What does the primary conflict over insurance check most represent?

In the play "A Raisin in the Sun", the primary conflict over the insurance check mostly represents the clash between the Younger family's dreams and aspirations, and the harsh realities of racial discrimination and limited opportunities faced by African Americans in 1950s Chicago.

Here's a more detailed explanation of how the insurance check symbolizes this conflict:

1. Sudden Opportunity: The arrival of the insurance check (resulting from the death of the father, Big Walter Younger) presents the Younger family with a sudden opportunity to radically change their lives. The money represents hope and the possibility of achieving their long-held dreams.

2. Dreams vs. Responsibilities: The conflict arises as the family members disagree on how to use the money. Walter Lee Younger, the son, yearns to invest it in a liquor store, while his wife, Ruth, argues for saving the money to buy a new home in a better neighborhood. These competing dreams highlight the characters' different priorities and responsibilities.

3. Racial Discrimination: The play portrays the challenges African American families faced in securing quality housing in racially segregated neighborhoods. The Youngers' dream of moving to a better neighborhood (Clybourne Park) is met with resistance from the white community, symbolizing the systemic racial discrimination that limited the opportunities available to African Americans at the time.

4. Generational Differences: The conflict also reflects generational differences within the family. Walter represents a younger generation eager for change and economic empowerment, while his mother, Lena Younger, represents an older generation focused on practicality and stability.

5. Social and Economic Inequalities: The insurance check brings to the forefront the stark economic and social inequalities faced by African Americans. It highlights the desperate need for financial resources and access to better opportunities that could allow them to break free from their impoverished and segregated circumstances.

In essence, the conflict over the insurance check encapsulates the broader themes of racial discrimination, limited opportunities, and the struggle to achieve financial stability and social progress that permeate the lives of the Younger family and symbolize the larger struggles of African Americans in mid-20th century America.