What is interesting about your question is that what could
be two opposite themes are entwined in Walter's character. Walter wants to make
something of life beyond being a driver for someone else. He feels repressed as a black
man in this white dominated society. Once he learns of the family inheritance from Big
Walter, he begs his mother for money to invest in a liquor store. His
ambition is to make something for himself and to be his own
boss. Unfortunately this ambition is at odds with what his mother wants. She has
always dreamed of buying a house in a nice neighborhood. She also wants to pay for
Beneatha's college education. There is only enough money for one person's
dreams. Walter is selfish in wanting to take his mother's
dream away and in the way he guilts her into feeling sorry for him. Walter acts most
selfishly when he takes the portion of the money entrusted
to him and loses it by giving it to his friend who was going to "pave the way" to
getting the liquor licence. This act threatens the family's livelihood and Beneatha's
education.
Once that portion of the money is gone, Walter
sees the truth of himself for the first time. Be is presented an opportunity to recoup
the money by accepting the offer from the racist Mr. Linder, but he finds his pride and
turns down the offer. His final ambition is to do what is
right for his family, especially his mother, and he makes sure that they move into the
house that was his father's legacy.
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