A1S2 How does Beneatha feel about the church? How does the piece of paper that arrives affect each member of the family? Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! A2S3 What does Travis get for Mama? Share your findings with the class. (including. -She would've had a similar reaction to Walter and gotten very upset, -Gardening Tools from Ruth, Walter, and Bennie. Why does he come to see Walter? Walter, on the other hand, lacks this singular dedication to his family. on 50-99 accounts. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! 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. Para saber lo que dijo el crtico de espectculos, escribe las oraciones en el condicional. What do you think some of the deeper reasons for the conflict might be? 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. Beneatha and Mama are busy doing weekend housecleaning when Ruth comes in, announcing sadly that she is pregnant. 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. Why did Mama choose this location? In A Raisin in the Sun, explain George's reference to Prometheus. -Based on their personalities they will probably stay together but it's not a good ides. The news of this house gives her hope and a future for both her family and for the unborn baby inside of her. 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. -She buys curtains Joseph Asagai brings Beneatha a gift of African records and some Nigerian robes. -To tell him why she wants to be a doctor (something she once cared about). -It is an all white area Wed love to have you back! For Ruth, the news that Mama has bought a house for them all comes as a godsend. -Ruth still wants them to move Ruth gets up first and after some noticeable difficulty, rouses Travis and Walter as she makes breakfast. When does Walter change his mind? By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. -George just wants her to be a pretty and respectful girl and Asagai wants her to be who she really is A2S1 How does Travis get into trouble? This kept Ruth emotionally wound up and worried. Why does Lindner try to convince the Younger family not to move? A1S2 What goes on during house cleaning at the Youngers? -He says it's not her because if her father was still around they wouldn't have that money at all. Beneatha takes pride in her African nickname and its ability to accurately represent her dedication to her dreams. Dijo que la historia (concluir) con la segunda parte de la pelcula. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% How is it like Mama's childrenand Mama herself? Asagai, on the other hand, represents Black Pride and African heritage. What do you think will happen to Ruth? Their different reactions illustrate the different ways this news impacted their lives. WebWhen the local neer-do-well Ruby Dahl falls for Ruth, she notes that he was the first man in the history of the universe that noticed my feminine lure (127). Mama, however, ignores Walter in the same way that Walter earlier ignored Ruth's attempts to tell him about her pregnancy. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. 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. WebNaomi then explained what Ruth was to do: she was to wash herself, anoint herself, and change her clothes. After hanging up, Beneatha explains to Mama that the man she has spoken to on the phone is Joseph Asagai, an African intellectual whom Beneatha has met at school. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! -Visits to tell them that they do not want colored people in their neighborhood and offers to buy them out. 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. -Others says it looks like she should be in the fields. Open hostility, however, between the numerous rival factions within the country bred chaos, with several attempts to overthrow the government, civil war, and finally mass starvation. WebWhile waiting for Travis, Mama asks Ruth about her visit to the doctor, and Ruths use of the pronoun she to refer to the doctor makes Mama immediately suspicious. Travis She and Mama discuss Beneathas worries about her familys ignorance about Africa and African people. Why does Hansberry give Beneatha two boyfriends? Please identify examples of figurative language in A Raisin in the Sun. 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. A3S1 Why does Beneatha attack Asagai's dream about Africa? Asagai scorns her wish, much to Beneathas disappointment. Mama implores Walter to honor his fathers memory and take pride in his own manhood by convincing Ruth to not have an abortion. -Bennie is going on about she doesn't believe in God. Because of this exclusion, Walters dreams of money and success in business become inextricably linked to his image of himself as a man. Does Mama agree? The fact that Beneatha leaves in a "blaze of glory" may suggest Hansberry's approval of Beneatha's new mindset. George, on the one hand, represents total assimilation into white culture. Walter cannot accept Mamas views, which he finds naive. All of the characters in A Raisin in the Sun have unfulfilled dreams. eNotes Editorial, 16 June 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/explain-the-different-reactions-of-ruth-and-262577. Beneatha does not want to assimilate into, or become successful in, the dominant white culture of the 1950s. Ruth feels ill and anxious about her pregnancy. He promises to bring the money to Willy when he receives it. How is Mama's reaction to the gift different from the way the others react? Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. The bureau is the taller piece of bedroom furniture, containing only drawer space for clothing. SparkNotes PLUS Eventually, Beneatha chooses Asagai, and, thus, her African heritage, over the assimilationist viewpoint embodied by George. Walter's power struggles with Ruth and Mama would still simmer and Beneatha would still be willful and spoiled. Ruth and Mama? -Travis wants to be a bus driver In her eyes, the present is so intolerable and the future so bleak that she would rather destroy the next generation than bring a child into a life of poverty and hopelessness. How do you form that impression? What do you think Walter will do now? WebMama, however, can see into Ruth's mind and heart and knows what she intends. Beneatha easily gets worked up into a fury, and when angry, says things she does not actually mean, just as she did in Scene 1 with the comment about salt losing its savor. This issue helps to emphasize the growing marital problems between Ruth and Walter. -By asking her if the money was hers The Book of Ruth Character Analysis | SuperSummary Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. 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. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Hansberry uses this scene to express her dissatisfaction with most people's distorted perceptions about Africa. A Raisin in the Sun Student Packet.pdf - YUMPU Why would Hansberry include this small exchange in the play when it does not seem to develop any of the themes? Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. -Happy but very worried Travis then leaves for school, and Walter tells Ruth that he wants to use the check to invest in a liquor store with a few of his friends. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Walter does so knowing that he faces the emasculating task of having to ask Ruth for money himself as a result. -By giving him more responsibility and trusting him more Sometimes it can end up there. 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. Mama, though, feels morally repulsed by the idea of getting into the liquor business. Asagai roughly translates "Alaiyo" to mean "One for Whom Bread Is Not Enough." She even indicates to Ruth and Mama that she might not get married, a possibility that astonishes them because it runs counter to their expectations of a womans role. What is wrong with reporter Susan Raff's arm on WFSB news? A2S2 Why does Beneatha tell Mama that George is a fool? Beneatha gets up next and after discovering that the bathroom is occupied by someone from another family, engages in a verbal joust with Walter. He does not appreciate the depth of Ruth's despair, and cannot imagine her choosing not to have their baby. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the British gained control over the slave trade there. Why does he react this way? She asks Ruth what she would do with the money, which amounts to $10,000. In this conversation, Mama represents a colonial/imperialist view of Africans as savages who need to be "saved" and "civilized." Similarly, the speculation over Ruths pregnancy imbues the scene with a sense of anxiety and tension. Ruth feels ill and anxious about her pregnancy. Beneatha argues that the money belongs to Mama and that Mama has the right to decide how it is spent. Already a member? Asagai hints at what is to come by telling Beneatha that by straightening her hair she is mutilating it. What might Beneatha represent? Cuando te sacan fotos, qu ropa te gusta llevar? How does Ruth behave when she learns about the rat In raisin in the sun? As a playwright, Hansberry must develop characters through dialogue because there is no narration that can do it for her. Describe Walter's relationship with Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun. -Mama chose it because it was the cheapest house she could find. She knew there was no real room for another person in the apartment and that finances were Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! For Ruth, Mamas announcement that she has bought a house is one of the first bursts of optimism in a long time. What is Beneatha's reaction? She does so literally in this scene by holding the insurance check. -Because the $10,000 is finally arriving Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Mama wants what is best for the family, but she clearly does not understand her son. 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. Why does he visit? How does Walter plan to use the insurance money? A2S1 Is Walter right when he accuses his mother of trying to run her children's lives? WebEarlier in the play, Ruth was stressed about the knowledge that she was pregnant. 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. Why would Hansberry include these? Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Nigeria was ruled by the Portuguese at the end of the fifteenth century, followed by the Dutch, the Danes, the Spaniards, and the Swedes. Owning a house had always been a dream she had shared with her husband, and now that he is gone she nurtures this dream even more powerfully. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Hansberry includes these in order to give the characters a sense of roundness. Beneatha says that her hair was once like his, but that she finds it too raw that way. 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. A2S1 What does George mean when he calls Walter "Prometheus"? - He finally has made a good decision for his family (not just for himself) The Youngers Saturday morning ritual of cleaning the apartment shows the pride that the family takes in maintaining its home. How does Walter feel about her plans? for a group? For once, Ruth seems to be on Walters side. From what you have seen so far, how would you describe the relationship between Ruth and Travis? -Going sledding down steep stairs when it snowed and one time a kid splitting his face open -Always arguing Nigeria finally became independent and a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and, in 1963, it became a republic. After he leaves, Travis brings in the insurance check from the mailbox, and Walter seizes this opportunity to discuss his business plans again. We also learn that Walter is "restless," dissatisfied with his current life, and feeling as if the people he loves, and who are supposed to love him, do not understand him, rarely even giving him the chance to speak. -Walter's jealous of the way he grew up A2S2 What is Walter's dream for the future? Mr. Asagai, I am looking for my identity Asagai repeats Beneatha's words to her, poking fun at her desperation to connect with her African heritage. Second, she lost a child herself and knows the never-ending pain that can accompany the experience. What does she mean? A2S1 How can you tell that Walter is bitter about Mama's decision to buy a house? The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. -Shows that she cares about the little things. Why does Beneatha want to become a doctor? 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. -George doesn't care. What does the plant represent in the play A Raisin in the Sun? A Raisin in the Sun Act I, Scene i Summary & Analysis 16. The small potted plant acts as a temporary stand-in for her much larger dream. This is a statement of the - 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. After Asagai leaves, Beneatha tries on her new identity. How does Walter react to that idea? Ruth comes into the room just as Travis goes downstairs to get the mail. What significance does the scene with Travis and the Beneathas spraying of the apartment seems symbolic of her dissatisfaction with her surroundings. Struggling with distance learning? Why is there so much apprehension about the check? -insurance money from her husband's death. She is very pleased that Asagai sees her as she sees herself. -They get very upset and ask him to leave. When the unvoiced th sound arise at the end of a word, spell it with the letters th. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Indeed, her seeking of her roots in Africa to forge her identity (even though her family has been in America for five generations) precedes the New African movement of the 1960s. (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. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Why? -Graham S. Asagais comments about Beneathas hair make her question whether she is an Africanist or an assimilationist. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Finally we see a side of Beneatha that is not just spoiled and demanding. Read more about Walters perception of who the antagonists are in the play. 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. -Mama is very religious. What is Ruth's view of what they should do? What is significant about the exchange between Beneatha and Asagai about Beneatha's hair? Does Ruth agree? Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Walter exclaims at one point, "Will somebody please listen to me today?" Luego contesta las preguntas. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? How does Ruth try to handle his rudeness? 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. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? That Beneathas attitude toward him differs from Ruths or Mamas may result from the age difference among the three women. Her relentless care for the plant represents her protection of her dream. Why? Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. In A Raisin in the Sun, why do you think Mama changes her mind and gives Walter the insurance money? Asagai is also more serious about their relationship than Beneatha is and appears not to fully understand or accept Beneatha's "liberated college woman's attitude." Which one do you think is more compatible with Beneatha? Why do Asagai and Beneatha argue about assimilationism? You'll also receive an email with the link. The fact that Travis is so intrigued by a rat, rather than being afraid, seems to emphasize his life of poverty. Removing #book# 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. Wed love to have you back! Why do you think she is so upset? on 50-99 accounts. Walter, who usually has a lot to say, is suddenly quiet. -Mama wants to stay at the apartment (she's given up). -Mama is being fair because he is wasting away his life An intellectual gap, however, also compounds the generational difference between Mama and her daughter Beneatha. -Go to the bank and put some money in for Bennie's schooling and the rest he can decide what to do with it He finds it hard to act as a man in the way his mother wants when she does not treat him as a man in the same way she treated his father. Ruth calls the doctor she, which arouses Mamas suspicion because their family doctor is a man. One for Whom Bread Food Is Not Enough Asagai gives Beneatha the Nigerian name "Alaiyo," which he translates roughly as: "One for whom bread food is not enough," meaning that his perception of Beneatha is that she is a totally developed person, both intellectually and spiritually, and that she demands answers to all of life's questions. Why does Mama buy a house in an all-white neighborhood? Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Do you believe it was the right decision? Why? In contrast, Walters body language embodies his disappointment. This scene focuses on the fierce Younger pride that Mama is constantly trying to instill in her children. Merely going through the motions of life is not enough for a person like Beneatha; she has to question every philosophy for herself. A1S2 Why has everyone been waiting for the mailman's arrival? Ruth's pregnancy would still add a burden to the family. Explain the different reactions of Ruth and Walter to 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. 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. Want 100 or more? Joseph Asagai brings Beneatha a gift of African records and some Nigerian robes. 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. 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. Some word pairs will be antonyms, some will be synonyms, and some will simply be words often used in the same context. A1S1 Who is George Murchison and how do Beneatha, Ruth, and Mama feel about him? A Raisin in the Sun Act I, Scene ii Summary & Analysis Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? 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. he ringing of the doorbell signifies that the check has finally arrived. Asagai teases Beneatha for straightening her hair in order to conform to the European or Hollywood standard of beauty. -No, she is just trying to provide a safe and happy home for her family. What does Asagai's use of a different name imply and foreshadow? to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Hansberry uses similar minor interactions to develop the characters throughout the play. A2S3 How do you know that Ruth and Walter have been getting along better for the past day or two? When the voiced th sound arise, include a final e. List examples of each of these rules in poems. -He's a drunk and doesn't care that Ruth may kill her maybe She simply wants to do the best for the family that she already has. -His bosses wife calls asking where he has been What are the physical traits of Lena, Walter, Beneatha, Ruth, George, and Joseph? Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? April 30, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Why does he say that the money Walter gave away wasn't hers? -Comes to tell Walter that Willy took all their money What does it reveal about each of the characters? -Punishment is a whipping Answered by Aslan on 7/25/2017 10:26 PM Ruth Read more about why Mama wants to own property. 20% In the south, whites rode in the front of buses, blacks in the back. 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. From his perspective, he enters the apartment excited about the money, and is dismissed and treated like a child. Ruth never had a Free trial is available to new customers only. Do you side with one more than with the other? What is the significance of the fact that Walter does not know where Ruth is? Mama attempts to discredit Walters money-centric worldview by reminding him of the life-or-death struggles endured by earlier generations of African Americans. To honor her African identity, Beneatha realizes that she must allow her hair to display its natural, unassimilated form. Beneatha represents the beginning of the postcolonial view of Africans as people who are only in need of the freedom to be themselves. 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. Read more about the nuanced use of dialect by each character in A Raisin in the Sun. $24.99 $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Subscribe now. Ruth wants to discuss her pregnancy with him and becomes upset when he will not listen. -Because she believes that dreaming will take you nowhere in life and it's point less. of the pronoun in parentheses. A2S3 What do you think Mama would have said and done if she had been at home when Mr. Lindner visited? Walter does not believe that Ruth would do such a thing until Ruth comes out of the bedroom to confirm that she has made a down payment on the service. 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. Why do you think Hansberry selected the name "Beneatha" for this character? Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs The check represents an outside force that enters into their lives and changes everything, for better or for worse. -Now that it is finally here they do not know what to do with it. -Bennie joking about Tarzan and with Asagai. The tantalizing arrival of the insurance check creates an expectant atmosphere. The family will have room for another, and therefore she can finally recognize and await the new life she is creating with joy. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change? With or without the arrival of the insurance check, Walter would still long for independence and a sense of self worth. 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. Dont have an account? Once upon a time freedom used to be lifenow its money. -He comes home later than he was supposed to The fact that he explains the issue softly and gently shows his gentle, yet strong nature. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Though Walter and Ruth harbor materialistic dreams, they desire wealth not solely for self-serving purposes but rather as a means to provide for their family and escape the South Side ghetto in which they live. Similarly, they are befuddled by her dislike of the pretty, rich George Murchison. -I think Walter will only fall deeper into his hole and not try and stop Ruth from killing their baby. The four major groups are the Hausa and Falani people in the north, the Yoruba people in the southwest, and the Ibo people in the southeast. Even if Walter's ideas were unacceptable and offensive, someone in his family should have taken the time to listen. Beneatha makes the mistake of using the Lords name in vain in front of Mama, which sparks another conversation about the extent of Gods providence. Hansberry's stage direction may also reflect something of her own beliefs. 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. She invites the person on the phone over to the still-dirty apartment, much to Mamas chagrin. Act One, Scene 2. Jesus tells her that a water bucket is constantly empty, but if she believes, then her kettle will never be empty because it will be filled with the living water of God. Work with a partner to research a female scientist from the Scientific Revolution. Mama apparently donates money to missionary causes, while Beneatha believes that American and European missionaries do more harm than good in Africa.