Walter's power struggles with Ruth and Mama would still simmer and Beneatha would still be willful and spoiled. What is the connection between Langston Hughes's "Harlem (A Dream Deferred)" and the central theme of Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun? WebMama, however, can see into Ruth's mind and heart and knows what she intends. Why is there so much apprehension about the check? While Travis gets ready in the communal bathroom, Ruth and Walter talk in the kitchen. For Mama, the next generation their hope. Do you think you would like him? The fact that Travis is so intrigued by a rat, rather than being afraid, seems to emphasize his life of poverty. A+ Student Essay: The Role of Money in the Play, Lorraine Hansberry and A Raisin in the Sun Background, Read more about the nuanced use of dialect by each character in. This is another point that reveals Beneatha's explosive and apparently selfish character. It is clear that Beneatha and Asagai love each other, but there are hints of philosophical disagreement. Historical Context Essay: A Raisin in the Sun on the Brink of the 1960s, Literary Context Essay: Hansberry, Langston Hughes, & the Harlem Renaissance. Why does he come to see Walter? What does Mama's confusion show? TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Circle the correct form Beneatha and Mama are busy doing weekend housecleaning when Ruth comes in, announcing sadly that she is pregnant. Similarly, they are befuddled by her dislike of the pretty, rich George Murchison. Why does she choose this moment to talk about it? From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Which one do you think is more compatible with Beneatha? She embraces natural hair as an alternative ideal of beauty, and sees herself as embracing her African heritage. Beneatha, of course, reacts angrily to Asagai's criticism and judgment. Beneatha takes pride in her African nickname and its ability to accurately represent her dedication to her dreams. for a customized plan. and any corresponding bookmarks? Hansberry wrote the "rat scene" to dramatically point out the graphic terrors that daily confront the children of the poor and also to show that these children must learn to incorporate such horrific realities into their playtime activities. Mama's generation worked hard so that their children could have a "better life," which, to her, meant a life without segregation. -He is not as excited as the others A1S2 Why has everyone been waiting for the mailman's arrival? What is her "dream"? -Mama joking why they would know anything about Africa BENEATHA: (Halting at the door) To become a queen of the Nile! What is the significance of the meaning of the word "Alaiyo"? Act I Scene 2, Mrs. Johnson (Mrs. Wilhelmina Othella Johnson). Mama apparently donates money to missionary causes, while Beneatha believes that American and European missionaries do more harm than good in Africa. She thinks that if Mama gives him some of the money he might regain his happiness and confidence, which are two things Ruth feels she can no longer provide for Walter. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. -Go to the bank and put some money in for Bennie's schooling and the rest he can decide what to do with it In contrast, Walters body language embodies his disappointment. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. It is possible that Hansberry is attempting to make a bold feminist statement with this plot twist. Walter wants the larger freedom of being totally independent of everyone; he wants to be able to earn his living without having a "boss"; more important, he wants to be able to generate his own income without being dependent on a salary as a chauffeur. Do you believe it was the right decision? As a playwright, Hansberry must develop characters through dialogue because there is no narration that can do it for her. He implies that her hairstyle is too American and unnatural, and he wonders how it got that way. -When Walter says "who even cares about you" to Ruth She knows something is wrong, but does not know what, and essentially accuses Walter of having an affair when he is not. Some commentators believe that Naomi was instructing Ruth to be How do they react? The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Feminism had not fully emerged into the American cultural landscape when Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun, and Beneatha seems a prototype for the more enthusiastic feminism of the 1960s and 1970s. She wants to become an independent and liberated woman. The news of this house gives her hope and a future for both her family and for the unborn baby inside of her. Cite examples. She invites the person on the phone over to the still-dirty apartment, much to Mamas chagrin. Accessed 1 May 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. -Based on how unsafe their area is and how young he is, he deserves a punishment so he won't do it again. creating and saving your own notes as you read. -Walter comes in drunk and starts to sing and dance (being really rude and loud). He does not appreciate the depth of Ruth's despair, and cannot imagine her choosing not to have their baby. Later, Beneatha will put these robes on and become a "Nigerian Princess," symbolizing her acceptance of her heritage. Travis story highlights the harshness of life in the segregated South Side of Chicago and reignites Ruths fears that the familys current home is an unsuitable place for her son (or, now, her baby) to grow up. -She trusts him for the most part, but based on his past, she should not. In her desires to express herself and to become a doctor, Beneatha proves an early feminist who radically views her role as self-oriented and not family-oriented. The only window is in their small kitchen, and they share a bathroom in the hall with their neighbors. Which one? The tantalizing arrival of the insurance check creates an expectant atmosphere. What do you think Walter will do now? -Ruth talks happily about him and how they have been holding hands To those of Mama's generation, it should have been enough that Walter Lee's generation can ride at the front of a bus. -Really sweet and kind -Mama chose it because it was the cheapest house she could find. To a great extent, Walters dreams center on the many things that he wants, highlighting the centrality of material wealth in his formation of a personal identity. Ruth calls the doctor she, which arouses Mamas suspicion because their family doctor is a man. Despite her cramped living situation and the lifetime of hard work that she has endured, she maintains her focus on her dream, which helps her to persevere. Central Idea Essay: Why Does Mama Want to Own Property? Beneatha gives Mama some facts about Africa which Mama later parrots for Asagai's acceptance and Beneatha's approval. Why do the Youngers decide to go through with the move? Ruths pregnancy is immediately coupled with economic concerns. -Having many offices, a nice house, gardener, nice cars, lots of money In the south, whites rode in the front of buses, blacks in the back. While most of their dreams involve the acquisition of some markers of success, such as a home, large cars, and privileged education, Beneatha has to begin by first ridding herself of the bugs that plague her current situation. The frustration Walter Lee exhibits in this scene is recognizable by everyone who has ever felt ignored in spite of loud cries to be heard. The following morning, Saturday, is the day that the check is expected to arrive. How does the mood of the play change when the postman rings the doorbell? Walter, who usually has a lot to say, is suddenly quiet. Before Asagai's arrival at the Younger apartment, Beneatha sternly admonishes her mother not to say anything embarrassingly naive or patronizing about Africa. -Asa makes a better argument and just wants Bennie to be who she really is. -She gets very upset that her son is growing up chasing rats Walter's? Walter and Beneatha have never know the problems Mama and her husband faced, but they are aware of the social and financial inequalities that still exist, and which that they would like to eradicate. Dijo que la historia (concluir) con la segunda parte de la pelcula. A dresser, in contrast, is a short piece of bedroom furniture that has drawer space, a large mirror, and a small stool or chair where one might sit in order to put on makeup. -Makes the mad, sad, and fearful Do you think she is being fair? What does the plant represent in the play A Raisin in the Sun? Purchasing -He says it's not her because if her father was still around they wouldn't have that money at all. Mamas plant symbolizes her version of this dream, because she cares for it as she cares for her family. Act 1 | The Crucible Questions | Q & A | GradeSaver Mama comes into the room, and Beneatha introduces her to Asagai. When Mama announces that she has bought a house in A Raisin in the Sun, Ruth reacts joyfully, and expresses happiness over her pregnancy for the first time because Mamas news means that Ruth's old worries and stresses are now a thing of the past. How is Mama and Walter's conflict generational, as well as a clash of ideals? - Mama and Ruth are standing next to each other thinking the same thing, A-level Law: Intoxication (Paper 1: Section B, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Literature and Composition: Reading, Writing,Thinking, Carol Jago, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Diagnostic Tests for Identification of Bacter. - Because she tries to make an intellectual comment about many African Americans ignorance bookmarked pages associated with this title. -He comes home later than he was supposed to -Others says it looks like she should be in the fields. This upsets Ruth because it serves as yet another reminder of her own poverty, and her inability to give her son a better life. The bureau is the taller piece of bedroom furniture, containing only drawer space for clothing. His persistent nagging quickly irritates her. Beneatha claims that she is trying to express herself, an idea at which Ruth and Mama have a laugh. Why does Hansberry give Beneatha two boyfriends? These dreams mostly involve money. Historical Context Essay: A Raisin in the Sun on the Brink of the 1960s, Literary Context Essay: Hansberry, Langston Hughes, & the Harlem Renaissance. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. -Comes to tell Walter that Willy took all their money For her, their present abode is a source of oppression for them and is a great stress. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. WebEarlier in the play, Ruth was stressed about the knowledge that she was pregnant. Mama is clearly suggesting that Beneatha is not really interested in Africa, but is pretending to be so in order to make Asagai like her. -insurance money from her husband's death. However, for Walter, the way that Mama has used the money illustrates her headship of the family and represents the death of his dream to start up his own liquor store. Ruth and Walter? When she gets her hair cut, she also cuts herself loose from her former assimilationist ideas, and begins to accept her African heritage. Do you side with one more than with the other? The next day, Saturday, the Youngers are cleaning their apartment and waiting for the insurance check to arrive. However, Walter is unable to rise to the challenge, dejected as he is by Mamas refusal to support his dreams. -That she comes to Africa with him when he goes back -$6500 gone. Mamas recitation shows that she, while perhaps not as interested in her African heritage as Beneatha, is willing to make an effort in order to make her guest feel at home. The Nigerian robes symbolize African heritage. Beneathas statement that the family suffers from ghetto-itis draws attention to the perils of life in a segregated ghetto neighborhood. Why does Lindner try to convince the Younger family not to move? -They get very upset and ask him to leave. In this movement, Black Americans embraced their racial history, stopping their attempts to assimilate, even in physical appearance. They clearly do not communicate, and Ruth's pregnancy is an important issue for them to talk about. Previous Many Black intellectuals and writers, especially in the 1960s, faced this dilemma; Beneathas character thus seems somewhat ahead of her time. behind the bureau A bureau is a piece of furniture that was usually kept in the bedroom and used for storing clothing. A2S3 How do you know that Ruth and Walter have been getting along better for the past day or two? The fact that Beneatha is placed between these two men shows that, as an African American, she is ambivalently stuck between being an assimilationist and being proud of her African heritage. She reveals this information to Mama and Beneatha. As Beneatha tries on one of the robes, Asagai asks about her straightened hair. -Thinking about having to raise another child in the small apartment, in an unsafe/unsanitary area. Why does Walter get so upset with Ruth and Mama? -His bosses wife calls asking where he has been If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Why do the Youngers decide to go through with the move? When Asagai calls her Alaiyo, he is supporting her notion of her independence and her desire to do more with her life than remain beneath the rest of the world. Complete the following sentence by choosing the word that best fits the context, based on information you infer from the use of the italicized word. She asks Ruth what she would do with the money, which amounts to $10,000. How does Hansberry use it in this scene? Note his body language in this scene and how it compares to Ruths. Beneatha refers to the "ghetto" in which they live as though it brings with it a disease that she calls "ghetto-iris.". Why would Hansberry include these? A1S2 Why does Mama tell Walter that he is a disgrace to his father's memory? A2S3 Who is Bobo? He says, bitterly, to hurt her as deeply as he knows is possible that she butchered his dream. -Happy but very worried A1S2 How does Ruth behave when she learns about the rat? Walter, on the other hand, lacks this singular dedication to his family. While the play takes place entirely within the Youngers apartment, Hansberry takes care to introduce external influences. The original production of this play, as well as the original movie screenplay, does not contain the incident involving Travis' chasing a huge rat while he is downstairs playing with his friends in the street. For him, Mamas news does not represent a hopeful future, but betrayal. Ruth calls the doctor she, which arouses Mamas suspicion because their family doctor is a man. Ruth feels ill and anxious about her pregnancy. Mama tries to help her relax. Asagai visits Beneatha, and they spend some time together by themselves. He brings her some Nigerian clothing and music as gifts. Although Beneatha takes interest in her African heritage, her straightened hair projects a message of assimilation, of managing her black attributes to make it easier to fit in, which Beneatha abhors. - Shows that Travis is very nice and doesn't judge anyone. WebNaomi then explained what Ruth was to do: she was to wash herself, anoint herself, and change her clothes. It appears that their plan is moving smoothly. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? During the 1950s, abortion was illegal, but Ruth has valid reasons for not wanting her pregnancy. You don't have to ride to work on the back of nobody's streetcar Prior to the civil rights movement, which reached its peak in the sixties, segregated facilities, separating whites from blacks, were common in the south, where "Jim Crow" laws made it legal. They keep mentioning a check. Similarly, it is difficult for her to care for her family as much as she wants and to have her family members grow as much as she wants. A2S3 What do you think Mama would have said and done if she had been at home when Mr. Lindner visited? Mama, a traditionalist, senses from the fact that Ruth saw a woman doctor that Ruth may be thinking of doing something that perhaps a male, traditional doctor would not supportget an abortion. A2S1 What does George mean when he calls Walter "Prometheus"? on 50-99 accounts. Should she? Instant PDF downloads. It is morning at the Youngers apartment. These phone calls serve parallel functions for those who receive them and demonstrate what is important to both of the characters: Walter is waiting to move quickly on the investment, while Beneatha cannot wait to see Asagai and introduce him to her family. What is the significance of the exchange between Mama and Walter? Why is Ruth upset by Travis's talk of the rat? -No, she is just trying to provide a safe and happy home for her family. Dont have an account? Subscribe now. From what you have seen so far, how would you describe the relationship between Ruth and Travis? Purchasing -She doesn't believe in God Finally, Mama tells him that Ruth is pregnant and that she fears that Ruth is considering having an abortion.
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