be a doctor so desperately. Every solution to each conflict is to face it alone, getting help from anyone is a set back to her wanting to be and individual. Even when a solution to a conflict can be reached, she will not take it because she strives for more. For example, when George wants to marry her, money is not enough and when Asagai offers her love that is not enough. Beneatha is one of those people who will never be satisfied with anything.
In contrast, the story's ending presents a view of how standing by long term family goals, values, and beliefs provides a sense of unity that can surmount any obstacle and keep the pride of the family alive. Once the insurance money is received by Mama, she believes that the best thing to do with it is to buy a new house for her family and to help pay for the cost of Beneatha's education. At first, she is very adamant against giving any of the insurance money to Walter because she believes that his uses for the money will not benefit the family. But, as time progress, Mama sees how downtrodden her son is because none of the family members will back his dream. So, she gives him the left-over money after buying the house to spend it on his dream and "be the head of this family from now on like you supposed to be." Walter's deal falls through though and he is faced with an even more 'pride deflating' task of talking with the head of the white 'Welcoming Committee' of their new neighborhood and pretending to be the stereotypical subservient black so that the 'Welcoming Committee' will buy the family's new house and the family can then use that money for Beneatha's education and existence. But, as the time draws near for Walter to put his pride away, he realizes with the help of the family that no amount of money can make up for the loss of pride and that it is sometimes better to sacrifice the goals of one for the good of many. Therefore, he tells the gentleman from the 'Welcoming Committee' that they "decided to move into our house because my father-my father-he earned it."
“A Raisin in the Sun” displays a great recurring theme in life that many times the good of the few has to be sacrificed through the needs and propagation of the group. This play also powerfully illustrates the idea that sometimes to hold on to ethics, values, and pride is the most difficult option, but is the most fulfilling and helps to make facing the next challenge easier.
