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. Note what he says to Mama in his anger: What you need me to say you done right for? This little scene may seem insignificant, but it develops Mama's character. Mama, though, feels morally repulsed by the idea of getting into the liquor business. -Mama is being fair because he is wasting away his life It is difficult in such a crowded atmosphere as the Younger household for one person to be singled out and heard. 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. 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. Finally, while she seems to understand Ruth's despair, she does not condone her action. What does the check symbolize, from both a plot standpoint and a dramatic standpoint? The next day, Saturday, the Youngers are cleaning their apartment and waiting for the insurance check to arrive. How does Walter plan to use the insurance money? By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. She reveals this information to Mama and Beneatha. WebRuth gets up first and after some noticeable difficulty, rouses Travis and Walter as she makes breakfast. -They get very upset and ask him to leave. A1S2 Why does Mama mention Tarzan to Asagai? Why? To a great extent, Walters dreams center on the many things that he wants, highlighting the centrality of material wealth in his formation of a personal identity. Note the way she responds:HALLELUJAH! Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Rather, they live in a world in which being middle class is also a dream. Before Asagai's arrival at the Younger apartment, Beneatha sternly admonishes her mother not to say anything embarrassingly naive or patronizing about Africa. Hay-lo Beneatha answers the telephone with this greeting, a combination of "Hey" and "Hello.". Why does Lindner try to convince the Younger family not to move? The check represents an outside force that enters into their lives and changes everything, for better or for worse. A2S1 What does George mean when he calls Walter "Prometheus"? Complete the following sentence by choosing the word that best fits the context, based on information you infer from the use of the italicized word. 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. -I think Walter will only fall deeper into his hole and not try and stop Ruth from killing their baby. There is an issue that needs to be discussedRuth's pregnancybut Walter does not know that there is an issue. They injected the Beneatha, of course, reacts angrily to Asagai's criticism and judgment. 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. Joseph Asagai brings Beneatha a gift of African records and some Nigerian robes. How does his visit change the family's mood? Ruth and Beneatha? What is the connection between Langston Hughes's "Harlem (A Dream Deferred)" and the central theme of Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun? A3S1 What childhood winter memory does Beneatha share with Asagai? Ruth calls the doctor she, which arouses Mamas suspicion because their family doctor is a man. -Now that it is finally here they do not know what to do with it. 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. for a customized plan. -Lots of emotions at once. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Do you think she is being fair? It is infested with cockroaches and there is not enough room for them all. Why do Asagai and Beneatha argue about assimilationism? This scene also reveals Walters growing restlessness, as well as the desperation with which Ruth is trying to hold her family together. Summary and Analysis A3S1 How do you feel right after Lindner leaves? A1S1 What is your impression of Ruth? Many Black intellectuals and writers, especially in the 1960s, faced this dilemma; Beneathas character thus seems somewhat ahead of her time. How does Ruth behave when she learns about the rat A1S2 How do the various family members use humor to reduce the stressfulness of their situation? You can view our. Mama tries to help her relax. Work with a partner to research a female scientist from the Scientific Revolution. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Central Idea Essay: Why Does Mama Want to Own Property? - Shows that Travis is very nice and doesn't judge anyone. A2S3 Who is Mr. Lindner? However, with these other conflicts involved, the Youngers seem like a real family facing real problems. Beneatha refers to the "ghetto" in which they live as though it brings with it a disease that she calls "ghetto-iris.". Beneatha claims that she is trying to express herself, an idea at which Ruth and Mama have a laugh. What are the physical traits of Lena, Walter, Beneatha, Ruth, George, and Joseph? For once, Ruth seems to be on Walters side. 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. What subtle glimpse into Beneatha's soul does this conversation provide? The only window is in their small kitchen, and they share a bathroom in the hall with their neighbors. This issue helps to emphasize the growing marital problems between Ruth and Walter. In most cultures, the arrival of a child is a blessed, wonderful thing, the continuation of the culture into the next generation. Log in here. Share your findings with the class. - He finally has made a good decision for his family (not just for himself) She does so literally in this scene by holding the insurance check. Her relentless care for the plant represents her protection of her dream. Earlier in the play, Ruth was stressed about the knowledge that she was pregnant. What is the significance of the meaning of the word "Alaiyo"? They do not seem happy, yet they engage in some light humor. Hansberry uses these two men to show the issues with which Beneatha is struggling. Ruth comes into the room just as Travis goes downstairs to get the mail. -Asagai is more compatible. Furthermore, seeing themselves as Americans, some African Americans questioned why it was necessary to have extensive knowledge of Africa. 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. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Why does he say that the money Walter gave away wasn't hers? Why does he come to see Walter? Why do the Youngers decide to go through with the move? Why would Hansberry include this small exchange in the play when it does not seem to develop any of the themes? -Asa makes a better argument and just wants Bennie to be who she really is. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Their small dwelling on the South Side of Chicago has two bedroomsone for Mama and Beneatha, and one for Ruth and Walter Lee. Raisin In the Sun Study Guide- Act I Scene Two Flashcards They clearly do not communicate, and Ruth's pregnancy is an important issue for them to talk about. How does Ruth behave when she learns about the rat. -Graham S. Asagais comments about Beneathas hair make her question whether she is an Africanist or an assimilationist. Latest answer posted August 25, 2021 at 3:18:50 AM. A1S2 How does Ruth behave when she learns about the rat? For Ruth, the news that Mama has bought a house for them all comes as a godsend. Choosing the Correct Form and Use of Who and Whom. -His bosses wife calls asking where he has been Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. -Everyone starts freaking out and Mama starts hitting Walter Act I Scene 2 - CliffsNotes What do you think Walter will do now? Accessed 1 May 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Walters statements show how racial discrimination regarding job opportunities curbed many African Americans dreams for social advancement, and locked them into the role, essentially, of servants. How does he react when confronted? While Travis gets ready in the communal bathroom, Ruth and Walter This shows Mama's ignorance of their African heritage and its significance to Beneatha. -She buys curtains When she gets her hair cut, she also cuts herself loose from her former assimilationist ideas, and begins to accept her African heritage. -To tell him why she wants to be a doctor (something she once cared about). Mama then recites Beneathas views on Africa and African people as best she can. Do you think she will agree to his offer? Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN! SparkNotes PLUS Why do you think she is so upset? That Beneathas attitude toward him differs from Ruths or Mamas may result from the age difference among the three women. How does Ruth behave when she learns about the rat In raisin in the sun? 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. He promises to bring the money to Willy when he receives it. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Might Beneatha's anger hide another emotion, and if so, how is this significant? 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. Later, Beneatha will put these robes on and become a "Nigerian Princess," symbolizing her acceptance of her heritage. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. -insurance money from her husband's death. -Business partner with Walter and Willy 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. A1S2 What goes on during house cleaning at the Youngers? What is the significance of the exchange between Mama and Walter? She knows something is wrong, but does not know what, and essentially accuses Walter of having an affair when he is not. A2S1 Is Walter right when he accuses his mother of trying to run her children's lives? 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. She explains that she is looking for more than storybook love. Beneatha argues that God does not seem to help her or the family. The Book of Ruth Character Analysis | SuperSummary Which one? Beneatha represents the beginning of the postcolonial view of Africans as people who are only in need of the freedom to be themselves. Walter cannot accept Mamas views, which he finds naive. Nigeria was ruled by the Portuguese at the end of the fifteenth century, followed by the Dutch, the Danes, the Spaniards, and the Swedes. What is significant about the exchange between Beneatha and Asagai about Beneatha's hair? Read more about Mamas plant as a symbol. A2S1 Why does Ruth's excitement about the new house begin to fade when she discovers its location? Explain the different reactions of Ruth and Walter to But now, all of a sudden all of those concerns are obsolete. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change? Beneatha's anger is definitely covering a feeling of sadness toward even this small assimilation into white American life. Beneathas request that her mother refrain from asking ignorant questions about Africa underscores the fact that many mid-century African Americans knew little about African life and culture.
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