The son of Walter Lee and Ruth, Travis is the youngest member of the family. A “sturdy, handsome” boy of about ten years old, Travis sleeps on a make-down bed in the Youngers’ living room. Travis is a good-natured and persistent young boy who, for the most part, obeys his parents and grandmother. Travis is excited by the prospect of moving into the Youngers’ new house.
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Travis Younger Character Timeline in A Raisin in the Sun
The timeline below shows where the character Travis Younger appears in A Raisin in the Sun. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
.... . won in this room.” As evidence of the apartment’s overcrowding, a young boy, Travis, sleeps on a “make-down bed” at center stage.
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...“feebly” into the apartment, and while Ruth begins preparing breakfast, she calls to her son Travis to wake up. After her calls are ignored, Ruth goes over to Travis and finally...
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Travis returns from the bathroom and signals for his father to get inside before one of...
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...reenters and, hearing the tail end of the argument between his wife and son, gives Travis a dollar to take to school, which greatly angers Ruth. Walter’s defiance of Ruth’s decision...
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...tells Ruth that he needs “some money for carfare,” having given his last cent to Travis earlier. Ruth gives the money to her husband and in a “teasing, but tenderly” manner...
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...money as a down payment on a “little old two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play.”
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Act 1, Scene 2
...morning Beneatha and Mama clean the apartment thoroughly, a regular occurrence in the Younger household. Travis asks his grandmother if he can go outside to play on the street, and Mama...
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...is a “commotion” in the street, and Beneatha calls out of the window and orders Travis to come upstairs. While waiting for Travis, Mama asks Ruth about her visit to the...
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...sudden sound that signals that the mailman has arrived with the insurance check. Ruth sends Travis downstairs to get it. Travis returns moments later and Mama opens the envelope. As she...
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Act 2, Scene 1
...intimate moment. At first, Mama ignores Walter and speaks only to Ruth, asking her where Travis is. Ruth tells Mama that Travis still hasn’t come home yet, saying that he is...
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...is bearing “pulses with happiness and not despair.” “Collecting herself,” Ruth exits to deal with Travis.
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Act 2, Scene 2
...by his mother’s gesture, Walter is filled with a sense of “mingled joy and desperation.” Travis enters for bed and Walter “sweetly” begins to talk him. Walter asks his son “what...
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Act 2, Scene 3
Mama and Travis enter the apartment. “Smiling,” Beneatha says that Mama had a “caller,” and Beneatha, Walter, and...
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Travis eagerly asks his father if he can give Mama his gift, and Walter agrees. “Racing...
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The doorbell rings and Beneatha heads to her room to continue packing. Mama and Travis go to exit. Walter sings to himself and throws open the door to reveal Bobo,...
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Act 3
Travis runs into the room and says that the moving men have arrived. A moment later,...
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Calling Travis to him, Walter stands proudly behind his son and tells Lindner that Travis “makes the...
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