Explain the different reactions of Ruth and Walter to Mama's announcement that she has bought a house in A Raisin in the Sun.

This
important part of the play comes at the end of Act Two Scene 1 and we can clearly see
the various hopes of dreams of the characters involved. For Ruth, the news that Mama has
bought a house for them all comes as a godsend. Note the way she
responds:

HALLELUJAH! AND GOOD-BYE MISERY... I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE
YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN!

For
her, their present abode is a source of oppression for them and is a great stress. It is
infested with cockroaches and there is not enough room for them all. Especially given
her condition, as she is expecting again, she was despairing of how to bring up another
child in such a location but also provide for it. The news of this house gives her hope
and a future for both her family and for the unborn baby inside of
her.

However, for Walter, the way that Mama has used the
money illustrates her headship of the family and represents the death of his dream to
start up his own liquor store. Note what he says to Mama in his
anger:

What
you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives
like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you
need me to say it was all right for? So you butchered up a dream of mine--you--who
always talking 'bout your children's
dreams.

We can see from this
quote that, although the new house represented a hope and future to Ruth, to Walter it
represents the way that his dreams and hopes have been squashed. Mama has acted as the
head of the household, which has slighted Walter as the eldest male of his
family.