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Willy Harris is another character who, despite never appearing on stage, manages to significantly impact the trajectory of the play’s dramatic arc. Walter views him as a friend and aspiring business partner, trusting him with his dreams and, eventually, his family’s money. In reality, however, Willy is highly manipulative and steals precious money from both Walter and Bobo. This climactic moment destroys Walter’s dreams of entrepreneurship and forces him to grapple with the reality of his family’s dire financial situation.
Given that Walter never recovers the money that he lost, Hansberry’s choice to leave Willy offstage reinforces just how empty his relationships with his so-called business partners truly were. Walter and Bobo may not realize that Willy is disingenuous until Bobo reveals that he never arrived at the train station, but Hansberry offers hints to the audience throughout the play that he is not the man he claims to be. Ruth, for example, quickly recognizes that Willy is a “good-for-nothing loudmouth,” or someone whose words cannot be fully trusted. Mama and Beneatha also express displeasure regarding Walter’s involvement with him and the liquor store. The fact that everyone except Walter seems to recognize Willy’s questionable character highlights just how desperate he his to fulfill his dream of upward social and economic mobility. His desire for success blinds him to the risks that come with making deals, and unfortunately, he suffers the consequences. Compared to Walter, who aims to do right by his family, Willy ultimately proves himself to be crafty, greedy, and unabashedly amoral. Hansberry never reveals what happens to Willy after he makes off with the liquor store money, but he presumably uses it to better his own life. Including this dynamic between Walter and Willy calls attention to the different ways in which desperation can affect decision-making.
