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Gabby Balbuena
Mr. King
English 1
9 January 2019
“In a given year, bipolar disorder affects about 5.7 million American adults, or about
2.6% of the U.S. population 18 and older, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.”
(Doheny, 2008). Walter Lee, the father figure in A Raisin in the Sun displays many qualities that
a bipolar person may have. In some cases, he shows signs of a manic phase, feeling confident
and positive. At other times, Walter Lee shows signs of depressed episodes, feeling a sense of
hopelessness and guilt. Walter Lee Younger displays several symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, “A
mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or
Someone who has Bipolar Disorder will experience manic cycles, throughout the story
Walter Lee shows many of the signs of someone having a manic episode. When manic episodes
occur, one will experience extreme happiness and feel as if they can achieve anything. During
the story, Walter Lee is given thousands of dollars from his mother who advised him to put some
in his sister’s savings and the rest into a checkings account under his name. Instead of doing this,
Walter Lee invested all of the money into a liquor store and soon finds out it was a scam.
“ ‘MAMA: Son I gave you 6,500 dollars. Is it gone?’ ‘WALTER: Yessss! All of it… It’s all
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gone…’ ” (Hansberry 129). Walter Lee wastes $6,500 because he made a bad decision on how
he should spend his money. “Symptoms of a manic episode may include engaging in risky
behavior such as lavish spending… or ill-advised business decisions.” (Latuda). He feels that he
can achieve his dream of owning a business, in this case, a liquor store, and because of this he
acts impulsively and puts in all of the remaining money that his family had. Bipolar Disorder has
two main mood swings, manic and depressed. These are just two of the many symptoms that one
Throughout the story, Walter Lee exhibited signs of having depressed episodes. When
someone experiences a depressed episode, they will feel depressed and become pessimistic. In
Act 2, Scene 2, Ruth and Mama were informed that Walter Lee had been missing work and when
they confronted him, he did not seem to care. “RUTH: ‘She said if you don’t come in tomorrow
that they are getting a new man…’ WALTER: ‘Ain’t that sad—ain’t that crying sad.’ RUTH:
‘She said Mr. Arnold has had to take a cab for three days … Walter, you ain’t been to work for
three days! (This is a revelation to her) Where you been, Walter Lee Younger? (WALTER looks
at her and starts to laugh) You’re going to lose your job.’ WALTER: ‘That’s right …’ (He turns
on the radio.” (Hansberry 105). Walter Lee has lost interest in his work and his motivation. “A
inability to enjoy normally pleasurable activities and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.”
(Grohol, 2018). He feels hopeless and displays a lack of energy as well. Overall, Walter Lee
Many people may believe that Walter Lee does not have Bipolar Disorder but has
Depression. They fail to see that he not only displays extreme sadness and hopelessness, but also
extreme positivity and aggressiveness. Those who believe that he has Depression think that his
manic episodes are showing his regular personality. For example, when he talks to his mother
about his dreams of achieving his most wanted goals, some might believe that he is acting
normal. “Sometimes it’s like I can see the future stretched out in front of me – just plain as day.
The future, Mama. Hanging over there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me – a big,
looming blank space – full of nothing. Just waiting for me. But it don’t have to be.” (Hansberry
75-76). Although this is a good argument and it is understandable for one to think that Walter
Lee was a normal version of himself, it is not the stronger argument because this would be an
example of a manic episode. “People describe a manic mood as feeling very euphoric, “on top of
the world,” and being able to do or accomplish anything.” (Bressert). He describes his goal to his
mother and then proceeds to say that he will accomplish this goal of his. Walter Lee is feeling
manic phase.
Walter Lee displays several symptoms that a Bipolar person may experience, meaning he,
as well, might have the disorder. His displayed symptoms include lavish spending, irritability,
interest in usual activities. The chance of a young adult (19-40) having Bipolar Disorder is very
common (Mayo Clinic) and Walter Lee is in that age range. Ambition and greed; these combined
Citations
“Bipolar Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 31 Jan.
2018,www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355955.
psychcentral.com/disorders/bipolar/introduction-to-bipolar-disorder/.
Doheny, Kathleen. “8 Bipolar Myths: Symptoms, Mania, Diagnosis, Statistics, and More.”
www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/features/8-myths-about-bipolar-disorder#1.
Grohol, John M. “Bipolar Disorder Guide: Symptoms, Treatment & More | PsychCentral.” Psych