I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN! What is the significance of the exchange between Mama and Walter? He thinks that she should be doing something more womanly than studying medicine, especially since her tuition will cut into the check, which is the insurance payment for their fathers death. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. As a playwright, Hansberry must develop characters through dialogue because there is no narration that can do it for her. 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. 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. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. Travis asks them for moneyhe is supposed to bring fifty cents to schooland Ruth says that they do not have it. He brings her some Nigerian clothing and music as gifts. When she rebukes himas if he were still a childhe responds, "I'm a grown man." Do you think you would like him? 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. What, if any of the family's current conflicts has the issue of the insurance money caused? What this means is that Asagai sees Beneatha as someone who has a longing that will not be filled by material possessions alone. While Travis gets ready in the communal bathroom, Ruth and Walter talk in the kitchen. They do not seem happy, yet they engage in some light humor. They keep mentioning a check. Walter scans the front page of the newspaper and reads that another bomb was set off, and Ruth responds with indifference. 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 issue of the check serves only to exacerbate the conflicts that already exist. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% -Bennie is going on about she doesn't believe in God. But neither Ruth nor Mama treats him like a grown man. Ruth comes into the room just as Travis goes downstairs to get the mail. The insurance check is all Walter needs to pursue the venture. Similarly, the speculation over Ruths pregnancy imbues the scene with a sense of anxiety and tension. 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. How does Walter lose the insurance money? Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. "Explain the different reactions of Ruth and Walter to Mama's announcement that she has bought a house in A Raisin in the Sun." Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. -starts out in a worn-out, older, small, crowded living room. Please identify examples of figurative language in A Raisin in the Sun. A2S1 How can you tell that Walter is bitter about Mama's decision to buy a house? A2S3 What does Ruth buy for the new house? Do you think she will agree to his offer? -Yes, he seems like he wants Bennie to be happy. Through the announcement of Ruths pregnancy, we can see the power that Mama wields as the matriarch of the family. Do you think the relationship can be saved? Earlier in the play, Ruth was stressed about the knowledge that she was pregnant. Ruth, the household manager, refuses to give her son the money; Walter, as a father trying to safeguard his sons ability to be accepted, gives Travis twice as much as he asks for. -Ruth is annoyed and keeps on telling him to stop There is an issue that needs to be discussedRuth's pregnancybut Walter does not know that there is an issue. She repeated her experiment to focus on this area using a method called fiber photometry, which let her team monitor neural chatter in living rats. -Graham S. Asagais comments about Beneathas hair make her question whether she is an Africanist or an assimilationist. Walter, on the other hand, lacks this singular dedication to his family. In Mamas mind, dignity and freedom are virtues far more precious than material wealth. George, on the one hand, represents total assimilation into white culture. Why does he react this way? Does Ruth agree? 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. Read more about what Walter plans to do with the insurance money. Walter admits that he does not think he is able to make her understand his feelings and motives. 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. What will be his punishment? -Now worthy to be head of the family Mama also imagines a garden that she can tend along with her dream house. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? Mama explains to Walter that for her generation, freedom from lynching, the end of segregation, and the ability to find work were all considerable social advancements. She knows that Mama believes in giving money to her church for the missionary work, but the Africans, she says, "need more salvation from the British and the French," who were the dominant colonial rulers at that time. -George just wants her to be a pretty and respectful girl and Asagai wants her to be who she really is Mamas hospitality is a reflection of the pride that she takes in her family and its treatment of others. How does Walter plan to use the insurance money? Already a member? Mama, however, can see into Ruth's mind and heart and knows what she intends. Mama is upset when she realizes that Ruth is contemplating an abortion. Ruth, however, has reached a point of despair. Mama apparently donates money to missionary causes, while Beneatha believes that American and European missionaries do more harm than good in Africa. Hansberry may have selected the name Beneatha to represent the oppression of African-American women, drawing on the word 'beneath.' They are simply caught up in the excitement of the moment the receipt of the check. How does Ruth try to handle his rudeness? 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. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." They clearly do not communicate, and Ruth's pregnancy is an important issue for them to talk about. Central Idea Essay: Why Does Mama Want to Own Property? He promises to bring the money to Willy when he receives it. Instead, she wants to move to a house with a lawn on which Travis can play. Once again, we see how protective Mama is of her family. Walter cannot accept Mamas views, which he finds naive. Why is Ruth upset by Travis's talk of the rat? The small potted plant acts as a temporary stand-in for her much larger dream. -She trusts him for the most part, but based on his past, she should not. A2S3 What effect does Mr. Lindner's visit have on the family's mood? Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. What does Asagai's use of a different name imply and foreshadow? -$6500 gone. A1S1 Why does Mama slap Beneatha? -Really sweet and kind 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. Read more about Walters perception of who the antagonists are in the play. How does Asagai tease Beneatha about her hair? 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. A+ Student Essay: The Role of Money in the Play, Lorraine Hansberry and A Raisin in the Sun Background. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. creating and saving your own notes as you read. In this movement, Black Americans embraced their racial history, stopping their attempts to assimilate, even in physical appearance. -Mama is very religious. Ace your assignments with our guide to A Raisin in the Sun! He says, bitterly, to hurt her as deeply as he knows is possible that she butchered his dream. Mama tries to help her relax. How does his visit change the family's mood? Why do you think he says these things? Ruth and Mama? Walter, who usually has a lot to say, is suddenly quiet. Similarly, they are befuddled by her dislike of the pretty, rich George Murchison. Dont have an account? For Ruth, Mamas announcement that she has bought a house is one of the first bursts of optimism in a long time. Act I Scene 2 - CliffsNotes How do the others think she should spend the money? What do you think some of the deeper reasons for the conflict might be? 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. How does this contrast with her mother's feelings? -Lots of emotions at once. Finally, Mama tells him that Ruth is pregnant and that she fears that Ruth is considering having an abortion. How does Ruth behave when she learns about the rat In raisin In this conversation, Mama represents a colonial/imperialist view of Africans as savages who need to be "saved" and "civilized." With whom do you side in their argument? Tudo Sobre Ansiedade - Home Share your findings with the class. When does Walter change his mind? Beneatha's anger is definitely covering a feeling of sadness toward even this small assimilation into white American life. Why? Their small dwelling on the South Side of Chicago has two bedroomsone for Mama and Beneatha, and one for Ruth and Walter Lee. Para saber lo que dijo el crtico de espectculos, escribe las oraciones en el condicional. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. This upsets Ruth because it serves as yet another reminder of her own poverty, and her inability to give her son a better life. To those of Mama's generation, it should have been enough that Walter Lee's generation can ride at the front of a bus. The following morning, Saturday, is the day that the check is expected to arrive. During the thirties and forties, the mass exodus of blacks from the south to the northern cities was an attempt to flee segregation injustices, including being forced to ride at the back of buses. -He is the welcoming committee at their new neighborhood (one code per order). Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. She shuts herself into their bedroom. Then write the number that describes how the pronoun is used in the What time does normal church end on Sunday? From his perspective, he enters the apartment excited about the money, and is dismissed and treated like a child. 1. in secticide 2. in tellectual 3. missionary 4. dejection 5. suppress 6. mutilate 7. So you butchered up a dream of mine--you--who always talking 'bout your children's dreams. Hansberry uses similar minor interactions to develop the characters throughout the play. -Always arguing She is very pleased that Asagai sees her as she sees herself. A3S1 How does Asagai answer Beneatha? The insurance check prompts intra-family conflict, as arguments about money quickly become larger struggles concerning personal identity, personal dreams, and family dynamics. -He says it's not her because if her father was still around they wouldn't have that money at all. In short, Walter is questioning the reasons he cannot live the way his bosses live. 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. They do not seem happy, yet they engage in some light humor. Walter's? Ruth and Walter? Joseph Asagai brings Beneatha a gift of African records and some Nigerian robes. If everything simply revolved around the money, the play would seem somewhat coincidental and shallow. A1S2 What is your impression of Asagai? Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. What is the significance of the discussion between Mama and Beneatha about Africa? By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Explain the different reactions of Ruth and Walter to Summary and Analysis What does the allusion "this here can is empty as Jacob's kettle" mean? Walter scans the front page of the newspaper and reads that another bomb was set off, and Ruth responds with indifference. -She gets very upset that her son is growing up chasing rats -Thinking about having to raise another child in the small apartment, in an unsafe/unsanitary area Meanwhile Ruth, who is usually quieter, laughs out loud. Contact us This scene emphasizes the clash of cultures between the American-born black and the African. -He's a drunk and doesn't care that Ruth may kill her maybe Mama's? With or without the arrival of the insurance check, Walter would still long for independence and a sense of self worth. Beneatha and Mama are busy doing weekend housecleaning when Ruth comes in, announcing sadly that she is pregnant. Please wait while we process your payment. LitCharts Teacher Editions. -surface: been married a long time and are struggling to be happy together. What is Beneatha's reaction? She wants to become an independent and liberated woman. A2S2 What does Travis want to be when he grows up? -Go to the bank and put some money in for Bennie's schooling and the rest he can decide what to do with it Complete your free account to request a guide. Read an in-depth analysis of Ruth Younger. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Walter does so knowing that he faces the emasculating task of having to ask Ruth for money himself as a result. Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? Usa tu imaginacin y expresa lo que ellos dijeron. Mamas reaction to the check shows the negative consequences of money, as the question of its use weighs heavily on Mama, as well as the fact that this money was earned through the death of her husband, and as such cant possibly be worth what it cost to get it. To honor her African identity, Beneatha realizes that she must allow her hair to display its natural, unassimilated form. In contrast, Walters body language embodies his disappointment. 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. Although the Younger family seems alienated from white middle-class culture, they harbor the same materialistic dreams as the rest of American society. The tantalizing arrival of the insurance check creates an expectant atmosphere. Finally we see a side of Beneatha that is not just spoiled and demanding. The only window is in their small kitchen, and they share a bathroom in the hall with their neighbors. She knew there was no real room for another person in the apartment and that finances were extremely tight. Note what he says to Mama in his anger: What you need me to say you done right for? Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. This scene also reveals Walters growing restlessness, as well as the desperation with which Ruth is trying to hold her family together. -Based on how unsafe their area is and how young he is, he deserves a punishment so he won't do it again. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. WebRuth gets up first and after some noticeable difficulty, rouses Travis and Walter as she makes breakfast. What do you think accounts for that improvement in their relationship? 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. 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, however, ignores Walter in the same way that Walter earlier ignored Ruth's attempts to tell him about her pregnancy. How does Walter plan to use the insurance money? A1S2 What is "assimilationism"? -He comes home later than he was supposed to Walter returns home and wants to talk about his liquor store plans. -Punishment is a whipping Travis sleeps on the couch in the living room. Joseph Asagai brings Beneatha a gift of African records and some Nigerian robes. You can view our. Varios estudiantes van a ir a esquiar este fin de semana. 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. 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. This is a statement of the Raisin In the Sun Study Guide- Act I Scene Two Flashcards 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 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. Does she trust Walter with the money? That Beneathas attitude toward him differs from Ruths or Mamas may result from the age difference among the three women. 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. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Why? Read an essay about how A Raisin in the Sun debuted at the start of the volatile 1960s. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? 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. How does this fit Walter's character? A2S2 What is Walter's dream for the future? Discount, Discount Code Beneatha represents the beginning of the postcolonial view of Africans as people who are only in need of the freedom to be themselves. Subscribe now. of the pronoun in parentheses. Beneatha gets up next and after discovering that the bathroom is occupied by someone from another family, engages in a verbal joust with Walter. A Raisin in the Sun Act I, Scene i Summary & Analysis Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. During the 1950s, abortion was illegal, but Ruth has valid reasons for not wanting her pregnancy. -Because the $10,000 is finally arriving The fact that Travis is so intrigued by a rat, rather than being afraid, seems to emphasize his life of poverty. What might Beneatha represent? Renews May 7, 2023 Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. 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. -His bosses wife calls asking where he has been Walter's power struggles with Ruth and Mama would still simmer and Beneatha would still be willful and spoiled. 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. 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.

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