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Travis Younger is Walter Lee and Ruth’s young son, and although he does not directly participate in the play’s primary conflict, his presence in the Younger household has a significant impact on the way in which the adults view their situation. Wide-eyed and full of life, Travis embodies the innocence of youth. His bright personality cuts through the otherwise bleak mood of the play and adds to the image of what an average day in the Younger household looks like. He may be clever and manipulative at times, such as when he convinces Walter to give him fifty cents despite his mother’s refusal, but his largely endearing character allows him to represent the vitality of future generations. Viewing Travis as a symbol of the family’s future inevitably influences many of the choices that the adults make throughout the play, especially as their financial situation grows more dire. Despite the potential he possesses, Ruth acknowledges that their current life, one in which her son sleeps on a sofa and plays with rats in the street, is not setting him up to achieve upward mobility as an adult. This concern contributes to the growing rift between her and Walter, although they ultimately have similar aspirations for him.
Travis, meanwhile, may not fully understand the gravity of his family’s history and current circumstances, but he does seem to feel the pressure of their expectations. When Walter asks him what he wants to be when he grows up, for example, Travis struggles to articulate an answer that he believes will please his parents. This response underscores the idea that the adults’ dreams are inextricably linked to his future. In the end, the possibilities that Travis’s life represents are powerful enough to convince Walter to refuse Mr. Lindner’s offer. Seeing this innocent image gives him the courage to act, obtaining a path forward for the next generation rather than dooming his son to complacency and suffering. The fact that Travis inadvertently manages to redeem his father allows the play to conclude on a lighter note.
