I mean about people and how their bodies hurt. On 3 March 1996, the BBC broadcast a production of the play by director/producer Claire Grove, with the following cast:[13]. In Act I, Scene 2, Asagai brings Beneatha Nigerian robes and music. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Therefore, the association offers to buy the house back from Mama for more than she paid. She tried to find herself by getting in touch with her roots. She tells him to put $3,000 in a savings account for. Throughout the whole play she tries out a handful of hobbies that she takes up during the play. The New York Drama Critics' Circle named it the best play of 1959, and in recent years publications such as The Independent[3] and Time Out[4] have listed it among the best plays ever written. Mama's conflicts with Beneatha mostly derive from the generation gap between them. With her natural hair, Beneatha proudly marks herself as an anti-assimilationist and visibly expresses her racial identity. She states that she wanted to cure people because fixing people and making them whole again is one of the most concrete acts a person can do to show that they care about someone else. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. 'Asagai, while I was sleeping in that bed in there, people went out and took the future right out of my hands! According to Beneatha, George is handsome and rich and takes her to expensive places, yet she is not interested in marrying him because George does not treat Beneatha like an equal. In Fruits. Beneatha says she is not thinking about whom she will marry if she ever gets married. Ultimately, Beneatha is a kind and generous person, who seeks to become a doctor out of a desire to help people. Asagai: You wear it well . A Raisin in the Sun discussion questions force students to slow down and think critically about the drama and its themes. . The play takes place on the Southside of Chicago during the 1940s or '50s and centers on an African-American family. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Continue to start your free trial. It transferred to the Belasco Theatre on October 19, 1959, and closed on June 25, 1960, after 530 total performances. In the play A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha argues with her mother about God taking credit for all of humanity's accomplishments. Beneatha disagrees, saying that she has never asked anyone to support her, but as Walter points out, there is not much difference between asking for help and just accepting it. A Raisin In the Sun. | 2 Beneatha attends college and dreams of becoming a doctor. succeed. Beneatha Younger, Mrs. Johnson (Mrs. Wilhelmina Othella Johnson). What is Mamas greatest dream for her family? NoI told him he was a sweet boy and full of dreams and everything is strictly peachy keen, as the ofay kids say!" | You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. 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. Purchasing Mr. Burke's decision may have been motivated by the changing demographics of the neighborhood, but it was also influenced by the Depression. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Related Posts. paper. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. The following quotes by Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun help to further characterize her. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Beneatha: My hair whats wrong with my hair? Name 3 activities Beneatha has attempted and abandoned. I hope these open-ended questions for A Raisin in the Sun will yield engaging discussions in your classroom. Beneatha Younger is the youngest child among "Mamas" children. 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. 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 . Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Walter is fixated on the check, as he hopes to use the money to open a liquor store, but this conflicts with Mama's religious beliefs. The first act takes place just before the events of A Raisin in the Sun, involving the selling of the house to the Black family; the second act takes place 50 years later. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. However, he also mocks her for acting serious about embracing her African culture while assimilating to white culture by straightening her hair. . On the Red Carpet for A RAISIN IN THE SUN's Opening Night! Mama teaches Beneatha be more selfless, to have compassion for Walter, and to consider his circumstances before judging him. Beneatha and her dialogue comes across as somewhat ungrateful and self-centered What do you want from me, Brother- that I quit school or just drop dead, which? very well . Smiling,, set of gardening tools. 20% She brings politics into the apartment and is constantly talking about issues of civil rights. While the Youngers are preparing to move, a white man named Mr. Lindner from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association visits. She struggles to keep hope in her dreams of becoming a doctor when her brother loses the money for her to attend medical school, and she wanted to become a doctor because she cares about people and wants to heal them. Though it won popular and critical acclaim, reviewers argued about whether the play was "universal" or particular to Black experience. She is twenty years old and very smart at the same time. [25], The two above plays, together with the original, were referred to by Kwei-Armah as "The Raisin Cycle" and were produced together by Baltimore's Center Stage in the 20122013 season.[26]. 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. . Beneatha replies, "Bad? Beneatha is an attractive college student who provides a young, independent, feminist perspective, and her desire to become a doctor demonstrates her great ambition. Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun stands apart from the rest of the family. 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. By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. 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?! Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? She questions why Beneatha experimented with hobbies like horseback riding and photography. When the play hit New York, Poitier played it with emphasis on the son and found not only his calling but also an audience enthralled.[5]. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Complete your free account to request a guide. After moving into a white neighborhood, Lorraine Hansberry's family faced threats and attacks. The play is about the Younger family and their various dreams and struggles. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you That was the most marvelous thing in the worldI wanted to do that. She dates two very different men: Joseph Asagai and George Murchison. All rights Beneatha is an attractive college student who provides a young, independent, feminist perspective, and her desire to become a doctor demonstrates her great ambition. Meanwhile, Beneatha's character and direction in life are influenced by two different men who are potentially love interests: her wealthy and educated boyfriend George Murchison, and Joseph Asagai. 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. SparkNotes PLUS The profession of a doctor is what Beneatha believes is mankinds strongest evidence to prove that they can change the world. 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. This scene shows the conflict between Beneatha's liberal opinions and Mama's traditional, more conservative views. What has He got to do with anything? 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. Don't use plagiarized sources. I never thought to see you like this, Alaiyo. But you can one from professional essay writers. She is progressive, intellectual, motivated, and strong-willed, but she can also appear argumentative, spoiled, and naive. He again kicks Lindner out of the apartment, and the family proceeds with their plans to move. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. A Raisin in the Sun WWI: 1914 to 1918 WWII: 1939 to 1945 Pale Horse, Pale Rider: 1939 Modernism ~1900 - ~1960 (esp. 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. The family consists of Lena "Mama" Younger, the proud head of the family and the original tenant of the apartment; Mama's adult children, Walter and Beneatha; Walter's wife, Ruth; and Walter and Ruth's young son, Travis. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Asagai helps her to understand that her dream of being a doctor did not arise because she was due to inherit money; her dream to heal people began long ago, so it should not disappear because the money did. Manage Settings It used to be so important to me. The play belongs to Rika Williams as Beneatha Younger, Lenas 20-year-old daughter. 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. A Raisin in the Sun Beneatha Character Analysis In "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry, the most dynamic character would be Beneatha. Yes I think [I stopped]. At the end of the play, she even considers marrying Asagai and going to Africa with him to practice medicine. Impact of Resources on the Movement of Products, Capital & People in the U.S. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Summary, Characters & Analysis, How to Determine Minor Key Signatures in Music, Allie in Catcher in the Rye by J.D. All rights reserved. This was truly being God. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. A+ Student Essay: The Role of Money in the Play, Lorraine Hansberry and A Raisin in the Sun Background. However, many Black families still faced racism and discrimination in the north. Why does Lindner try to convince the Younger family not to move? 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. Beneatha and her brother share this common trait of putting money above other things, although Beneatha does this much more secretly, she takes Mama for granted because of all the money they got and when she finds out what Walter did with the money she gave up on her dreams. I can help you save hours on your homework. I always thought it was the one concrete thing in the world that a human being could do. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. 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. While she earlier blames him for his shoddy investing and questions his manhood, she eventually recognizes his strength, a sign that she has become able to appreciate him. 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. Asagai explains that the way she wears her hair is not natural; she straightens it each week. Walter in A Raisin in the Sun: Character, Quotes & Monologue, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Beneatha Younger's Monologue in A Raisin in the Sun, A Raisin in the Sun Literary Context & Analysis, A Raisin in the Sun: Character Analysis & Traits, Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun: Character, Quotes & Monologue, Mama in A Raisin in the Sun: Character & Quotes, A Raisin in the Sun Character List & Flashcards, Common Core ELA - Speaking and Listening Grades 11-12: Standards, Study.com ACT® Test Prep: Practice & Study Guide, Study.com SAT Test Prep: Practice & Study Guide, Study.com PSAT Test Prep: Practice & Study Guide, Writing Review for Teachers: Study Guide & Help, Reading Review for Teachers: Study Guide & Help, CAHSEE English Exam: Test Prep & Study Guide, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Literature: Standards, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Language: Standards, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Writing: Standards, EPT: CSU English Language Arts Placement Exam, A Raisin in the Sun: Summary, Characters, Themes & Analysis, The American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Asagai: You wear it well . Mama (Lena), is the main role model for this theme. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. [8], Hansberry noted that her play introduced details of black life to the overwhelmingly white Broadway audiences, while director Richards observed that it was the first play to which large numbers of black people were drawn. Beneatha is an intellectual who attends college and intends on going to medical school to become a doctor. Beneatha's college education has helped to make her progressive, independent, and a total feminist. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. . I'm just tired of hearing about God all the time. [7] Frank Rich, writing in The New York Times in 1983, stated that A Raisin in the Sun "changed American theater forever". in A Raisin in the Sun and Harlem In Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun, the author reveals a hard-working, honest African-American family struggling to make their dreams come true. 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. Walter: Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? Beneatha is an intellectual who attends college and intends on going to medical school to become a doctor. And in a family comprised of a mother, brother, and sister-in-law whose main focus is daily survival, Beneatha's dream seems all but impossible. A Raisin In The Sun Mama Quotes Analysis 482 Words | 2 Pages. After Walter loses the money intended for Beneatha's education she says, "Asagai, while I was sleeping in that bed there, people went out and took the future right out of my hands! Hansberry states Beneatha's conflict when she writes Why? A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry and was first produced in 1959. How does Walter lose the insurance money? That was the most marvelous thing in the worldI wanted to do that. mutilated hair and all. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. I used to care. This is definitely the case for Beneatha Younger, one of the main characters of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The film debuted at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was broadcast by ABC on February 25, 2008. All monologues are property and copyright of their owners. A monologue from the play by Lorraine Hansberry. 'I mean it! Instead of being grateful for her family's sacrifices, Beneatha often comes off as being selfish, and at times, downright obnoxious. Beneatha Younger struggles to find her real identity throughout the whole play, "A Raisin in the Sun." She strives to become a doctor despite being a women. [1] The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred"[2]) by Langston Hughes. Understand Beneatha Younger from ''A Raisin in the Sun''. Mama wants to give some of the money to Beneatha, who plans to attend medical school and use the rest to buy a house like she always dreamed of having. A Raisin in The Sun is a popular play by Lorraine Hansberry. I never got over that What one person could do for another, fix him up sew up the problem, make him all right again. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! (Pursuing him on her knees across the floor) FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME!'. 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. Beneatha attends college and will go to any length to reach her goal on becoming a doctor. Have you cried for that boy today? The ambulance came and took the boy to the hospital. A Raisin in the Sun A Streetcar Named Desire Biografien Englisch Born a Crime Brave New World Crooked Letter Crooked Letter Das Schicksal ist ein mieser Verrter Death of a Salesman Die Abenteuer des Huckleberry Finn Disgraced Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde She is interested in embracing her heritage rather than adopting white culture, she has chosen to attend college and pursue a career (one dominated by white men), and she has no interest in marriage at this point in her life. How does Walter plan to use the insurance money? Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. The first is George Murchison, a boy who takes her on nice dates. Beneathas biggest dream in Raisin in the sun is to become a doctor. Cure the Great Sore of Colonialism (loftily, mocking it) with the Penicillin of Independence ! to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Dont worry I dont expect you to understand. We learn that she "flits" from one expensive hobby to another as her mood dictates, even though it often seems that the family could use the money spent on Beneatha's horseback riding, her camera equipment, her acting lessons, and her guitar lessons for other, more financially relevant things. She does not think he should get credit for things that humans achieve on their 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. Though Ruth is content with their lot, Walter is not, and desperately wishes to become wealthy. A Raisin in the Sun (1961) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Daniel Petrie Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by Laurence Rosenthal Cinematography by Charles Lawton Jr. . Beneatha is an extroverted, independent young woman who cherishes her African heritage and plays a refreshing role in the Younger family's makeup. 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. Beneatha expresses her humanistic beliefs by denying God's. Beneatha tells Mama, "I mean it! As the monologue continues, she mocks her African boyfriend, Asagai, for holding on to his dreams for helping Africa.