Explain the following quote by Walter: "Once upon a time freedom used to be life. Now money is life." What does he mean by this? What does this comment say about Walter?
To many people, life is often described as what they are currently working towards, or what they are most focused on at that time. In Walter Younger’s case, he starts out by saying that “freedom used to be life.” By this, he means that life for African-Americans used to be achieving their goals of freedom; freedom was what they were most concerned with. Now, his family is trying very hard to make ends meet because they are struggling with money. They were living paycheck to paycheck, but now that they are receiving Walter’s father’s life inheritance, they argue about whose dreams the money will fulfill. Walter’s comment shows us that his focus in life is the family’s money issues and that he is living to end it.
The quote says a lot about Walter's stress and his inability to provide for his family. He says that "once freedom used to be life", so he is saying that when he was younger he was allowed to be a lot more carefree, and now that he has a family he is always worried about earning money. When he was younger he could dream to be anything he wanted, and now that he is older, he has to constantly think of ways to earn more money instead of just focusing on the dream. That is why he wants to earn more money by opening a liquor store on top of being a chauffeur. Therefore, that is why he says his life has become all about earning money.
When Walter says this quote, he means that the main goal of life was to stay alive, be free, and to head north because slavery was abolished up there and now, that is not as important. Instead it has become apparent that money and wealth is more important than life and freedom. Now, people's entire life revolves around money instead of freedom. Since Walter's family is not very wealthy and struggles with money, his family argues over the $10,000. Each family member wants to achieve their own dream with this money and it shows us that Walter is focused on the money, his liquor store, and his family's problems involving money. Also, Walter tries to end this problem in his family by opening a liquor store with the money and will generate plenty of money which can be used to provide food and other items to his family. As a result, the comment says that Walter is a smart and loving man who wants to take a big risk to help his family and himself. -IndiboiX911
Walter is saying that people change their lives depending on their circumstances. People are always wanting things especially something that they can not have. Once upon a time people could get freedom, now that they have that they want something else that seems impossible. Walter wants money to prove to himself that he is worth something and powerful. He thinks that by achieving his goals and impressing people that people will finally accept him and treat him equally.
African-American used to worry about freedom because they thought having freedom would bring equality and a better life. Even though the African-Americans were free they did not have any money. So now instead of striving for freedom they are striving for money. Walter wants to have money like the upper-class people because he thinks that money is the only way to be happy in life and to be equal. Walter is no longer content with having new freedom he wants to have money as well.
Walter is saying that African-Americans used to live with freedom as their dream or goal. It was once that all they hoped for was to be free and to be able to choose for themselves. However, now in the time setting of the novel and even today, money has become the ultimate ambition for many people. This comment reflects Walter's desire to be wealthy and it displays a somewhat shallowness in him that thinks the main goal of life is money.
Walter means that in past times the point of life was gaining and retaining freedom but as the world changes money has become more of a pressing matter. He also means that without money you can't live and that having freedom isn't enough anymore. This shows that Walter has strayed away from the principals his parents have taught him and he is more concerned with money than the previous generation.
By saying this, Walter has demonstrated that he feels gaining wealth is the most important thing to him. This is because over the course of a century, many people became more focused on wealth since they no longer had to put their energy and hopes towards freedom. It shows how Walter is self centered. He wants to accquire wealth so stongly, because it is what his life is built upon, that he is willing to defer his sister's dream to become a doctor and his mother's dream of owning a house, so he could simply use the inheiritance to open up a liqour store to gain more money for himself.
This quote shows the change from a colored person's struggle for freedom to the struggle for money. Before, or "once upon a time" as he puts it, freedom was all that mattered in life because, without freedom, nothing could be achieved. Freedom was the main thing that separated different classes from one another, and it was the main thing that separated blacks from whites. In the time the book refers to as the present, money has taken the place of freedom as the main distinction between peoples of color and Caucasians, and it is the primary necessity for life achievement, at least in the common person's eyes. Aside from the meaning this quote possesses, it provides a deeper look into Walter's personality, which seems to be focused primarily on money rather than family or anything else that should be of greater importance. However, in his defense, he sees gaining money as the only way to please his family, and therefore as the most important thing to life.
When Walter says this quote, he means that life changes as one ventures goes on with life. By saying that freedom used to life, he could be referring to his son and how Travis can be care-free and not worry about things such as money. However, in Walter's case, his problems are not a concern of who to play with, but rather, how much money he has in order to support his family. Walter does not have time to be care and worry-free which is why he gave his son the dollar to have fun. This quote by Walter explains to the readers that he is a man of business of money and that everything really does revolve around money. For example, the amount of money that he has is the reason for his living situation and his job; it is not entirely based on skin color. However, this quote explains to the readers that Walter is a man determined to support his family completely. By having enough money and supporting his family, Walter feels that is when his family will be truly happy.
Life is defined by what a person aspires. When Walter Young said "once upon a time," he probably meant the 19th century, when African Americans' lives were restrained under the system of slavery. During that time, many African Americans lived and dreamed of becoming free men and women, unfettered from the tyranny of their masters. However "now," as Walter refers to the 1950s, most African Americans had already acquired freedom but only in terms of their social status; many still suffered life restraints from their lack of economic power. Living pathetically as a chauffeur with his mom, sister and wife, Walter probably believed that money is the answer to acquiring the reputation and luxury that he believed his ancestors had once dreamt of.
What Walter means by this is that form once people were worried about slavery, due to the fact slaves had lower ways of living they had only one thing to hope for: freedom. But the problem is that people always want more after they get a piece of a better life. Now due to the fact they take freedom for granted, something that previous generations fought so hard for, they want to be rich. Everything in life is based on monetary value, heck this blog....someone had to make it costing time and money. Basically, everyone takes freedom for granted and they want the next step, to be rich. This comment says about Walter is that he lives in the future for starters, but that he has been "Americanized" and became all the other Americans that require money for life. He is saying in order to live in this world, money is everything. This also says about Walter that he is consumed by greed with the rest of American population.
Walter Younger is an African American father in a time period after slavery was demolished. African Americans had worked so hard to gain their lives back. Their only wish of freedom was just that, their lives. Now that blacks and whites are living more equally, Walter is determined to become successful and rich like many of the white people he taxis around. Just how the slaves wanted to gain their freedom, so does Walter's family. They want to gain their freedom from money. Walter wants his family to be set free of their poor, depressed lifestyle. Money is the main importance of that time period, because it was the only way to live freely.
Walter Younger is an African American father in a time period after slavery was demolished. African Americans had worked so hard to gain their lives back. Their only wish of freedom was just that, their lives. Now that blacks and whites are living more equally, Walter is determined to become successful and rich like many of the white people he taxis around. Just how the slaves wanted to gain their freedom, so does Walter's family. They want to gain their freedom from money. Walter wants his family to be set free of their poor, depressed lifestyle. Money is the main importance of that time period, because it was the only way to live freely. -Loof
I think that this quote is very easy to understand. Freedom once was the essence of life. Being free was what made life worth living. "Freedom used to be life." Especially in this scenario, it was hard to find an African-American completely free in society. Once, freedom was their priority. However, making enough money to support the average family limits "freedom." Wealth determines their freeness to do what they please and live the lifestyles they wish to.
This quote shows how Walter has matured through life as an individual and also how African-American's lives have changed. When Walter was young, he had no stress and all he had to worry about was being free. Now that he is a man with a family living in an apartment with his mother and sister, he has to work to support all of them. Because they are poor, money is an important aspect and he will work his whole life to have money. In addition, African-Americans have worked their whole lives to gain freedom. In these times, whites mostly were the more wealthy people in the US, and African-Americans are now working to be able to have just as much money as them. This shows how Walter is a good father, brother, son, and husband, and he will work for however long he needs to in order to have money. He is very determined and strong willed, also.
I completely agree with you, hershey27, I could not have put it into better words if I tried. Their first priority was to recieve freedom in society, but now this has changed. The focus has now changed to was freedom they can obtain, financially.
I agree and disagree with you pb&j09. I don't think that he is focusing on a new goal because, it's just another thing that he doesn't have. It is just a shift in focus because he has now achieved freedom for himself and his family. Now, he must conquer his financial disatisfaction.
See, a long time ago fighting for freedom was what really mattered. From the Americans fighting for independence to the blacks fighting for civil rights and freedeom from slavery. Now that freedom is attained, the only thing left to do is to survive. Walter believes that the only way to survive is to attain wealth. He believes that his and his family's life is driven by their need for money and they will never survive and never be at peace until they have an ample amount. I believe that this quote shows that Walter is a little shallow. He forgets that there are other things in life besides money: like love, family, and friendship.
Ches, I agree with you. Walter, as shown by his comments and actions from Act I, is consumed by greed. This shows that he wishes to attain his interpretation of the American Dream. He wants to be rich and successful, prove to everyone that he is a man that can provide for his family. He is also fueled by the jealousy of rich white people, probably because of his job as a limo driver. Walter forgets things that are truly important because his desperation to become rich and wealthy. But one thing I do not agree with, not everyone takes freedom for granted. For example, in the play, Mama knows that freedom is important because she had to attain it herself
i think that walter is saying that once upon a time there wasnt freedom and money did exist. and not that african americans are free they are now having money problems. This quote shows that walter cares about money very much and it is a main problem in his life.
I agree with "catalina". Money was more important than anything else. they wanted to be just like the wealthy. They put aside everything else except for money. In the book it brought controversy with the family. Walter needed money to own a liquior store, and his sister needed money toward her tuition in becoming a doctor. All mama wanted to do was save it to make a payment on the house.
By this quote, Walter is saying that freedom is the most important thing a person can have. No material possessions could be as important in life as being free. As times have changed ,however, freedom is a concept that is taken for granted and money is everyone's top priority. This means that wealth is the key to happiness, not freedom. This quote shows Walter is a materialistic man who is driven by trying to make as much money as humanly possible.While people may think Walter has questionable morals, this quote shows Walter is a person who strives for more things in life than the basics (many people would say freedom is a basic neccessity in life) and sets his goals to a new level of standards.
After reading this quote, it’s easy to see why Walter would say something like this. Most of what he says in this book has to deal with money and his search for it. Since Walter does argue so much with his family, especially Mama and Benetha about money, its obvious that his whole life is shaped around money. The quote justifies the fact that in previous years many people worried about freedom and the things they would have to do to obtain it because freedom was what people wanted in life. Freedom would bring joy and happiness into their life. Freedom had no “price” and that was all people seemed to want back then. Nowadays men want money. Walter is just one of the many in the world that exemplify this. It seems that if men didn’t have enough money that they thought was appropriate for a good standard of living then they were going to try and do all they could to reach their goal. In Walters case, all he wanted was to open up a liquor store and to make his family happy, but sometimes in life you don’t always get what you want
Life is made up of various obstacles. Obtaining any type of freedom requires some sort of struggle. Once a person has achieved freedom, they move on to their next goal in life. Walter Lee is describing this situation. When he states that "freedom used to be life", he means that life consisted of a constant battle for freedom for the African-American people. After they achieved freedom, the African-Americans began focusing on everyday struggles, usually money related. Walter shows that his goal has changed from freedom to money because he constantly talks about the check and what he wants to do with the money. He is worried about his family's lower class status and he believes his goal is to end their money issue. Walter's actions also come across as selfish and that worries his family.
_Response to Hannah Montana_ I agree with Hannah Montana when she says that Walter is evidently obsessed with his need for money. This is obvious when he constantly asks about the check and he is always talking about opening up the liquor store. I also agree that freedom brings joy and happiness into ones life. Now that Walter is free he believes that money will bring more joy and happiness. What he hasn't realized is that money problems lead to internal family problems also.
This quote could be taken a few different ways depending on whether the 'Once upon a time' is taken literally, as in in another life time, or if he is actually referencing it to an earlier period during his life. By the most literal take on the quote, Walter could be referring to the freedom that African-Americans used to strive for. Showing that the constant pursuit of a better life, a free life, did in fact used take up your entire life. We can also see this quote referring to his childhood. When children are young being carefree and enjoying life is the only thing that they had to worry about. The 'Now money is life' line by Walter shows that everything in his life, and in other people's life, revolves around the need or want for money. Walter, like other African-Americans of the time,no longer needed to worry about being free, but on being able to pay and support his family. It is ironic that Walter is the person to say this quote when he is the person who is focusing on getting the money all for his wants. It shows he is a rather determined man set on giving his family a better income and standard of living. Yet in the end it also shows his inability to realize that he is not the only other person that has dreams. Walter is a caring, yet stubborn man.
_Response to hershey27_ I also agree with hershey27. Hershey mentions the issue of dreams and how they come into play. Walter's dream is to open up a liquor store and this comes into conflict with Mama and Beneatha's dreams. All three of them want the money to achieve their dreams and this leads to conflict in the family. A life based on money is a life set up for disaster.
I think that the family not only wants to be free from money but free from their responsibilities. Mama wants a house so she can rest and not worry about the family. Ruth and Walter want a liquor store, so they dont have to worry about their sons well-being. Beneatha wants to pay her way through school, so she won't have to be dependent on a man. She doesn't want to be responsible for finding a husband.
I agree with you on this. I think that he finds out that money is the main goal of life and society. The color of skin isn't as big of a deal anymore. People have always just been trying to prove themselves and show that they are just as strong as the next guy. Walter wants to prove himself to his family by giving them a comfortable life.
Walter means that life is completely by money now. It did not use to be however. You used to be happy to be alive and living life to its fullest. They are not stable financially and now just work in order to scrape by and send travis to school, beneatha to school, and pay the rent for the house. Walter wants better. He thinks that money makes the man. He is very materialistic in his views. He believes that using the money for a liquor shop would bring the family money and make everyone happier. That is why he gives Travis extra money at breakfast.
He was happier when he did not need to constantly think of ways to make money. He wants to get away from that so he wants the money for a liquor store which will hopefully solve their money problem.
This quote illustrates Walter's care for only two things--himself and money. His dream of being rich one day is portrayed in this quote, while being compared to the dream of being free by the slaves before him. In this time, money was what makes your dreams come true; it's what makes your life worthwhile. In "once upon a time" freedom is what could make all your dreams come true, and what kept people going throughout their miserable lives as slaves. Walter's involvement in this quote just makes it clearer that the only way he sees his dreams coming true is with money. However, I do believe he is thinking of his family as he thinks of himself, because once he invests the money in the liquor store and starts bringing home more money, he could make everyone else's dreams come true as well. But taking this quote as a raw piece of literature, we can only infer that Walter is resuming to his selfish ways.
Question: Wasn't this quote said by Mama instead of Walter?
I agree because all they used to dream about was getting freedom and enjoying it. Now that they have it, it feels that they are being put down financially and have lost the very essence they once dreamed of.
I think that when Walter says "freedom used to be life" that is means that back when people were slaves all they wanted to do was be freed and thats all their concentration was on. Now that they are free and live in the real world i think when Walter says "Now its all about money" it means now they actually have to work to get a real life and work for what they wnat now.
_Response to hershey27_ i agree with what they are saying about how money is worth everything now to them and how Walter wants the money so taht he can invest in his liquor store and become rich
I dont agree with them because as children they still had to work hard to have a good life. Growing up he probably had a bad life and wnats to make it better for his family and so i think that he wants the money to fianlly invest to have a good life for him mostly and his family.
the quote shows how times are changing and that people always want more than what they already have. For an african american frredom used to be the most prized thing to have but now Walter especially wants more which is wealth. He works for rich white people by driving them around and it frustrates him because he doesn't have that privilege. It is a tough time for the Younger family to maintain their normal lives with the money issues and the fact that a check is arriving soon mixes more emotions. The fact that Walter says this shows that he wants to provide for his family so that they do not have to live paycheck to paycheck. He wants for his family to solve their money issues and he believes that if he gets the money he can fulfill those dreams
This quote is a good example how most people think. When someone longs something, like freedom, they didicate their life to it. When Walter says, "freedom used to be life", he means that the key "object" that African Americans USED to be devoted to is achieving freedom. Now that the African American people have that freedom, there is no longer a reason to work towards it. They (Walter) now occupy themselves not only with life, but obtaining money to improve upon that life. This show how Walter Younger is focusing all of his resources on his ever-changing goals in life. Now that he has obtained freedom (indirectly) he now wishes to persue a more improved lifestyle by seeking out vast amounts of money.
Obviously this quote shows how the priorities in society have changed. When Walter states that freedom use to be life, he meant that freedom was equal in value to life itself. Back in the days of slavery, people did not care how much money they had. All they cared about was achieving freedom. However, times have changed and people do not care as much for their freedom as their money. People died for freedom and would risk losing their life to gain freedom for not just themselves but for others as well. With freedom, it was about the group not the individual. With money, however, it is just the opposite. People gain money and fight for money for their own personal benefit.
Walter's use of the phrase "once upon a time..." shows how he believes the time where gaining freedom was important is far in the past, and a time that few can relate to. This phrasing makes others feel as if that time is very distant, and almost fiction. the phrase "Money is life" Shows Walter's greed and that he values material things. Walter believes that without money you are not capable of living a fully satisfying life.
i think the quote means that nobody at that time is looking at the big picture that they have freedom and that should be all.he is saying that all people care about now are money and how they utilize it and how much they have.he thinks people use their money wealth to control their lives and not the bigger picture of freedom.
*response to indiboix911 I think you are right about how wealth had become the restraints on people's freedom during the 1950s. Like you said, just as African Americans in the eighteenth century were oppressed under the system of slavery, many people in the 1950s, like Walter, felt enslaved to their jobs because of poverty.
Walter is a simple man (even though no women can understand him). All he wants is money, which is understandable. Money is the most improtant thing to him and it is what will fund his shop and help him make more money thus, money is the supporter of his life. Freedom used to life because it would lead to a better overall life for slaves. That is why it was so important. This comment basically says that Walter is very callicascious. He knows that money creates a good life just as freedom did.
What Walter is talking about is what the central focus of his life is about. He categorizes other people into his mindset because like most people he is self centered. He can do nothing about this, it is human nature. When he says that all people used to care about was freedom, he is saying that they people's lives who he has payed attention to were concentrated on freedom. He is making this statement based on the assumption that everybody thinks like he does which they do not. This quote basically says that Walter cares more about money then anything else and that he is self centered.
-response to kyoko212- I think that Walter does know the how precious love, family and friendship are, but he also knows that in order to protect what he cares for, he needs money. That's probably why he became to be so obsessed with money in the first place; he wanted to provide a good home for his family and to make sure that Travis grows up to be a man with wealth and dignity, unlike Walter.
I think Walter is saying that in the past most black people wanted freedom the most in their life. However now most black people, including Walter, just want money. This comment shows that the main focus of Walter's life is to get rich.
As a black man he had to go through the Civil Rights movement and gain his freedom. Once he got rights he could focus on money and the standard of living. Durring the Civil Rights movement providing for your family was good and acceptalbe, but now he has the wants to provide his family with more then just the necessities and he wants to give some luxury.
The quote represents the fact that only money will allow you to do whatever you want to do instead of just being free and being able to go out and be free. For example, Walter would like to be free and go out and buy a liquor store to own; however that requires money that he doesn't have and therefore limits his freedom. The quote shows much about Walter's character as well. It brings forth his pessimistic views on life. It shows how much he craves to fulfill his dreams and how he hates always being tied down by money.
The quote represents the fact that only money will allow you to do whatever you want to do instead of just being free and being able to go out and be free. For example, Walter would like to be free and go out and buy a liquor store to own; however that requires money that he doesn't have and therefore limits his freedom. The quote shows much about Walter's character as well. It brings forth his pessimistic views on life. It shows how much he craves to fulfill his dreams and how he hates always being tied down by money.
In this quote, the "freedom" that Walter refers to is freedom from slavery, which was once the most important dream of African Americans. He is stating that, now that they've acheived freedom, they should strive for equality. Walter's main concern, however, seems not to be social equality, so much as economic equality. Though he shows excessive pride in refusing to admit to his own son that their economic situation is poor, his obsession with earning money appears to deride more from shallow selfishness than from a desire to be respected. ~Audrey33
This comment shows how the thought/idea of having money is his number one priority. Throughout times the focus of lives were to be set free, not just from African Americans, but also Americans. It has evolved so dramatically that people's greed take president over what really life is about. This quote shows alot about Walter's character. Yes, it is human to want to be filthy rich, but put your families needs first. His want for the paycheck is so important to him, that instead of taking a step back and realizing what is best for the entire family, he is only thinking about himself!
I agree with you Isabella, Because the goal of "freedom" was obtained, the next thing on everyones list is being the best of the best. Which in these days, that means being the richest of the rich. Although, i disagree that this quote is just referring to the African Americans. This can be also about caucasions because caucaisions struggle with everyday life aswell as african americans.
kyoko212.. I agree. This quotes main symbolism proves how self centered he is. Rather than concerning himself on getting his son propper clothing, propper shoes, and a propper bed he is too busy coming up with ambitious dreams.
Money in Walter's life has become dominant. It is now even more dominant than his family. To a lot of people in society money has become everything to them. Freedom is constant to them, so money becomes preponderant in the end. This is what Walter is talking about when he says, "Once upon a time freedom used to be life. Now money is life,". African-Americans wished for freedom and since they have achieved that wish, their next wish is to be rich. This says that Walter has become obsessed with wealth.
From the quote my interpretation from what Walter is trying to get at is that no more should black people be worried about there freedom and life in which they use to back in the day. But now people are judged over there wealth that they bring in and how well off they are living. In Walters eye he feels inferior amongst people because he live in a impoverished neighborhood and is broke poor. This is all i have to say. Peace and Chicken Grease
Back when the idea of slavery was accepted, the african slave population did anything to survive which to many meant achieving freedom. After the Emancipation and the end of the Civil War the African Americans had a new goal. This goal was still survival but now the way to achieve freedom was through money due to most of the ex-slaves becoming indentured servants. Walter is simply finding a commonality between himself and the indentured servants of the early 1900s. He views himself as being stripped of his life because the greatest pain for him is his inability to provide for his son and his family. The check his mom is about to recieve is his chance to get the life that he never had for his family. When he said "Now money is life." he meant it because he will do whatever he has to get the money for his family.
I believe Walter is trying to express how freedom was once worth sacrificing your own life for before his time in the Pre-Civil War era and the disillusion that it had brought afterwards. With this attained freedom that he now lives with, Walter has moved on to obtaining what he believes is another goal worth reaching which is gaining money and providing for his family. I think he is beginning to realize that freedom doesn't really mean you are free.
Civil Rights Movement had begun. Walter's quote about money shows that he, unlike the many Civil Rights Advocates of his time, feels the most important thing in life is money. One can infer from this quote that Walter would most likely not appreciate the cause the many Civil Rights Workers were fighting for. His dreams and desires all probably concern money, not equality.
To many people in the United States especially think that life is based on how much money you have. People think to have a great life and have freedom, to be happy, you have to have a lot of money. Freedom does not come through money, money is not going to make a person happy all the time, they will still feel like they need more and more no matter how much they have. Walter does not seem to like his life because he does not have a lot of money lie the rich white people he drives around all day, so hes got it in his head that to have tons of money creates happiness and freedom. Hes looking at the American dream.
This quote ultimately shows Walter's character as an American consumer. Freedom was once the only goal of an African American and freedom brought hope for a better life. Walter has freedom in his life and from his perspective as a black man, the only thing left for him to achieve in life in order to be happy and successful is to have money. Walter thrives to have the life of a rich white man and his attitude towards money shows that he is a dreamer and unsatisfied with anything less than the best.
The quote means that money bacame more important than freedom. African-Americans used to care about their freedom before they were freed, but based on the setting, money became important than the freedom. Walter cares about money because he has to support his family. Walter needs money to open a liquorstore, so money became his life. Walter changed, and now he doesn't care about his family.
When Walter says that life used to be about freedom, he means that life was all about being free and that was good enough. Now, he says that life is about money because that is all people care about. This frustrates him because money is something that he cannot provide in large quantities. Walter himself has even become a victim of the constant struggle for wealth. All he could talk about in Act I was starting a liquor store and becoming rich.
I agree with hershey27 in that we reflect life's values on what is currently taking place in our life at the moment, but then again, there seems to be a little bit more freedom once Mama's check comes in. When her check arrives, there will be a little bit more breathing room for the household, and that they have the choice or freedom of deciding which dreams come true.
I also agree with isabella in that once we agree one goal, our view of life changes. Because of the color of his skin, Walter has attained most of the freedom that he will get in the time period. However, he does not have the equality of a rich man. In the future, though, Walter Lee will probably change his dream and his view of life once he gets the amount of money that he used to dream of.
To Blackjak21: I would have to agree with you. It took me a while but I think that I understand your explanation. Walter strived for freedom and when he got rights he then wanted finacial freedom. Money can enslave peoples lives, debt for instance, and all Walter wanted was to be able to provide for his family with what they needed and wanted.
To green bean: I will have to disagree with you statement that "he can't live." Money is his goal, he wants it to be able to give his family some financial freedom. He has money now just not as much as he would like to and he can is living just not the standard of living that he wants.
to stopkidding: I disagree with you. It is true that Walter, at one point, knew the importance of family and love. However, he has simply forgotten. Think about it. What is Walter's occupation? He goes around driving rich white folks all day while he lives in a two bedroom apartment, his child sleeps on the sofa, his wife is open of the fact that they have little money, among other things. He is a chauffeur---earning his living in such a way that he has to stare at the apple of his eye: wealth and prestige. He wants more than anything to calmly, yet demandingly order a servant for a glass of wine and for his own chauffeur to bring around the MBenz. Originally he had the good intentions of providing a good life for his family, but now he is possessed, fueled by two things: pride and jealousy. He is too proud to send his son off without money for school [yet, ironically, not too proud to ask his mother for money] and too desperately jealous to wait and earn his money slowly and steadily [instead he plans to hit the big bucks with a liquor store--yeah right].
I agree with most of what you said, but you mentioned something towards the end of your post that described Walter as being a man with the concern of making his family happy by way of gaining wealth. I highly disagree with that idea because he has made it seem as though he wants money primarily for reasons that reflect a self-centered attitude. Perhaps he considers how much the family would be helped by more money, but that is the least of his worries. It appears that he wants to be more wealthy so that he can be considered as something better than what he may see as the common African American of the time, so that he is less inferior to the whites of Chicago, and so that he can have more pride as the man of the house. If he cared so much about making the family happy, he would not cause such disarray while being poor.
I agree with most of what you said, but you mentioned something towards the end of your post that described Walter as being a man with the concern of making his family happy by way of gaining wealth. I highly disagree with that idea because he has made it seem as though he wants money primarily for reasons that reflect a self-centered attitude. Perhaps he considers how much the family would be helped by more money, but that is the least of his worries. It appears that he wants to be more wealthy so that he can be considered as something better than what he may see as the common African American of the time, so that he is less inferior to the whites of Chicago, and so that he can have more pride as the man of the house. If he cared so much about making the family happy, he would not cause such disarray while being poor.
Your second sentence is not even a complete sentence. That is bugging me. :) I disagree that he actually considers money as the only way for survival and peace. He can survive without money, but he will never be respected without it. His family can be in peace without money as well. The main thing hindering this family's ability to maintain peace is him. If he was not part of the family and if he did not have such an obsession with money, the family would function as any other and be more peaceful.
I agree with what you say that when he uses the words "once upon a time" that it is being used in a way that most of them can no longer relate. When Walter talks about money being life it definitely shows his greedier side. Walter just wants to live in, his view, of happiness and the only way he thinks he can do that is with money.
I have to disagree with what you said. I don't think that wealth determines whether or not they are freed to do whatever they want to do. Walter's family is far from rich but that doesn't mean the are not free. I believe Walter is talking about money being life because that's really what everyone in society spends half their life gaining. Back when there was slavery, African-Americans would fight for equality in freedom, and now they are fighting for equality in social class.
I completely agree with you. Walter does tend to compare money and freedom. He lives in a time that money equals freedom. In order to live a normal, fulfilling life, money is required. Walter's family struggled to stay complete and constucted. Money seems to be the main issue. Ruth is upset that her husband is not happy, and she wants a house which she cannot aford. Walter wants to invest in a liquor store more than anything, but does not have enough money. These things take away from the freedom of the Younger family. -Loof
-response to dawgs2198- Very true. No one in this book is looking at the big picture, except for maybe Mama, and Ruth. Ruth can tell that wealth is the way to acceptance by society, but not the complete road to happiness. Mama knows this is true too, because she buys a house for their family knowing that it will help save Ruth and Walter's relationship. She also gives $3,000 to Beneetha's school funds, knowing that Beneetha has something going right for her in the future. -Loof
I agree with blakjak21 that making enough money to support the avaerage family limits the freedom. I never though of it that way but they each have a lot to do with each other. People's eyes are opened up to what they previously could not see. African American used to not be able to see the money because they were so concerned with freedom, but now that they do have freedom, thay want they money also.
hershey27, I(DMoney) agree with you in saying that a new goal is what he is pursuing. African Americans were pursuing freedom and that was what they worked hard to achieve. I also agree with the fact that Walter has his own goal now very different from gaining freedom. His new goal is to provide for the family by making money. It does show how Walter is feeling about having the money that they are suppose to get as inheritance. He feels that he needs to get the money to open up the liquor store and once that was acheived, the family's money troubles would be over.
PB&J09, I partly agree with you in that when you said people change their lives under certain circumstances. I agree with that, becuase this quote shows that. When African Americans were fighting to get out of slavery, that is what concerned them the most in life. Running away or figuring out ways to escape servitude for life were main goals from society that most blacks wanted to acheive. Now that the freedom is achieved, gaining money is what concerns them the most. So people do change their ways under different circumstances. I disagree with your reason on what this quote says about Walter. I believe that his main intention is to show how his life ia now about providing for his family by having money and to show he is stressed. I don't believe it was to show off or brag about it.
I agree with dmoney that "freedom used to be life" means that he used to be more carefree when he was a kid. This is another interpretation I did not think about right away, but I think it is a good point to prove. Kids are so carefree when they are younger; they just want to run around and have fun. Now that Walter is older he has other important things on his mind, which does not include being carefree.
i agree, life is lived with a goal in view and Walter obviously thinks that money and wealth is the ultimate goal in life. Yes, it used to be that African-Americans wanted freedom more than anything else but now because freedom comes as a given, they have a new thing to worry about. Walter does care much about the family's financial problems but he is not thinking of the whole familys' well being.
I agree to your opinion because African Americans wanted freedom, and it was their dream. However, money has become more important in the setting of the story. I also agree that Walter only wants money and that is his main goal.
There was one part of your comment that I don't really agree with. Personally, I don't think supporting his family was ever really why he wanted money. Although his family was by no means wealthy, they were able to make ends meet. I think the main reason behind his desire for money was wanting to live like the wealthy white people he works for. His family may have been his excuse for wanting the investment, but in reality, his motivation was primarily to make his own selfish dreams reality.
I agree that African Americans wanted to be freed when they were slaves, but money became more important in the setting. I agree that Walter saying "Now its all about money" shows how they have to care about money too.
Walter means that all they used to worry about was being or getting free or when were they going to get free. But now life is about how much money you have and if youre not wealthy then you are looked down upon pretty much. This says that Walter does not have good intentions for the money and at the same time he does because he wants the best for his family. But gambling with that much money is very risky and irrisponsible.
90 comments:
To many people, life is often described as what they are currently working towards, or what they are most focused on at that time. In Walter Younger’s case, he starts out by saying that “freedom used to be life.” By this, he means that life for African-Americans used to be achieving their goals of freedom; freedom was what they were most concerned with. Now, his family is trying very hard to make ends meet because they are struggling with money. They were living paycheck to paycheck, but now that they are receiving Walter’s father’s life inheritance, they argue about whose dreams the money will fulfill. Walter’s comment shows us that his focus in life is the family’s money issues and that he is living to end it.
The quote says a lot about Walter's stress and his inability to provide for his family. He says that "once freedom used to be life", so he is saying that when he was younger he was allowed to be a lot more carefree, and now that he has a family he is always worried about earning money. When he was younger he could dream to be anything he wanted, and now that he is older, he has to constantly think of ways to earn more money instead of just focusing on the dream. That is why he wants to earn more money by opening a liquor store on top of being a chauffeur. Therefore, that is why he says his life has become all about earning money.
When Walter says this quote, he means that the main goal of life was to stay alive, be free, and to head north because slavery was abolished up there and now, that is not as important. Instead it has become apparent that money and wealth is more important than life and freedom. Now, people's entire life revolves around money instead of freedom. Since Walter's family is not very wealthy and struggles with money, his family argues over the $10,000. Each family member wants to achieve their own dream with this money and it shows us that Walter is focused on the money, his liquor store, and his family's problems involving money. Also, Walter tries to end this problem in his family by opening a liquor store with the money and will generate plenty of money which can be used to provide food and other items to his family. As a result, the comment says that Walter is a smart and loving man who wants to take a big risk to help his family and himself.
-IndiboiX911
Walter is saying that people change their lives depending on their circumstances. People are always wanting things especially something that they can not have. Once upon a time people could get freedom, now that they have that they want something else that seems impossible. Walter wants money to prove to himself that he is worth something and powerful. He thinks that by achieving his goals and impressing people that people will finally accept him and treat him equally.
African-American used to worry about freedom because they thought having freedom would bring equality and a better life. Even though the African-Americans were free they did not have any money. So now instead of striving for freedom they are striving for money. Walter wants to have money like the upper-class people because he thinks that money is the only way to be happy in life and to be equal. Walter is no longer content with having new freedom he wants to have money as well.
Walter is saying that African-Americans used to live with freedom as their dream or goal. It was once that all they hoped for was to be free and to be able to choose for themselves. However, now in the time setting of the novel and even today, money has become the ultimate ambition for many people. This comment reflects Walter's desire to be wealthy and it displays a somewhat shallowness in him that thinks the main goal of life is money.
Walter means that in past times the point of life was gaining and retaining freedom but as the world changes money has become more of a pressing matter. He also means that without money you can't live and that having freedom isn't enough anymore. This shows that Walter has strayed away from the principals his parents have taught him and he is more concerned with money than the previous generation.
By saying this, Walter has demonstrated that he feels gaining wealth is the most important thing to him. This is because over the course of a century, many people became more focused on wealth since they no longer had to put their energy and hopes towards freedom. It shows how Walter is self centered. He wants to accquire wealth so stongly, because it is what his life is built upon, that he is willing to defer his sister's dream to become a doctor and his mother's dream of owning a house, so he could simply use the inheiritance to open up a liqour store to gain more money for himself.
This quote shows the change from a colored person's struggle for freedom to the struggle for money. Before, or "once upon a time" as he puts it, freedom was all that mattered in life because, without freedom, nothing could be achieved. Freedom was the main thing that separated different classes from one another, and it was the main thing that separated blacks from whites. In the time the book refers to as the present, money has taken the place of freedom as the main distinction between peoples of color and Caucasians, and it is the primary necessity for life achievement, at least in the common person's eyes. Aside from the meaning this quote possesses, it provides a deeper look into Walter's personality, which seems to be focused primarily on money rather than family or anything else that should be of greater importance. However, in his defense, he sees gaining money as the only way to please his family, and therefore as the most important thing to life.
When Walter says this quote, he means that life changes as one ventures goes on with life. By saying that freedom used to life, he could be referring to his son and how Travis can be care-free and not worry about things such as money. However, in Walter's case, his problems are not a concern of who to play with, but rather, how much money he has in order to support his family. Walter does not have time to be care and worry-free which is why he gave his son the dollar to have fun. This quote by Walter explains to the readers that he is a man of business of money and that everything really does revolve around money. For example, the amount of money that he has is the reason for his living situation and his job; it is not entirely based on skin color. However, this quote explains to the readers that Walter is a man determined to support his family completely. By having enough money and supporting his family, Walter feels that is when his family will be truly happy.
Life is defined by what a person aspires. When Walter Young said "once upon a time," he probably meant the 19th century, when African Americans' lives were restrained under the system of slavery. During that time, many African Americans lived and dreamed of becoming free men and women, unfettered from the tyranny of their masters. However "now," as Walter refers to the 1950s, most African Americans had already acquired freedom but only in terms of their social status; many still suffered life restraints from their lack of economic power. Living pathetically as a chauffeur with his mom, sister and wife, Walter probably believed that money is the answer to acquiring the reputation and luxury that he believed his ancestors had once dreamt of.
What Walter means by this is that form once people were worried about slavery, due to the fact slaves had lower ways of living they had only one thing to hope for: freedom. But the problem is that people always want more after they get a piece of a better life. Now due to the fact they take freedom for granted, something that previous generations fought so hard for, they want to be rich. Everything in life is based on monetary value, heck this blog....someone had to make it costing time and money. Basically, everyone takes freedom for granted and they want the next step, to be rich. This comment says about Walter is that he lives in the future for starters, but that he has been "Americanized" and became all the other Americans that require money for life. He is saying in order to live in this world, money is everything. This also says about Walter that he is consumed by greed with the rest of American population.
Walter Younger is an African American father in a time period after slavery was demolished. African Americans had worked so hard to gain their lives back. Their only wish of freedom was just that, their lives. Now that blacks and whites are living more equally, Walter is determined to become successful and rich like many of the white people he taxis around. Just how the slaves wanted to gain their freedom, so does Walter's family. They want to gain their freedom from money. Walter wants his family to be set free of their poor, depressed lifestyle. Money is the main importance of that time period, because it was the only way to live freely.
Walter Younger is an African American father in a time period after slavery was demolished. African Americans had worked so hard to gain their lives back. Their only wish of freedom was just that, their lives. Now that blacks and whites are living more equally, Walter is determined to become successful and rich like many of the white people he taxis around. Just how the slaves wanted to gain their freedom, so does Walter's family. They want to gain their freedom from money. Walter wants his family to be set free of their poor, depressed lifestyle. Money is the main importance of that time period, because it was the only way to live freely.
-Loof
I think that this quote is very easy to understand. Freedom once was the essence of life. Being free was what made life worth living. "Freedom used to be life." Especially in this scenario, it was hard to find an African-American completely free in society. Once, freedom was their priority. However, making enough money to support the average family limits "freedom." Wealth determines their freeness to do what they please and live the lifestyles they wish to.
This quote shows how Walter has matured through life as an individual and also how African-American's lives have changed. When Walter was young, he had no stress and all he had to worry about was being free. Now that he is a man with a family living in an apartment with his mother and sister, he has to work to support all of them. Because they are poor, money is an important aspect and he will work his whole life to have money. In addition, African-Americans have worked their whole lives to gain freedom. In these times, whites mostly were the more wealthy people in the US, and African-Americans are now working to be able to have just as much money as them. This shows how Walter is a good father, brother, son, and husband, and he will work for however long he needs to in order to have money. He is very determined and strong willed, also.
I completely agree with you, hershey27, I could not have put it into better words if I tried. Their first priority was to recieve freedom in society, but now this has changed. The focus has now changed to was freedom they can obtain, financially.
I agree and disagree with you pb&j09. I don't think that he is focusing on a new goal because, it's just another thing that he doesn't have. It is just a shift in focus because he has now achieved freedom for himself and his family. Now, he must conquer his financial disatisfaction.
See, a long time ago fighting for freedom was what really mattered. From the Americans fighting for independence to the blacks fighting for civil rights and freedeom from slavery. Now that freedom is attained, the only thing left to do is to survive. Walter believes that the only way to survive is to attain wealth. He believes that his and his family's life is driven by their need for money and they will never survive and never be at peace until they have an ample amount. I believe that this quote shows that Walter is a little shallow. He forgets that there are other things in life besides money: like love, family, and friendship.
Ches,
I agree with you. Walter, as shown by his comments and actions from Act I, is consumed by greed. This shows that he wishes to attain his interpretation of the American Dream. He wants to be rich and successful, prove to everyone that he is a man that can provide for his family. He is also fueled by the jealousy of rich white people, probably because of his job as a limo driver. Walter forgets things that are truly important because his desperation to become rich and wealthy. But one thing I do not agree with, not everyone takes freedom for granted. For example, in the play, Mama knows that freedom is important because she had to attain it herself
i think that walter is saying that once upon a time there wasnt freedom and money did exist. and not that african americans are free they are now having money problems. This quote shows that walter cares about money very much and it is a main problem in his life.
I agree with "catalina". Money was more important than anything else. they wanted to be just like the wealthy. They put aside everything else except for money. In the book it brought controversy with the family. Walter needed money to own a liquior store, and his sister needed money toward her tuition in becoming a doctor. All mama wanted to do was save it to make a payment on the house.
By this quote, Walter is saying that freedom is the most important thing a person can have. No material possessions could be as important in life as being free. As times have changed ,however, freedom is a concept that is taken for granted and money is everyone's top priority. This means that wealth is the key to happiness, not freedom. This quote shows Walter is a materialistic man who is driven by trying to make as much money as humanly possible.While people may think Walter has questionable morals, this quote shows Walter is a person who strives for more things in life than the basics (many people would say freedom is a basic neccessity in life) and sets his goals to a new level of standards.
jk369
After reading this quote, it’s easy to see why Walter would say something like this. Most of what he says in this book has to deal with money and his search for it. Since Walter does argue so much with his family, especially Mama and Benetha about money, its obvious that his whole life is shaped around money. The quote justifies the fact that in previous years many people worried about freedom and the things they would have to do to obtain it because freedom was what people wanted in life. Freedom would bring joy and happiness into their life. Freedom had no “price” and that was all people seemed to want back then. Nowadays men want money. Walter is just one of the many in the world that exemplify this. It seems that if men didn’t have enough money that they thought was appropriate for a good standard of living then they were going to try and do all they could to reach their goal. In Walters case, all he wanted was to open up a liquor store and to make his family happy, but sometimes in life you don’t always get what you want
Life is made up of various obstacles. Obtaining any type of freedom requires some sort of struggle. Once a person has achieved freedom, they move on to their next goal in life. Walter Lee is describing this situation. When he states that "freedom used to be life", he means that life consisted of a constant battle for freedom for the African-American people. After they achieved freedom, the African-Americans began focusing on everyday struggles, usually money related. Walter shows that his goal has changed from freedom to money because he constantly talks about the check and what he wants to do with the money. He is worried about his family's lower class status and he believes his goal is to end their money issue. Walter's actions also come across as selfish and that worries his family.
_Response to Hannah Montana_
I agree with Hannah Montana when she says that Walter is evidently obsessed with his need for money. This is obvious when he constantly asks about the check and he is always talking about opening up the liquor store. I also agree that freedom brings joy and happiness into ones life. Now that Walter is free he believes that money will bring more joy and happiness. What he hasn't realized is that money problems lead to internal family problems also.
This quote could be taken a few different ways depending on whether the 'Once upon a time' is taken literally, as in in another life time, or if he is actually referencing it to an earlier period during his life. By the most literal take on the quote, Walter could be referring to the freedom that African-Americans used to strive for. Showing that the constant pursuit of a better life, a free life, did in fact used take up your entire life. We can also see this quote referring to his childhood. When children are young being carefree and enjoying life is the only thing that they had to worry about. The 'Now money is life' line by Walter shows that everything in his life, and in other people's life, revolves around the need or want for money. Walter, like other African-Americans of the time,no longer needed to worry about being free, but on being able to pay and support his family. It is ironic that Walter is the person to say this quote when he is the person who is focusing on getting the money all for his wants. It shows he is a rather determined man set on giving his family a better income and standard of living. Yet in the end it also shows his inability to realize that he is not the only other person that has dreams. Walter is a caring, yet stubborn man.
_Response to hershey27_
I also agree with hershey27. Hershey mentions the issue of dreams and how they come into play. Walter's dream is to open up a liquor store and this comes into conflict with Mama and Beneatha's dreams. All three of them want the money to achieve their dreams and this leads to conflict in the family. A life based on money is a life set up for disaster.
-response to LOGAN-
I think that the family not only wants to be free from money but free from their responsibilities. Mama wants a house so she can rest and not worry about the family. Ruth and Walter want a liquor store, so they dont have to worry about their sons well-being. Beneatha wants to pay her way through school, so she won't have to be dependent on a man. She doesn't want to be responsible for finding a husband.
-response to PEACHES-
I agree with you on this. I think that he finds out that money is the main goal of life and society. The color of skin isn't as big of a deal anymore. People have always just been trying to prove themselves and show that they are just as strong as the next guy. Walter wants to prove himself to his family by giving them a comfortable life.
Walter means that life is completely by money now. It did not use to be however. You used to be happy to be alive and living life to its fullest. They are not stable financially and now just work in order to scrape by and send travis to school, beneatha to school, and pay the rent for the house. Walter wants better. He thinks that money makes the man. He is very materialistic in his views. He believes that using the money for a liquor shop would bring the family money and make everyone happier. That is why he gives Travis extra money at breakfast.
Response to dmoney.
He was happier when he did not need to constantly think of ways to make money. He wants to get away from that so he wants the money for a liquor store which will hopefully solve their money problem.
This quote illustrates Walter's care for only two things--himself and money. His dream of being rich one day is portrayed in this quote, while being compared to the dream of being free by the slaves before him. In this time, money was what makes your dreams come true; it's what makes your life worthwhile. In "once upon a time" freedom is what could make all your dreams come true, and what kept people going throughout their miserable lives as slaves.
Walter's involvement in this quote just makes it clearer that the only way he sees his dreams coming true is with money. However, I do believe he is thinking of his family as he thinks of himself, because once he invests the money in the liquor store and starts bringing home more money, he could make everyone else's dreams come true as well. But taking this quote as a raw piece of literature, we can only infer that Walter is resuming to his selfish ways.
Question: Wasn't this quote said by Mama instead of Walter?
Response to blakjak21
I agree because all they used to dream about was getting freedom and enjoying it. Now that they have it, it feels that they are being put down financially and have lost the very essence they once dreamed of.
I think that when Walter says "freedom used to be life" that is means that back when people were slaves all they wanted to do was be freed and thats all their concentration was on. Now that they are free and live in the real world i think when Walter says "Now its all about money" it means now they actually have to work to get a real life and work for what they wnat now.
_Response to hershey27_ i agree with what they are saying about how money is worth everything now to them and how Walter wants the money so taht he can invest in his liquor store and become rich
_Response to dmoney_
I dont agree with them because as children they still had to work hard to have a good life. Growing up he probably had a bad life and wnats to make it better for his family and so i think that he wants the money to fianlly invest to have a good life for him mostly and his family.
the quote shows how times are changing and that people always want more than what they already have. For an african american frredom used to be the most prized thing to have but now Walter especially wants more which is wealth. He works for rich white people by driving them around and it frustrates him because he doesn't have that privilege. It is a tough time for the Younger family to maintain their normal lives with the money issues and the fact that a check is arriving soon mixes more emotions. The fact that Walter says this shows that he wants to provide for his family so that they do not have to live paycheck to paycheck. He wants for his family to solve their money issues and he believes that if he gets the money he can fulfill those dreams
This quote is a good example how most people think. When someone longs something, like freedom, they didicate their life to it. When Walter says, "freedom used to be life", he means that the key "object" that African Americans USED to be devoted to is achieving freedom. Now that the African American people have that freedom, there is no longer a reason to work towards it. They (Walter) now occupy themselves not only with life, but obtaining money to improve upon that life. This show how Walter Younger is focusing all of his resources on his ever-changing goals in life. Now that he has obtained freedom (indirectly) he now wishes to persue a more improved lifestyle by seeking out vast amounts of money.
-benhamini-
Obviously this quote shows how the priorities in society have changed. When Walter states that freedom use to be life, he meant that freedom was equal in value to life itself. Back in the days of slavery, people did not care how much money they had. All they cared about was achieving freedom. However, times have changed and people do not care as much for their freedom as their money. People died for freedom and would risk losing their life to gain freedom for not just themselves but for others as well. With freedom, it was about the group not the individual. With money, however, it is just the opposite. People gain money and fight for money for their own personal benefit.
Walter's use of the phrase "once upon a time..." shows how he believes the time where gaining freedom was important is far in the past, and a time that few can relate to. This phrasing makes others feel as if that time is very distant, and almost fiction. the phrase "Money is life" Shows Walter's greed and that he values material things. Walter believes that without money you are not capable of living a fully satisfying life.
i think the quote means that nobody at that time is looking at the big picture that they have freedom and that should be all.he is saying that all people care about now are money and how they utilize it and how much they have.he thinks people use their money wealth to control their lives and not the bigger picture of freedom.
*response to indiboix911
I think you are right about how wealth had become the restraints on people's freedom during the 1950s. Like you said, just as African Americans in the eighteenth century were oppressed under the system of slavery, many people in the 1950s, like Walter, felt enslaved to their jobs because of poverty.
Walter is a simple man (even though no women can understand him). All he wants is money, which is understandable. Money is the most improtant thing to him and it is what will fund his shop and help him make more money thus, money is the supporter of his life. Freedom used to life because it would lead to a better overall life for slaves. That is why it was so important. This comment basically says that Walter is very callicascious. He knows that money creates a good life just as freedom did.
What Walter is talking about is what the central focus of his life is about. He categorizes other people into his mindset because like most people he is self centered. He can do nothing about this, it is human nature. When he says that all people used to care about was freedom, he is saying that they people's lives who he has payed attention to were concentrated on freedom. He is making this statement based on the assumption that everybody thinks like he does which they do not. This quote basically says that Walter cares more about money then anything else and that he is self centered.
-response to kyoko212-
I think that Walter does know the how precious love, family and friendship are, but he also knows that in order to protect what he cares for, he needs money. That's probably why he became to be so obsessed with money in the first place; he wanted to provide a good home for his family and to make sure that Travis grows up to be a man with wealth and dignity, unlike Walter.
"Indeed. I concur with Chewbacca. Walter is quite callicascious, indubitably"
I think Walter is saying that in the past most black people wanted freedom the most in their life. However now most black people, including Walter, just want money. This comment shows that the main focus of Walter's life is to get rich.
*response to peaches
I think that you are wrong about what the freedom means. I think that it refers to the struggle of slaves to be free.
As a black man he had to go through the Civil Rights movement and gain his freedom. Once he got rights he could focus on money and the standard of living. Durring the Civil Rights movement providing for your family was good and acceptalbe, but now he has the wants to provide his family with more then just the necessities and he wants to give some luxury.
*response to kyoko212
I agree with you kyoko212. Walter is self centered, or shallow, so all that he can think about is what he wants.
The quote represents the fact that only money will allow you to do whatever you want to do instead of just being free and being able to go out and be free. For example, Walter would like to be free and go out and buy a liquor store to own; however that requires money that he doesn't have and therefore limits his freedom. The quote shows much about Walter's character as well. It brings forth his pessimistic views on life. It shows how much he craves to fulfill his dreams and how he hates always being tied down by money.
The quote represents the fact that only money will allow you to do whatever you want to do instead of just being free and being able to go out and be free. For example, Walter would like to be free and go out and buy a liquor store to own; however that requires money that he doesn't have and therefore limits his freedom. The quote shows much about Walter's character as well. It brings forth his pessimistic views on life. It shows how much he craves to fulfill his dreams and how he hates always being tied down by money.
In this quote, the "freedom" that Walter refers to is freedom from slavery, which was once the most important dream of African Americans. He is stating that, now that they've acheived freedom, they should strive for equality. Walter's main concern, however, seems not to be social equality, so much as economic equality. Though he shows excessive pride in refusing to admit to his own son that their economic situation is poor, his obsession with earning money appears to deride more from shallow selfishness than from a desire to be respected.
~Audrey33
This comment shows how the thought/idea of having money is his number one priority. Throughout times the focus of lives were to be set free, not just from African Americans, but also Americans. It has evolved so dramatically that people's greed take president over what really life is about. This quote shows alot about Walter's character. Yes, it is human to want to be filthy rich, but put your families needs first. His want for the paycheck is so important to him, that instead of taking a step back and realizing what is best for the entire family, he is only thinking about himself!
I agree with you Isabella,
Because the goal of "freedom" was obtained, the next thing on everyones list is being the best of the best. Which in these days, that means being the richest of the rich. Although, i disagree that this quote is just referring to the African Americans. This can be also about caucasions because caucaisions struggle with everyday life aswell as african americans.
kyoko212.. I agree. This quotes main symbolism proves how self centered he is. Rather than concerning himself on getting his son propper clothing, propper shoes, and a propper bed he is too busy coming up with ambitious dreams.
Money in Walter's life has become dominant. It is now even more dominant than his family. To a lot of people in society money has become everything to them. Freedom is constant to them, so money becomes preponderant in the end. This is what Walter is talking about when he says, "Once upon a time freedom used to be life. Now money is life,". African-Americans wished for freedom and since they have achieved that wish, their next wish is to be rich. This says that Walter has become obsessed with wealth.
From the quote my interpretation from what Walter is trying to get at is that no more should black people be worried about there freedom and life in which they use to back in the day. But now people are judged over there wealth that they bring in and how well off they are living. In Walters eye he feels inferior amongst people because he live in a impoverished neighborhood and is broke poor. This is all i have to say. Peace and Chicken Grease
Back when the idea of slavery was accepted, the african slave population did anything to survive which to many meant achieving freedom. After the Emancipation and the end of the Civil War the African Americans had a new goal. This goal was still survival but now the way to achieve freedom was through money due to most of the ex-slaves becoming indentured servants. Walter is simply finding a commonality between himself and the indentured servants of the early 1900s. He views himself as being stripped of his life because the greatest pain for him is his inability to provide for his son and his family. The check his mom is about to recieve is his chance to get the life that he never had for his family. When he said "Now money is life." he meant it because he will do whatever he has to get the money for his family.
I believe Walter is trying to express how freedom was once worth sacrificing your own life for before his time in the Pre-Civil War era and the disillusion that it had brought afterwards. With this attained freedom that he now lives with, Walter has moved on to obtaining what he believes is another goal worth reaching which is gaining money and providing for his family. I think he is beginning to realize that freedom doesn't really mean you are free.
Civil Rights Movement had begun. Walter's quote about money shows that he, unlike the many Civil Rights Advocates of his time, feels the most important thing in life is money. One can infer from this quote that Walter would most likely not appreciate the cause the many Civil Rights Workers were fighting for. His dreams and desires all probably concern money, not equality.
To many people in the United States especially think that life is based on how much money you have. People think to have a great life and have freedom, to be happy, you have to have a lot of money. Freedom does not come through money, money is not going to make a person happy all the time, they will still feel like they need more and more no matter how much they have. Walter does not seem to like his life because he does not have a lot of money lie the rich white people he drives around all day, so hes got it in his head that to have tons of money creates happiness and freedom. Hes looking at the American dream.
This quote ultimately shows Walter's character as an American consumer. Freedom was once the only goal of an African American and freedom brought hope for a better life. Walter has freedom in his life and from his perspective as a black man, the only thing left for him to achieve in life in order to be happy and successful is to have money. Walter thrives to have the life of a rich white man and his attitude towards money shows that he is a dreamer and unsatisfied with anything less than the best.
The quote means that money bacame more important than freedom. African-Americans used to care about their freedom before they were freed, but based on the setting, money became important than the freedom. Walter cares about money because he has to support his family. Walter needs money to open a liquorstore, so money became his life. Walter changed, and now he doesn't care about his family.
When Walter says that life used to be about freedom, he means that life was all about being free and that was good enough. Now, he says that life is about money because that is all people care about. This frustrates him because money is something that he cannot provide in large quantities. Walter himself has even become a victim of the constant struggle for wealth. All he could talk about in Act I was starting a liquor store and becoming rich.
I agree with hershey27 in that we reflect life's values on what is currently taking place in our life at the moment, but then again, there seems to be a little bit more freedom once Mama's check comes in. When her check arrives, there will be a little bit more breathing room for the household, and that they have the choice or freedom of deciding which dreams come true.
I also agree with isabella in that once we agree one goal, our view of life changes. Because of the color of his skin, Walter has attained most of the freedom that he will get in the time period. However, he does not have the equality of a rich man. In the future, though, Walter Lee will probably change his dream and his view of life once he gets the amount of money that he used to dream of.
To Blackjak21:
I would have to agree with you. It took me a while but I think that I understand your explanation. Walter strived for freedom and when he got rights he then wanted finacial freedom. Money can enslave peoples lives, debt for instance, and all
Walter wanted was to be able to provide for his family with what they needed and wanted.
To green bean:
I will have to disagree with you statement that "he can't live." Money is his goal, he wants it to be able to give his family some financial freedom. He has money now just not as much as he would like to and he can is living just not the standard of living that he wants.
to stopkidding:
I disagree with you. It is true that Walter, at one point, knew the importance of family and love. However, he has simply forgotten. Think about it. What is Walter's occupation? He goes around driving rich white folks all day while he lives in a two bedroom apartment, his child sleeps on the sofa, his wife is open of the fact that they have little money, among other things. He is a chauffeur---earning his living in such a way that he has to stare at the apple of his eye: wealth and prestige. He wants more than anything to calmly, yet demandingly order a servant for a glass of wine and for his own chauffeur to bring around the MBenz. Originally he had the good intentions of providing a good life for his family, but now he is possessed, fueled by two things: pride and jealousy. He is too proud to send his son off without money for school [yet, ironically, not too proud to ask his mother for money] and too desperately jealous to wait and earn his money slowly and steadily [instead he plans to hit the big bucks with a liquor store--yeah right].
In response to Hannah Montana:
I agree with most of what you said, but you mentioned something towards the end of your post that described Walter as being a man with the concern of making his family happy by way of gaining wealth. I highly disagree with that idea because he has made it seem as though he wants money primarily for reasons that reflect a self-centered attitude. Perhaps he considers how much the family would be helped by more money, but that is the least of his worries. It appears that he wants to be more wealthy so that he can be considered as something better than what he may see as the common African American of the time, so that he is less inferior to the whites of Chicago, and so that he can have more pride as the man of the house. If he cared so much about making the family happy, he would not cause such disarray while being poor.
In response to Hannah Montana:
I agree with most of what you said, but you mentioned something towards the end of your post that described Walter as being a man with the concern of making his family happy by way of gaining wealth. I highly disagree with that idea because he has made it seem as though he wants money primarily for reasons that reflect a self-centered attitude. Perhaps he considers how much the family would be helped by more money, but that is the least of his worries. It appears that he wants to be more wealthy so that he can be considered as something better than what he may see as the common African American of the time, so that he is less inferior to the whites of Chicago, and so that he can have more pride as the man of the house. If he cared so much about making the family happy, he would not cause such disarray while being poor.
In response to Kyoko212:
Your second sentence is not even a complete sentence. That is bugging me. :)
I disagree that he actually considers money as the only way for survival and peace. He can survive without money, but he will never be respected without it. His family can be in peace without money as well. The main thing hindering this family's ability to maintain peace is him. If he was not part of the family and if he did not have such an obsession with money, the family would function as any other and be more peaceful.
Response to Carrie Underwood
I agree with what you say that when he uses the words "once upon a time" that it is being used in a way that most of them can no longer relate. When Walter talks about money being life it definitely shows his greedier side. Walter just wants to live in, his view, of happiness and the only way he thinks he can do that is with money.
Response to BlackJack
I have to disagree with what you said. I don't think that wealth determines whether or not they are freed to do whatever they want to do. Walter's family is far from rich but that doesn't mean the are not free. I believe Walter is talking about money being life because that's really what everyone in society spends half their life gaining. Back when there was slavery, African-Americans would fight for equality in freedom, and now they are fighting for equality in social class.
-response to Green Bean-
I completely agree with you. Walter does tend to compare money and freedom. He lives in a time that money equals freedom. In order to live a normal, fulfilling life, money is required. Walter's family struggled to stay complete and constucted. Money seems to be the main issue. Ruth is upset that her husband is not happy, and she wants a house which she cannot aford. Walter wants to invest in a liquor store more than anything, but does not have enough money. These things take away from the freedom of the Younger family.
-Loof
-response to dawgs2198-
Very true. No one in this book is looking at the big picture, except for maybe Mama, and Ruth. Ruth can tell that wealth is the way to acceptance by society, but not the complete road to happiness. Mama knows this is true too, because she buys a house for their family knowing that it will help save Ruth and Walter's relationship. She also gives $3,000 to Beneetha's school funds, knowing that Beneetha has something going right for her in the future.
-Loof
I agree with blakjak21 that making enough money to support the avaerage family limits the freedom. I never though of it that way but they each have a lot to do with each other. People's eyes are opened up to what they previously could not see. African American used to not be able to see the money because they were so concerned with freedom, but now that they do have freedom, thay want they money also.
hershey27,
I(DMoney) agree with you in saying that a new goal is what he is pursuing. African Americans were pursuing freedom and that was what they worked hard to achieve. I also agree with the fact that Walter has his own goal now very different from gaining freedom. His new goal is to provide for the family by making money. It does show how Walter is feeling about having the money that they are suppose to get as inheritance. He feels that he needs to get the money to open up the liquor store and once that was acheived, the family's money troubles would be over.
PB&J09,
I partly agree with you in that when you said people change their lives under certain circumstances. I agree with that, becuase this quote shows that. When African Americans were fighting to get out of slavery, that is what concerned them the most in life. Running away or figuring out ways to escape servitude for life were main goals from society that most blacks wanted to acheive. Now that the freedom is achieved, gaining money is what concerns them the most. So people do change their ways under different circumstances. I disagree with your reason on what this quote says about Walter. I believe that his main intention is to show how his life ia now about providing for his family by having money and to show he is stressed. I don't believe it was to show off or brag about it.
I agree with dmoney that "freedom used to be life" means that he used to be more carefree when he was a kid. This is another interpretation I did not think about right away, but I think it is a good point to prove. Kids are so carefree when they are younger; they just want to run around and have fun. Now that Walter is older he has other important things on his mind, which does not include being carefree.
response to hershey27 -
i agree, life is lived with a goal in view and Walter obviously thinks that money and wealth is the ultimate goal in life. Yes, it used to be that African-Americans wanted freedom more than anything else but now because freedom comes as a given, they have a new thing to worry about. Walter does care much about the family's financial problems but he is not thinking of the whole familys' well being.
-Response to xlove09
I agree to your opinion because African Americans wanted freedom, and it was their dream. However, money has become more important in the setting of the story. I also agree that Walter only wants money and that is his main goal.
-Response to starcandy92
There was one part of your comment that I don't really agree with. Personally, I don't think supporting his family was ever really why he wanted money. Although his family was by no means wealthy, they were able to make ends meet. I think the main reason behind his desire for money was wanting to live like the wealthy white people he works for. His family may have been his excuse for wanting the investment, but in reality, his motivation was primarily to make his own selfish dreams reality.
-Response to sparklescog
I agree that African Americans wanted to be freed when they were slaves, but money became more important in the setting. I agree that Walter saying "Now its all about money" shows how they have to care about money too.
Walter means that all they used to worry about was being or getting free or when were they going to get free. But now life is about how much money you have and if youre not wealthy then you are looked down upon pretty much. This says that Walter does not have good intentions for the money and at the same time he does because he wants the best for his family. But gambling with that much money is very risky and irrisponsible.
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