The issue of the check serves only to exacerbate the conflicts that already exist. A2S3 Who is Mr. Lindner? Walter explains that his work as a white mans chauffeur is emasculating and limits his hopes for a better future. Beneatha and Travis start fighting, and Beneatha threatens him with the spray gun. Although they are poor, still their house is clean; although the furniture is old, there is still the ritualistic weekly polishing. Her reaction that Asagais love is not enough is an expression of her desire not just for love but for a partner dedicated to her equality and freedom as well. 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. A3S1 What does Mama mean when she observes that Walter has finally "come into his manhood"? A1S1 What is your impression of Ruth? The small potted plant acts as a temporary stand-in for her much larger dream. Asagai scorns her wish, much to Beneathas disappointment. She embraces natural hair as an alternative ideal of beauty, and sees herself as embracing her African heritage. What decisions does she need to make? Ruth brings herself closer to her child, while Walter isolates himself in the other roomliterally and figuratively shutting his mother out. -Mama is very religious. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Act One, Scene 2. Do you think that is too harsh a punishment? The issue of abortion, which Ruth considers and Mama implicitly rejects, highlights the generational differences between the women. for a customized plan. -Bennie joking about Tarzan and with Asagai. Mama's generation worked hard so that their children could have a "better life," which, to her, meant a life without segregation. -That she comes to Africa with him when he goes back -surface: been married a long time and are struggling to be happy together. Hansberry uses this scene to express her dissatisfaction with most people's distorted perceptions about Africa. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Walter is either more optimistic, or in greater denial. Completa la siguiente frase de una manera original. 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. How is Mama's reaction to the gift different from the way the others react? This scene includes two phone calls: one for Walter from Willy about the liquor store investment and the other for Beneatha from Joseph Asagai, her good friend and fellow intellectual. Their different reactions illustrate the different ways this news impacted their lives. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. -It is an all white area -Asagai teases Bennie bc her hair is straightened (not embracing her natural hair) BENEATHA: (Halting at the door) To become a queen of the Nile! How do you form that impression? What do you think accounts for that improvement in their relationship? A2S1 How can you tell that Walter is bitter about Mama's decision to buy a house? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain." The Youngers also seem to want to live this dream, though their struggle to attain any semblance of it is dramatically different from the struggle a similar suburban family might encounter, because the Youngers are not a stereotypical middle-class family. -Lots of emotions at once. Their small dwelling on the South Side of Chicago has two bedroomsone for Mama and Beneatha, and one for Ruth and Walter Lee. Wed love to have you back! Why is Ruth upset by Travis's talk of the rat? Especially given her condition, as she is expecting again, she was despairing of how to bring up another child in such a location but also provide for it. A3S1 What does Asagai propose that Beneatha do? Through the announcement of Ruths pregnancy, we can see the power that Mama wields as the matriarch of the family. Putnam admits that she sent Ruth to Tituba. When does Walter change his mind? Thus, she tells Travis that Ruth is out on an errand and will be back eventually. Why does Mama buy a house in an all-white neighborhood? -Bennie is going on about she doesn't believe in God. What does it reveal about each of the characters? The insurance check prompts intra-family conflict, as arguments about money quickly become larger struggles concerning personal identity, personal dreams, and family dynamics. Mama wants what is best for the family, but she clearly does not understand her son. Beneatha's soft acceptance of this assessment of herself shows that she does indeed see herself in this light. 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. A1S1 When family members argue, the reasons may be more complex than they at first appear. The fact that Ruth considers an abortion, an illegal practice at the time, shows the lengths to which she would go to protect her family from further financial strain. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Hansberry uses this allusion to emphasize Mama's need to keep the appearance of a nice home. Also, Mama is asking Walter to save his unborn child from a death inflicted by poverty, but Walters obsession with material wealth prevents him from taking such a stand because the baby will only make that poverty worse and make his dreams even less achievable. How does Walter plan to use the insurance money? By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Mama and Beneatha are, of course, a generation apart, while Ruth occupies a place somewhere in the middle; Hansberry argues that Beneatha is the least traditional of the women because she is the youngest. Asagai, on the other hand, represents Black Pride and African heritage. Do you think she will agree to his offer? The reader may wonder how these situations might have festered in the minds of the characters if these conflicts had not been brought to the forefront. When he asks why his wife cannot wear pearls, he is asking why he has to resign himself to poverty, being ever grateful that he no longer has to ride at the back of a bus. Objects placed on top of the bureau often landed behind it, which, because of its size and weight, was often a difficult piece of furniture to move. Merely going through the motions of life is not enough for a person like Beneatha; she has to question every philosophy for herself. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. What does this show about the contrast between the two men? Asagai visits Beneatha, and they spend some time together by themselves. What does the check symbolize, from both a plot standpoint and a dramatic standpoint? - Because she tries to make an intellectual comment about many African Americans ignorance (She exits in a breathless blaze of glory )This statement is the turning point for Beneatha, showing that she has fully accepted her African heritage. They discuss the man that Beneatha has been dating, George Murchison. Beneatha refers to the "ghetto" in which they live as though it brings with it a disease that she calls "ghetto-iris.". For him, Mamas news does not represent a hopeful future, but betrayal. A2S3 How do you know that Ruth and Walter have been getting along better for the past day or two? You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Ruth and Mama get along the best Ruth is a strong , independent woman who wants to steer away form what is With or without the arrival of the insurance check, Walter would still long for independence and a sense of self worth. How is that money beginning to cause conflict within the family? The Youngers do not mean to ignore Walter Lee and are not totally aware that they are doing so. When Asagai says goodbye, he calls Beneatha by a nickname, Alaiyo. He explains that it is a word from his African tribal language, roughly translated to mean One for Whom BreadFoodIs Not Enough. He leaves, having charmed both women. - He finally has made a good decision for his family (not just for himself) -When Walter says "who even cares about you" to Ruth 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. A2S2 What does Travis want to be when he grows up? TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. 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. -Based on their personalities they will probably stay together but it's not a good ides. In short, Walter is questioning the reasons he cannot live the way his bosses live. Although the Younger family seems alienated from white middle-class culture, they harbor the same materialistic dreams as the rest of American society. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Bennie really likes him and he gives her a gift What do you think some of the deeper reasons for the conflict might be? Even if Walter's ideas were unacceptable and offensive, someone in his family should have taken the time to listen. 1. in secticide 2. in tellectual 3. missionary 4. dejection 5. suppress 6. mutilate 7. How does Walter feel about her plans? Walter, in contrast, and others of his generation, take that particular "freedom" for granted. Why does Hansberry give Beneatha two boyfriends? Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. and any corresponding bookmarks? Read an essay about how A Raisin in the Sun debuted at the start of the volatile 1960s. Mamas hospitality is a reflection of the pride that she takes in her family and its treatment of others. A3S1 Why does Beneatha attack Asagai's dream about Africa? A1S1 Why does Mama slap Beneatha? It foreshadows two things: first, that she will allow her hair to return to its natural state, and second, that Beneatha will get together with Asagai and possibly go to Africa with him. Walter and Ruth continue to argue about their unhappy lives, a dialogue that Ruth cuts short by telling her husband, Eat your eggs, they gonna be cold.. From his perspective, he enters the apartment excited about the money, and is dismissed and treated like a child. It is morning at the Youngers apartment. A2S1 How does Walter insult George? 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. What are the surface reasons for the arguments between Walter and Ruth? Once again, we see how protective Mama is of her family. This issue helps to emphasize the growing marital problems between Ruth and Walter. Interestingly, Beneathas spraying reverses the pattern of the Youngers dreams. 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. We've all got acute ghetto-itis Beneatha says this when Asagai drops by to visit, immediately after the Younger family has had a depressing conversation about their financial station in life and Ruth's possible pregnancy. What might Beneatha represent? -Makes the mad, sad, and fearful Cite examples. Will he try to stop Ruth? -She will most likely take his offer because she's not happy with where e life is now and this would be a good change. He promises to bring the money to Willy when he receives it. on 50-99 accounts. Explain how the ruins of Great Zimbabwe reflected the capital's wealth. What is significant about the exchange between Beneatha and Asagai about Beneatha's hair? Ruth and Beneatha are worried and uncertain, while Mama simply expresses her hope that the baby will be a girl. Why does he visit? Free trial is available to new customers only. Mama attempts to discredit Walters money-centric worldview by reminding him of the life-or-death struggles endured by earlier generations of African Americans. A1S2 Why does Mama mention Tarzan to Asagai? An interesting aspect of this particular "Jim Crow" law was that a black person might be permitted to sit in the front of the bus if there were no white person on the bus who needed that seat. In his opinion, her hair should look as it does naturally: she should stop straightening it to look like white hair and instead wear an afro. Why? Beneatha and Mama are busy doing weekend housecleaning when Ruth comes in, announcing sadly that she is pregnant. Mama tries so hard to impress Beneatha's Nigerian friend that her remarks are almost comical, clearly not her intent. WebTravis is chasing the rat with his friends, which is symbolic of the myriad of forces that are "chasing" and seeking to "trap" children of color in America. Regan wanted her career to be _____________ until she narrowed her interests, so she refused to sign the indefeasible contract to be a doctor for the Navy. This important part of the play comes at the end of Act Two Scene 1 and we can clearly see the various hopes of dreams of the characters involved. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Note the way she responds:HALLELUJAH! Finally, while she seems to understand Ruth's despair, she does not condone her action. Nigeria finally became independent and a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and, in 1963, it became a republic. Walterreceives a phone call from his friend Willy Harris, who is coordinating the potential liquor store venture. Although Asagai is not offensively sexist, perhaps due to his Western education and worldly sophistication, still his views are traditionally African, circa 1959, and, therefore, somewhat chauvinistic. -To tell him why she wants to be a doctor (something she once cared about). Asked by Joshua M #671913 on 7/25/2017 2:30 PM Last updated by Aslan on 7/25/2017 10:26 PM Answers 1 Add Yours. When the play opened in 1959, all that most people knew about Africa was via the broadcasts from the various colonial rulers and/or the Hollywood messages contained in Tarzan movies. April 30, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Ruth never had a -He is the welcoming committee at their new neighborhood Walter, on the other hand, lacks this singular dedication to his family. This kept Ruth emotionally wound up and worried. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Instant PDF downloads. 20% The Youngers Saturday morning ritual of cleaning the apartment shows the pride that the family takes in maintaining its home. -starts out in a worn-out, older, small, crowded living room. Should she? So what you need me to say it was all right for? Mama enters and goes directly to a small plant that she keeps just outside the kitchen window. While Travis gets ready in the communal bathroom, Ruth and Walter talk in the kitchen. Why? Beneatha argues that God does not seem to help her or the family. he ringing of the doorbell signifies that the check has finally arrived. Walter exclaims at one point, "Will somebody please listen to me today?" Act I Scene 1, Next - To take the money the white people offered Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Why does Lindner try to convince the Younger family not to move? How does Ruth behave when she learns about the rat In raisin in the sun? -Walter comes in drunk and starts to sing and dance (being really rude and loud). her second play, The Sign in Sidney Bruste in s W in dow, that she died, at age 34. Mama's look is a warning to Beneatha; Mama does not want Travis to know that Ruth is pregnant and is at the doctor's office because this would only worry the boy. Why do the Youngers decide to go through with the move? Before Asagai's arrival at the Younger apartment, Beneatha sternly admonishes her mother not to say anything embarrassingly naive or patronizing about Africa. WebNaomi then explained what Ruth was to do: she was to wash herself, anoint herself, and change her clothes. When she rebukes himas if he were still a childhe responds, "I'm a grown man." SparkNotes PLUS Similarly, they are befuddled by her dislike of the pretty, rich George Murchison. His character is meant to represent a kind of broken masculinity that society perceived among Black men of the 1950s, men who were shut out of the American dream by racism and poverty. She simply wants to do the best for the family that she already has. -A gardening hat Do you side with one more than with the other? From a dramatic standpoint, the check's arrival instigates the point of crisis in the play. behind the bureau A bureau is a piece of furniture that was usually kept in the bedroom and used for storing clothing. -Happy but very worried Luego contesta las preguntas. Through these reactions, it can be gathered that Beneatha is spoiled: she has no qualms about hurting her family's feelings when she is angry. Ruth returns from seeing a doctor, who has told her that she is two months pregnant. Why does he say that the money Walter gave away wasn't hers? Some word pairs will be antonyms, some will be synonyms, and some will simply be words often used in the same context. The stage directions indicate that the furniture, though apparently once chosen with care, is now very worn and faded. The check represents an outside force that enters into their lives and changes everything, for better or for worse. This little scene may seem insignificant, but it develops Mama's character. We can see from this quote that, although the new house represented a hope and future to Ruth, to Walter it represents the way that his dreams and hopes have been squashed. Ruth and Beneatha, part of a younger generation of women, differ from Mama in their reactions to the news. Read an in-depth analysis of Lena Mama Younger. After Asagai gives her this nickname, however, the name Beneatha could also point to the character's spiritual, "Alaiyo" nature, which dwells beneath the physical exterior. You can view our. Ruth's pregnancy would still add a burden to the family. Just bought a rat Her dream of a house and a better life for her family remains tenuous because it is so hard for her to see beyond her familys present situation. Walter admits that he does not think he is able to make her understand his feelings and motives. Having seen several conflicts unfold in the play at this point, which of these would have arisen regardless of the arrival of the check? Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. - There is a mix of happy, excited, and curious to see what's next. Answered by Aslan on 7/25/2017 10:26 PM Ruth Mama sits down with Walter who is upset byand ashamed ofhis poverty, his job as a chauffeur, and his lack of upward mobility. Hansberry includes these in order to give the characters a sense of roundness. Furthermore, seeing themselves as Americans, some African Americans questioned why it was necessary to have extensive knowledge of Africa. Ruth does not want to have an abortion, but she considers it because she sees it as the only way to keep the family together. What does the allusion "this here can is empty as Jacob's kettle" mean? Already a member? Why does she choose this moment to talk about it? Mira el retrato (portrait) del nio y lee el prrafo. - As he starts talking to Mr. Lindner. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Asagai roughly translates "Alaiyo" to mean "One for Whom Bread Is Not Enough." Mama tries to help her relax. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% The next day, Saturday, the Youngers are cleaning their apartment and waiting for the insurance check to arrive. | -Mama wants to stay at the apartment (she's given up). A1S1 Who is George Murchison and how do Beneatha, Ruth, and Mama feel about him? What subtle glimpse into Beneatha's soul does this conversation provide? Beneathas dream differs from Mamas in that it is, in many ways, self-serving. Latest answer posted August 25, 2021 at 3:18:50 AM. The issue of the money has caused none of the family's conflicts. How do they react? You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. -Walter gets upset because he wants Travis to have/be something more in life. Because of this exclusion, Walters dreams of money and success in business become inextricably linked to his image of himself as a man. Sometimes it can end up there. They are simply caught up in the excitement of the moment the receipt of the check. Walter and Ruth, who occupy the middle ground in terms of age between Mama and Beneatha, have also tempered their dreams more than Beneatha has. Everyone is worried about the check arriving safely because the check is the physical symbol of their freedom from their current life. To Mama, that particular measure of equality is enough; to Walter, it is an outrage. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Ruth bears the responsibility not only for literally carrying the child, but also for shouldering a significant part of the accompanying financial burden. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Want 100 or more? What is the significance of the last exchange between Ruth, Walter, and Mama about the abortion? Ruth comes into the room just as Travis goes downstairs to get the mail. They need more salvation from the British and the French Beneatha says this to Mama as she attempts to "educate" her mother to what Beneatha feels are political realities. You'll also receive an email with the link. The fact that she later gets her hair cut shows that she recognizes that she had indeed been conforming to the ideas around her. Removing #book# Both interpretations seem valid. Purchasing In this conversation, Mama represents a colonial/imperialist view of Africans as savages who need to be "saved" and "civilized." Dont have an account? Beneatha gets up next and after discovering that the bathroom is occupied by someone from another family, engages in a verbal joust with Walter. During the 1950s, abortion was illegal, but Ruth has valid reasons for not wanting her pregnancy. Do you think the relationship can be saved? -George doesn't care. A2S3 Who is Bobo? How much is a biblical shekel of silver worth in us dollars? She believes that Tituba knows how to speak to the dead, and she wished to learn who murdered her seven children $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% A2S1 How does Beneatha's Nigerian dress and music affect Walter? She shuts herself into their bedroom. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? How does Ruth try to handle his rudeness? Her relentless care for the plant represents her protection of her dream. Mama, outraged at such a pronouncement, asserts that she is head of the household and that there will be no such thoughts expressed in her home. The following morning, Saturday, is the day that the check is expected to arrive. She knew there was no real room for another person in the apartment and that finances were extremely tight. for a customized plan. Beneatha recants and leaves for school, and Mama goes to the window to tend her plant. Mama cannot understand why Walter Lee wants more from life than to sit anywhere he wants on public transportation. He is described as silent and sullen. He walks slowly across the room to his bedroom, and before turning around speaks measuredly to Mama. A1S1 Why do you think Mama likes the plant so much? -Need to decide if she is going to keep the baby or not. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. | Mama implores Walter to honor his fathers memory and take pride in his own manhood by convincing Ruth to not have an abortion. Unsure of her identity as a Black woman joining an overwhelmingly white world, Beneatha turns to Asagai to see if he can supply a lost part of her self. The family will have room for another, and therefore she can finally recognize and await the new life she is creating with joy. In contrast, Walter is quiet and visibly disappointed because the news means he no longer has a chance to achieve his dream. Walter, however, gives Travis an entire dollar while staring at Ruth. When Asagai telephones for permission to drop by, Beneatha consents reluctantly because she knows that her mother would not want company to see the house in disarray. The bureau is the taller piece of bedroom furniture, containing only drawer space for clothing. Nigeria was ruled by the Portuguese at the end of the fifteenth century, followed by the Dutch, the Danes, the Spaniards, and the Swedes. Note what he says to Mama in his anger: What you need me to say you done right for? What do you think Walter will do now? A2S3 What does Travis get for Mama? Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Purchasing Beneatha represents the beginning of the postcolonial view of Africans as people who are only in need of the freedom to be themselves. Ruth feels ill and anxious about her pregnancy. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Beneatha contends that, for that very reason, any further relationship is pointless, as Georges family wouldnt approve of her anyway. Contact us Why is there so much apprehension about the check? Ruth returns from seeing a doctor, who has told her that she is two months pregnant. She reveals this information to Mama and Beneatha. Ruth and Beneatha are worried and uncertain, while Mama simply expresses her hope that the baby will be a girl. Ruth calls the doctor she, which arouses Mamas suspicion because their family doctor is a man. -Asagai is more compatible. -By giving him more responsibility and trusting him more If everything simply revolved around the money, the play would seem somewhat coincidental and shallow. Asagai obviously cares for Beneatha very much, and he wonders why Beneatha does not have the same feeling for him. What does the interior of the Younger house tell you about the family that lives there? What, if any of the family's current conflicts has the issue of the insurance money caused? What is Mama suggesting when she says to Beneatha: "I guess I see why we done commence to get so interested in Africa 'round here"? Another issue that arises is that of Walter's manhood: how he defines it and how his mother defines it. Ruth and Beneatha? 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. -insurance money from her husband's death. Renews May 7, 2023 -Going sledding down steep stairs when it snowed and one time a kid splitting his face open It appears that their plan is moving smoothly. What is Hansberry saying by including the subsequent stage direction? How does Walter lose the insurance money? What does the plant represent in the play A Raisin in the Sun? In A Raisin in the Sun, explain George's reference to Prometheus. 20% 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Masterplots II: Juvenile & Young Adult Literature Series A Raisin in the Sun Analysis, Masterpieces of Womens Literature A Raisin in the Sun Analysis, Critical Context (Masterplots II: African American Literature), Critical Context (Masterplots II: Juvenile & Young Adult Literature Series), Critical Context (Comprehensive Guide to Drama), https://www.enotes.com/topics/raisin-in-the-sun. Mama's can of kitchen cleanser is always empty because she must at least keep her home very clean, since she cannot keep it looking new. Hansberry may have selected the name Beneatha to represent the oppression of African-American women, drawing on the word 'beneath.' A2S2 What is Walter's dream for the future? As she asks him to sit down, she scurries to throw the spray gun off the couch in the hopes that Asagai wont see it. Ruths pregnancy is immediately coupled with economic concerns. Mama, however, seems to feel as though Walter and Beneatha's generation takes the civil rights advancements of her generation for granted, and possibly that the life they fought for should be enough for her children. She wants to rid herself and her family of what she later refers to as acute ghetto-itis. It is obvious that Beneatha is not proud of her familys economic and social situation and is a bit embarrassed by it when Asagai visits. He implies that her hairstyle is too American and unnatural, and he wonders how it got that way. - Shows that Travis is very nice and doesn't judge anyone. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. 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. She not only wants to have a careera far cry from the June Cleaver stay-at-home-mom role models of the 1950s (June Cleaver was the name of the mother on Leave it to Beaver, a popular late-1950s sitcom about a stereotypical suburban family)but also desires to find her identity and pursue an independent career without relying solely on a man.
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