A Raisin in the Sun is pungent with symbols to deliver a message about the internal struggle within an African American family in the setting of the 1960's.
One of the symbols is Mama's plant. It appears several times in the play and notable with a withered appearance. Mama takes care of the plant just like she takes care of her family. The hope that one day the pant will see sunlight parallels Mama's hope that her family will one day achieve it dreams.
The image of money is used extensively too, however, it means something different to each character. For Walter money is the tangible form of his very dream. The only time he is ever happy is when he has money. Money plays and importance in his life and his dreams. Without it he feels lost and miserable just as the way he was when he lost the money to the bar he invested in. For Beneatha, money was used to achieve a dream of becoming a doctor. The insurance money was not material worth but a way what she needed to reach her dream. For Ruth and Mama, money was something different; it was hope. Money would allow them to buy a new home and start anew.
For the Younger family money could have helped or hindered their dreams depending on how each character took it. One thing realized is that just as money can appear and disappear so can dreams. In the end, Walter and Beneatha's dreams were a bit altered but altered toward that hope that Mama and Ruth had.
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