Mama

Why did Hansberry choose to add Mama to his story? Although Mama can come across as a "dream-crusher", she acts as a symbol of progress for her children throughout the play. 

Beneatha and Walter, Mama's children, can be easily identified as characters who tend to fall behind present day culture. Beneatha, who is studying to be a doctor, falls into these stereotypes once Walter has spent her college money. Without the money, she lost faith in humanity and felt as if she could no longer do anything to help people. In comparison to Beneatha, Walter has this dream of owning a liquor store as he believes that the profit would be beneficial to himself and his family. Once his money was gone, he wouldn't do anything but drink all day. Just like Beneatha, he had lost hope in his dream. Both characters looked at money as the pathway to success. Once that path was gone, the characters both lost their ambition. They have both assimilated to society as they refer to the fact that "money is life" (Hansberry 74). 

Mama has a hard time dealing with the fact that money defines life because "once upon a time freedom used to be life" (Hansberry 74). Comparing her past with her children's shows that she feels somewhat stuck. The fact that money is so powerful in their society is unfathomable to her. Mama, who speaks of pride and honesty, sees a lack of that within her children as they've assimilated to the weaknesses among society. All she wants is the best for her children which is where the idea of progress ties in.

The gardening tools the family gifted Mama act as a symbol of growth. Quite literally, gardening tools plant plants in which lead them to sprout. The tools are associated with the new house which accounts to the idea of new beginnings. Walter initially didn't want to move into the house, but doing moved him to a new state of happiness. Beneatha, who was over the idea of becoming a doctor, was encouraged to move to Africa with Asagai in order to pursue her career. Mama can then be labeled as a symbol of progress because her decision to move into the house in Clybourne Park led both of her children on a new pathway in life.