Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun" is the story of the Youngers, a poor African- American family in the 1940s. She clearly loves her mother even if they do not always agree. Beneatha Younger is a smart, liberated woman in her twenties with aspirations of her own. Everyone in the family is making a sacrifice so that Beneatha can become a doctor a fact pointed out by Walter Lee as they clash in the first scene of the play. [9] In 2016, Claire Brennan wrote in The Guardian that "The power and craft of the writing make A Raisin in the Sun as moving today as it was then."[10]. The demand for houses was so low among white buyers that Mr. Hansberry may have been the only prospective purchaser available.[12]. 20% In the play, it seems as if Beneatha changes the most in the shortest amount of time, and it doesn't take her long to realize what fits her. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? Refine any search. Retrieved March 3, 2023 , from https://studydriver.com/a-raisin-in-the-sun-beneathas-dreams/, Get in touch with our top writers for a non-plagiarized essays written to satisfy your needs. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. There was disagreement with how it should be played, with the focus on the mother or on the son. Beneatha Younger is one of the main characters in Lorraine Hansberry's famous play A Raisin in the Sun. At the end of the play, she even considers marrying Asagai and going to Africa with him to practice medicine. Walter Lee Younger ("Brother"). (page 19). Two Unattainable Ideals: Beneatha's Struggle for Identity in A Raisin in the Sun Elizabeth Brady Abstract/Description The late 1950's were a time for revolution in African American history as the Civil Rights movement gained momentum and grasped the attention of the public. Its when hes at his lowest and cant believe in hisself cause the world done whipped him so! She is a college student who dreams of becoming a doctor and leaving behind the poverty and racism that ties her family down. When she models the clothes for him, he tells her, "You wear it wellvery wellmutilated hair and all." Walter forces the man to leave without accepting the offer. George Murchison and Joseph Asagai are the two men in Beneatha's life, but she has no interest in marrying them. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. paper. Why does Lindner try to convince the Younger family not to move? SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. It took you three years but you finally got it said. It used to be so important to me. Walter then employs the phrase to illustrate how women keep men from achieving their goalsevery time a man gets excited about something, This symbol signifies Beneatha's anti-assimilationist beliefs as well as her desire to shape her identity by looking back to her roots in Africa., Mama decides to . on 50-99 accounts. A Raisin In the Sun. Beneatha: Me! Walter's conflicts with Beneatha stem from her college enrollment and plans to attend medical school. Mrs. Johnson is the Younger family's nosy and loud neighbor, at the beginning of the play. She also provides a feminist and optimistic perspective and tone to the play. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. The Hansberry family won their right to be heard as a matter of due process of law in relation to the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In. Beneatha expects her family to pay for her medical school but does not bother to ask if she needs a job. The court initially ordered the family to move, but the case went to the Supreme Court, where the decision was overturned. Beneatha's college education has helped to make her progressive, independent, and a total feminist. for a group? | 2 To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. She holds an education specialist degree in curriculum, instruction, and professional development. Why does Mama buy a house in an all-white neighborhood? A raisin in the sun essay questions are 3 sets of open-ended A Raisin in the Sun questions for use in cooperative groups or Socratic seminar. The play's title is taken from " Harlem ," a poem by Langston Hughes, which examines the question "What happens to a dream deferred?/Does it dry up/like a raisin in the sun?" (P. 86) You know them steps can get you after a day's work. She identifies much more with Asagais interest in rediscovering his African roots than with Georges interest in assimilating into white culture. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Nevertheless, the family makes many financial sacrifices to make sure that Beneatha is able to get an education, even though there isn't much money to go around. There is a quote that says When you take things for granted, the things you are granted get taken and in the play A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha takes things for granted but she also is successful. Beneatha would like to use the money to pay her medical school tuition. To Beneatha, it is important to express oneself, something that Mama has never had the time and ability to do. At the beginning of the play, Walter Lee and Beneatha's father has recently died, and Mama (Lena) is waiting for a life insurance check for $10,000. Motivate students to complete assigned readings with A Raisin in the Sun quizzes. Each reading quiz contains ten multiple choice questions; they are quick to administer and score.A Raisin in the Sun Quizzes schedule:Reading 1: Act IReading 2: Act IIReading 3: Act IIIA list of questions by scene is also included. . Throughout the play, she faces many 24 lessons Beneatha can still go and finish college and become the doctor she wants to become but she doesnt know if she will have the money. Well then, you aint through learning because that aint the time at all. Beneatha's ideas about women and Africa are another thing that make her very different from the rest of her family. It was released by Columbia Pictures and Ruby Dee won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress. Beneatha expresses her humanistic beliefs by denying God's. A Black woman striving to become a doctor is unusual for the time when the play is set, as Walter frequently points out. Juliann Urban has taught high school English for five years and has previously held the positions of English tutor for at-risk high school students and lead teacher at a private K-12 tutoring center. Shortly after, Mama slaps Beneatha and makes her declare that in her house, God still exists. The Hansberry family refused to move and were taken to court for violating the neighborhood's covenant. When the play begins, the family is about to receive an insurance check for $10,000 from their deceased fathers life insurance policy. (Pursuing him on her knees across the floor) FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME!'. His wife Ruth, wanting to provide more space and better opportunities for their son Travis, agrees with Lena. I hope these open-ended questions for A Raisin in the Sun will yield engaging discussions in your classroom. mutilated hair and all. She eventually accepts his point of view that things will get better with effort, along with agreeing to consider his proposal of marriage and invitation to move with him to Nigeria to practice medicine. Beneatha Younger, popularly known as "Bennie" is the sister to Walter Lee Younger and Mama's daughter. Beneatha is an intellect who attends college and happens to be educated than the rest of her younger siblings. However, due to the insurance money from . A Raisin in the Sun - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. Its arrival instigates happiness and anger and is also the means by which Hansberry is able to denote betrayal when Willy Harris steals Walter and Beneatha's share. Related Posts. reserved. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! [1] The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred"[2]) by Langston Hughes. Asagai promotes Beneatha's interest in her heritage by bringing her clothing and music from Nigeria. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Yet beneath what seems to be selfishness, Beneatha's strengths are her spirit of independence, the fact that she is a "new woman" who refuses to accept the traditional, spineless female role, and the fact that she is so knowledgeable about Africa that her self-esteem is enhanced. In her monologue, or speech, she explains her fascination with the ability to heal people and make them well; to Beneatha, that is like being God. A Raisin in the Sun Beneatha Younger Character Analysis Beneatha Younger Because Beneatha is the most educated of the Youngers, she sometimes seems to be obnoxious and self-centered; especially in the early scenes, she freely verbalizes her views in a household that has difficulty understanding her perspectives. Asagai criticizes her for being both too independent by not wanting to marry and too dependent by not wanting to leave America. This scene shows the conflict between Beneatha's liberal opinions and Mama's traditional, more conservative views. In contrast, the rest of her family are employed as domestic servants. 20-year old Beneatha is currently going to college and some of her personal beliefs and views have distanced her from conservative family. After Walter accuses Beneatha of not sacrificing for the family, she responds, "Thank everybody! 9 in the ratings for the week ending March 2, 2008.[16]. 17 She is twenty years old and very smart at the same time. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is about an African American family living on Chicago's Southside during the 1940s or '50s and was inspired by the discrimination Hansberry's own family faced, as well as other vital issues of the time. Principal, as well as an English Language Arts teacher. Let's start by finding a writer. What about all the crooks and thieves and just plain idiots who will come into power and steal and plunder the same as before only now they will be black and do it in the name of the new Independence WHAT ABOUT THEM?! The definition of the American dream according to average people is the ability for a person to purchase their own home using money earned through their hard work. Mr. Burke's decision may have been motivated by the changing demographics of the neighborhood, but it was also influenced by the Depression. Conflicts between family members abound after Mama, the matriarch, receives an insurance payout of $10,000. Beneatha is working to fulfill her dream of being a doctor, a job that was considered not fit for her status during the plays time period. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. When they done good and made things easy for everybody? An opportunity to escape from poverty comes in the form of a $10,000 life insurance check that the matriarch of the family (Lena Younger or Mama) receives upon her husband's death. Website studydriver.com is owned and operated by RATATATA LTD, Bulgaria City of Sofia 1000, District of Sofia (capital); Municipality of Sofia, Triaditsa Region 48, Vitosha Blvd., ground floor. It used to matter. She's even able to participate in expensive hobbies such as acting lessons, guitar lessons, and horseback riding, despite the fact that her family could use the money for more important things, such as getting a bigger place. This was truly being God. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Home | A RAISIN IN THE SUN Monologue (Beneatha). Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. She tells a story about sledding down the steps when she was young when a boy, Rufus, split his face open on the sidewalk and bled profusely. She questions why Beneatha experimented with hobbies like horseback riding and photography. Hansberry shows a very smart, young African American woman. In A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry demonstrates a family like no other. the bedroom and feverishly begins to look for something. This play is based on an African American family in Southside Chicago, 1959. Mama supports Beneatha's ideas, but she does not understand them. 'I mean it! You can also use our tools to come up with interesting topics and points to argue in your Despite this, he will continue to make progress, whether he may succeed or not. . insurance payment to Walter. What about the crooks and thieves and just plain idiots who will come into power and steal and plunder the same as before only now they will be black and do it in the name of the new independence WHAT ABOUT THEM? Hansberry's Raisin in the Sun is set in a one-bedroom apartment shared by three generations of the Younger family: Walter and Ruth, their son Travis, Walter's sister Beneatha, and their mother Lena. These experiences that Beneatha goes through effects her life and her Read More Examples Of Greed In A Raisin In The Sun 700 Words | 3 Pages What has He got to do with anything? Hansberry has borrowed the title from a popular poem by Langston Hughes, " Harlem ." Becoming a doctor would mean she would help people by healing them. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Beneatha is the only family member who has been college-educated, and she knows what she wants and how to get it. The plaintiff in the first action in 1934 was Olive Ida Burke, who brought the suit on behalf of a property owners' association to enforce racial restrictions. Asagai is teasing Beneatha about the irony of her passion for her African heritage and rejection of assimilation, integrating into the dominant culture. Allow Necessary Cookies & Continue A Raisin in the Sun is a play about dreams and Beneatha has one. very well . Ultimately, Beneatha is a kind and generous person, who seeks to become a doctor out of a desire to help people. The other man in Beneatha's life is Joseph Asagai, a Nigerian man she met in college. Lena "Mama" Younger is the matriarch of the Younger family. But the ambulance came and they took him to the hospital and they fixed the broken bones and sewed it all up. The play won two 2004 Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Play (Phylicia Rashad) and Best Featured Actress in a Play (Audra McDonald), and was nominated for Best Revival of a Play and Best Featured Actress in a Play (Sanaa Lathan). She dreams of being a doctor and struggles to determine her identity as a well-educated black woman. The play closes with the family leaving for their new home but uncertain future. . lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. And nobody asked me, nobody consulted methey just went out and changed my life!" Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. During this period, millions of African-Americans fled the segregated southern states, searching for better opportunities in northern states. A Raisin in the Sun is a play that addresses gender inequality through Beneatha and her experiences. Then isnt there something wrong in a house in a world! An error occurred trying to load this video. A Raisin in the Sun 2008 . The Supreme Court held that the Hansberry defendants were not bound by the Burke decision, because the class of homeowners in the Washington Park Subdivision had conflicting goals, and thus could not be considered to be the same class. In this scene, Beneatha is being sarcastic by apologizing to her brother for having dreams of becoming a doctor because Walter Lee doesn't realistically think it can happen. . A Raisin in the Sun: Metaphor Analysis Insurance money The play opens with references to when the check for this insurance will come and is a central motif. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. What has He got to do with anything? . Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. I used to care. . Nonetheless, he will try because that is how progress has always been made. the theme of interracial marriage between Beneatha and Joseph Asagai in A Raisin in the Sun can be viewed as a testimony of self-assertion, new freedom and a positive step towards black identity" (Berrain152-59). The cast were: A second revival ran on Broadway from April 3, 2014, to June 15, 2014, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Later in the morning Beneatha, the younger sister of Walter, initiates a conflict by speaking in an unacceptable manner about God seemingly rejecting values that have . In 1989, the play was adapted into a TV film for PBS's American Playhouse series, starring Danny Glover (Walter Lee) and Esther Rolle (Mama), Kim Yancey (Beneatha), Starletta DuPois (Ruth), John Fiedler (Karl Lindner), and Helen Martin (Mrs. Johnson). Nicknamed "Bennie," Beneatha is Mama's daughter and Walter Lee's younger sister. What does Beneatha want in a Raisin in the sun? However, her hardworking family that is more concerned with money gives Beneatha no time to reveal her true potential. She straightens her hair, for example, which he characterizes as "mutilation". However, as levelheaded as she is, she still has a dream of her own. She says, "[I never got over] that that was what one person could do for another, fix him upsew up the problem, make him all right again. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha argues with her mother about God taking credit for all of humanity's accomplishments. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Beneatha's character symbolizes new attitudes of the time period regarding race and gender. Walter feels let down by Mama and stops going to work, so Mama has a change of heart and gives Walter the $6500 that remains. It used to matter. In this scene, Beneatha is arguing with Mama about her belief in God. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Our first couple of quotes come from Act I, Scene i of the show: 'And forgive me for ever wanting to be anything at all! . Beneatha loses all hope in her dream, though, after her brother loses her portion of the $10,000 that is supposed to help pay for medical school. Beneatha is opinionated, especially in her dealings with her brother, Walter Lee; she clearly lives up to her name, an obvious pun, for, especially at the beginning of the play, everything and everyone seem to be "beneath her. Mama (Lena), is the main role model for this theme. Beneatha cuts her hair close to her head and leaves it unstraightened after Asagai teases Beneatha about the contradiction of her straightening her hair while rejecting assimilation, integration into the dominant culture. (This case was heard prior to the passage of the Fair Housing ActTitle VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968which prohibited discrimination in housing). She is arrogant in the way she refuses to acknowledge the familys setbacks and distances herself from the reality that her future is limited. By comparison, they will do anything to be able to fulfill their American Dream. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. . A monologue from the play by Lorraine Hansberry This play focuses on the Youngers, an African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. George Murchison in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Character & Analysis, Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Quotes & Analysis, Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Character Traits & Quotes, Walter in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Quotes & Character Analysis, The American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Theme & Analysis, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: Act 2 | Summary & Analysis, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Characters, Analysis & Traits, Irony in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Types & Examples, Symbols in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Analysis & Examples, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: Act 1 | Summary & Analysis, Setting of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Summary & Analysis, Themes in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Devices & Analysis. Neither man is actively involved in the Youngers' financial ups and downs. . If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. After touring to positive reviews, the play premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on March 11, 1959. In Act I, Scene 2, Asagai brings Beneatha Nigerian robes and music. Dreams Deferred As Lena reflects on Walter Lee and Beneatha's big dreams, she realizes, "You something new, boy. In 2008, Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, and Sanaa Lathan reprised their roles from the 2004 Broadway revival in a television film directed by Kenny Leon. 'A Raisin In The Sun' is basically about dreams, as the primary characters battle to manage the harsh conditions of their lives and dream of something more. When Beneatha explains that she would never marry George Murchison because his family is snobbish and would not approve, Mama tells Beneatha that it is wrong to dislike people because they are wealthy. In the monologue, Beneatha tells a story about seeing a boy get hurt as a child and how she became fascinated by the stitches that the boy received to help him heal. Her husband, James Burke, later sold a house to Carl Hansberry (Lorraine's father), when he changed his mind about the validity of the covenant. Beneatha says she no longer cares about healing the sick because there are more significant issues in the world that cannot be solved. He and Ruth begin to dance a classic, body-melding slow drag, which prompts. Who is the hero of a raisin in the sun? She cares a lot about politics and issues of civil rights, and is determined to get more in touch with her African culture through her relationship with Joseph Asagai, an African schoolmate. I mean about people and how their bodies hurt. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. In this scene, Beneatha has learned that her brother, Walter Lee, has lost the money that Mama set aside to pay for her medical school tuition. Does he pay tuition?" A Raisin in the Sun Study Guide Literary Elements: Be ready to identify examples that fit with the following terms. When he tries to make her feel bad about the sacrifices everyone is making for her to go to school, she stands up to him and defends her plans anyway. Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun provides a compelling and honest look into one family's aspiration to move to another Chicago neighborhood and the thunderous crash of a reality that African Americans faced when attempting to do so. 16 students ordered this very topic and got original papers. Does He pay tuition?'. curtain rises, Ruths joyful singing cuts through the silence as she finishes the familys packing. A Raisin in the Sun Act 1, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis. 1914-1945, sometimes described as high modernism) Experimentation (forms, devices, styles) Interest in psychoanalytical theories (esp. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. It is important to note that Beneatha only changes her hair after Asagai alludes to it. Orders: a doctor in favor of being a nurse like other women, or simply getting married. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. our extensive database of written samples to find the inspiration or research youre looking Beneatha is an intellectual who attends college and intends on going to medical school to become a doctor. It enables students to approach essential questions on money, dreams, identity, racism, society, and values. This fascination with making people whole again is the root of Beneathas struggles with her family. Beneatha is a complicated character with complicated relationships. Fix up the sick, you know and make them whole again. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the symbol Beneathas Hair appears in, the robes, he compliments her appearance, teasingly adding that she looks good even with mutilated, Beneatha gazes at herself in the mirror and clutches at her, stares at him and ceremoniously takes off the headdress, revealing her newly close-cropped and unstraightened, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. ", Previous Walter and Ruth Younger, their son Travis, along with Walter's mother Lena (Mama) and Walter's younger sister Beneatha, live in poverty in a run-down two-bedroom apartment on Chicago's South Side. Nicole McCarty, as Ruth Younger, argues about finances with her husband, Walter Lee Younger (played by Tyrell Morris) in this scene from "A Raisin in the Sun" at the . A Raisin in the Sun and The life of Fredrick Douglass have many similarities in regards to their dream. A+ Student Essay: The Role of Money in the Play, Lorraine Hansberry and A Raisin in the Sun Background. This version restores the character of Mrs Johnson and a number of scenes that were cut from the Broadway production and subsequent film, with the following cast:[22], The play opened on April 6, 2017, at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., directed by Tazewell Thompson, with the following cast:[23], The 2010 Bruce Norris play Clybourne Park depicts the white family that sold the house to the Youngers. What is Mama's greatest dream for her family? try to ignore the nobility of Walters decision, focusing instead on the task at hand. (including. Her education and her views on politics, religion, race, and gender make her very different from her family and, at times, lead to conflicts. You still think you can patch up the world. I never got over that What one person could do for another, fix him up sew up the problem, make him all right again. All rights As Lindner sits and begins to explain the purpose of the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, but we are trying to do something about it. This seemingly open-minded statement piques. On the Red Carpet for A RAISIN IN THE SUN's Opening Night! 'A Raisin in the Sun' by Lorraine Hansberry. And we used to fill them in with snow and make them smooth and slide down them all day and it was very dangerous, you know far too steep, and sure enough one day a kid named Rufus came down too fast and hit the sidewalk and we saw his face just split open right there in front of us, And I remember standing there looking at his bloody open face thinking that was the end of Rufus.