To Mama and Ruth, money is a painful, but eternal aspect of life. To Travis and Beneatha, money has yet to gain serious significance. To Walter however, money is the source of all things. "Mama: 'Son--how come you talk so much 'bout money' Walter: Because it is life, Mama!'" Most importantly, however, is that Hansberry uses money as a type of measurement of Walter's masculinity in A Raisin in the Sun. Without it, Walter fails to see himself as the "Man of the House" that everyone so desperately wants him to be. Money also is a major contributing factor to the generation gap that occurs between Walter and his mother. Mama understands that it is necessary but does not fully grasp the tight hold it has on Walter's life. His life and family revolve around it. He needs a new house for his wife, needs to create a better future for his son, and needs to support his aging mother. When the money finally presents itself, he can not but help to try and invest it to further improve his idea of a better life. Hansberry reverts back to her reference of money as life when Ruth and Walter find out all of the money is gone. "(RUTH stands stiffly and quietly in back of them, as though somehow she senses death, her eyes fixed on her husband)". (Hansberry, 126) For them, money was symbolic of better, refreshing life.
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