Racial Contrast

The characterization, the only white character in the series, as a timid and indecisive individual at first struck me as slightly off-putting. It seemed as though the author herself was making use of such a weak character to almost unfairly make the main characters of the play seem to be stronger figures by contrast. However, on further consideration, I feel that she may have instead been using such a characterization to make his character seem all the more devious, coming as a wolf in sheep's clothing. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and Lindner states that he has the best of intentions. Any thoughts as to any other intentions the author may have had with such a character?

Mama's Plant

Throughout the entire play there is the consistent mentioning of Mama's plant. She talks about it in the beginning of the play and continues to bring it up in the discussions of moving to the new neighborhood. At first light, in the early morning she pulls out her plant and recoginize it as the start to a new dream for her family. Mama talks about how there is always something left to love in the last act of the play. Does the plant symbolize something that Mama can still hold onto and love? What else could it represent?

Contrasting Significance

Per Sammy:

In Act Two, Scene Three, Walter loses the money that is entrusted to him. This reminds me of Bigger before he gets sentenced to the death penalty. Both signify that there is still not a lot of hope for the African American man at this time due to the continuing segregation. However, at the very end of the book it shows that the family is still moving to the primarily white neighborhood to their new house. So what do you feel these two contrasting circumstances are supposed to represent?