beneatha's angry responses to walter suggest that she:
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Beneatha wants the family to stop catering to Walter, who she believes has just failed the family by saying he’ll take Lindner’s money. Beneatha’s response be to this statement? Walter’s boyish demeanor when greeting Lindner represents the loss of manhood that has been brought about by Walter’s decision to sacrifice his pride. “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Instant downloads of all 1413 LitChart PDFs A Raisin in the Sun is a play about an African American family aspiring to move beyond segregation and disenfranchisement in 1950s Chicago.Despite … She explains that, in her view, curing people is a real way of providing miracles for others. But Beneatha is in college living her dream and has everything that she wanted. Ruth initiates the conversation about what Mama will do with the insurance check. She's extremely worried about Walter's obsession with money and is totally disapproving of Beneatha's lack of faith in God.Mama even goes so far as to slap Beneatha in the face when the girl says that God doesn't exist.Except for the face-slap moment, Mama is … When Walter complains that Beneatha’s medical schooling will cost more than the family can afford, he bases his argument on the fact that since Beneatha is a woman, she should not even want to become a doctor. Beneatha provides the definition, making it clear that an assimilationist is not a person she could respect. Beneatha’s sarcastic response reveals her lack of concern for Walter’s feelings and anger with his decisions. She refers to Walter as “that individual” because it shows that she has lost respect toward her brother. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”. Asagai raises the important distinction between money that is earned and money that is simply inherited. none. Walter declares his manhood but nonetheless behaves childishly and cowardly. She stands up for her beliefs and provides perspective from an older generation. And that all Walter does is talk about himself and what he wants. Here, Beneatha is talking to Walter Lee about the check that's about to arrive, but later in scene two, Walter says to Mama, "Mama--Mama--I want so many things..." metaphorically telling her that he wants to run a liquor store. ... he put it all away for Beneatha's … Walter and Beneatha have a tense relationship. SURVEY . Following the loss of his own dream, Walter changes his perception of Remembering the pride that Big Walter took in his racial identity, Walter begins to revise his decision to accept Lindner’s offer. Walter’s insistence that Beneatha marry someone with money signals that the family still has its disagreements and also shows Walter’s continued preoccupation with money. He also identifies the house as the fulfillment of his father's dream, and moving to the house is thus something earned (recall Asagai's comment to Beneatha earlier in Act 3) and not something inherited. Beneatha is an attractive college student who provides a young, independent, feminist perspective, and her desire to become a doctor demonstrates her great ambition. She thinks Walter is another woman. Additionally, the implied marriage proposal complicates Beneatha’s dreams, which prioritize her ambition to become a doctor over marriage. I mean we figured it out, me Willy and Bobo.” Walter is selfish all he wants and cares about is the money that isn’t even his. Walter's comment that the family won’t “fight no causes” distances the family from more radical factions of the civil rights movement. This ain’t no fly-by-night proposition, baby. Mama requires that the apartment in which they live always be neat and polished. Beneatha grieves for her dying dream of becoming a doctor. Not everything has been fixed. Beneatha is complaining to Asagai that her dreams have been taken from her by her brother, her family, and the world. Beneatha’s progressive social views are at odds with her brother’s desire to give in to Lindner and accommodate white culture. Joseph Asagai, Beneatha's Nigerian boyfriend, calls her "Alaiyo," which means something like "One for Whom Bread – Food – is Not Enough." He believes that women shouldn't do "men's" jobs, and being a doctor is overstepping the boundaries of her gender. Walter's comment about Beneatha's future occupation as a doctor is the first time he's openly displayed support for her dream. Mama isn’t keen on the idea. She’s a 2o year old college student who wants to become a doctor Travis Younger, the 10 yer old son of Walter … Analysis. Beneatha’s pragmatism and progressive politics position her as a representation of a modern female in the 1950s. By using himself as an example, Asagai explains to Beneatha that progress occurs in starts and stops, encouraging her to hold on to her dream despite this recent setback. Sad but accepting. With the loss of the money, Mama loses both her dream and her sense of pride, stating that she simply “aimed too high.” Mama references the people who found her too “high-minded,” recalling Mrs. Johnson assimilationist perspective. She laments his decision to accept Lindner’s humiliating, prejudiced offer, which also signals Walter’s implicit acceptance of racial stereotypes. Mama scolds Beneatha’s lack of compassion, telling Beneatha that she should love Walter the most when he is “at his lowest and can’t believe in hisself ‘cause the world done whipped him so!” Mama tells Beneatha to mourn her brother, not … Then Orem establishes “Beneatha Younger as a black feminist reworking of the “Angry Young Man” figure.” (190). She wants more than to just get by; she wants to find ways to truly express herself. Walter and Ruth's relationship seems to have gotten a lot better and Mama is a lot happier that she gets to move out Identify Walter's change in attitude towards Beneatha. When Mama asserts that the family is not the investing type, Ruth says, \"Ain't nobody business people until they go into business.\" Despite these words, Ruth encourages Mama to do whatever she wishes with the money, such as travel to Europe. Mama invokes the generations of slaves and sharecroppers who, despite their dire financial straits, at least maintained their pride in the face of crippling racial discrimination. Mama is Walter and Beneatha’s sensitive mother and the head of the Younger household. Although she takes great interest in her African roots, her initial confusion over Asagai’s meaning of “home” may signal that she does not go so far as to imagine Africa as her home. Is it simply lack of money that Excited but cautious. The way she talks to Walter shows her us that she has a pretty sharp attitude. Presently BENEATHA'S bedroom door opens and RUTH'S mouth falls and she puts down the iron in fascination. Beneatha declares that she is searching for her "identity." Walter retorts that she should be concerned about marrying a wealthy man like George Murchison. She is disappointed that Walter is more committed to money than he is to his family. Beneatha’s progressive social views are at odds with her brother’s desire to give in to Lindner and accommodate white culture. Walter says that Beneatha should be a nurse or get married. She never yields to Walter and, in some cases, even goads him into a confrontation. $10,000. This scene emphasizes Beneatha's naivete about African culture, for although she is wearing the Nigerian robe and headdress, she is "fanning herself with an ornate oriental fan" and inadvertently appears more Asian than African. Ruth had anxiously asked if Beneatha had said anything “bad” to him, worrying Beneatha would make Walter feel worse than he already does. For Beneatha, a politically progressive and pragmatic thinker, helping people is the most important thing a person can do in the world. Walter’s pained imitation of an African-American stereotype marks his complete loss of dignity and shows the lengths to which he will go in order to obtain Lindner’s money. Throughout the play, she searches for her identity. $3,000. Ruth's advice to Beneatha is that she should just "be nice" sometimes and not argue over every one of Walter's insensitive remarks. She no longer believes she can attain her goal because the source for tuition money has dried up. (16) To what does Mama refer when she says, “You are a disgrace to the memory of your father.”? Walter is jealous of Beneatha’s education and cannot understand why she would want to become a physician and would not “Go be a nurse like other women.” (38) This shows that Walter is not comfortable with a woman having a higher level of education than he and that he has old fashioned ideas of what women should and should not be. But Beneatha feels that Walter is just being immature and jealous. He resents that as an African American man in mid-century Chicago he is unable to fulfill the mainstream male role as a financial provider for his family. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. Walter is stunned and angry and leaves. Even though Walter is drunk and a bit out of control, Beneatha is happy to see her brother embrace his ancestral heritage. Beneatha is very touched by this, because it shows that he really understands her. (including. Walter even celebrates Beneatha’s dream to become a doctor, a marked change from his earlier criticism of his sister’s ambition. ... How much money did Mama want Walter to put away for Beneatha's schooling? From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Everyone in the family is making a sacrifice so that Beneatha can become a doctor — a fact pointed out by Walter … LitCharts Teacher Editions. Much of the conflict between Beneatha and Walter revolves around Walter’s chauvinistic view of Beneatha. Lena is a “full-bodied and strong” woman in her early sixties with a subtle air of “grace and beauty.” They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!”, “This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. ... (And now the lighting shifts subtly to suggest the world of WALTER'S imagination, and the mood shifts from pure comedy. Lena discerns that Beneatha is insulting her brother, since she is “[o]utraged ” by Beneatha’s assertion that Walter is a “flip” (49), but Lena depends on Ruth and Beneatha to explain the precise meaning of Beneatha’s anger – expressed through wordplay – to her. Does she find it, at the end of the play? Our. RUTH What have we got on tonight! She demands that members of her family respect themselves and take pride in their dreams. Interestingly, the family’s reserved dignity prevents it from taking excessive pride in Walter’s decision. Struggling with distance learning? Mama criticizes Beneatha for her lack of empathy and for placing concerns about her own dream before concerns about Walter’s debilitating loss of pride. -Graham S. Beneatha is touched but overwhelmed by Asagai’s unexpected proposal. A: The first couple lines gives us a glimpse of Beneatha’s fiestiness. Beneatha is furious, and they begin to argue just as they did at the beginning of the play. But neither Mama nor Ruth gets Beneatha’s meaning quite right. But they still have their pride, and they still have each other. This also shows Benethra’s interest in education, which most women that that time would not be interested in education becaues most women were not educated. Considering what his life has been, is he justified in saying this? Mama responds to her announcement with “god willing,” which irritates Beneatha, who is tired of hearing about a god who doesn’t seem to help their situation much. Beneatha is so angry she says “There is nothing left to love.” Mama rebukes her for her comment, and this scene displays the fierce love Mama has for her family. Through most of Act One, she has been annoyed by her brother, the stage directions say that "she is thoroughly caught up with this side of him." 16. A Raisin in the Sun on the Brink of the 1960s, Hansberry, Langston Hughes, and the Harlem Renaissance. Beneatha Younger. Mama mourns her son’s decision to sacrifice his and the family’s pride for financial gain. Beneatha's "schooling" is a privilege that Walter Lee has not had, yet Beneatha appears to believe that a higher education is her right. September 25, 2008 at 5:53 PM He isn't angry … Ruth offers to make tremendous sacrifices to make the family’s dream a reality. After Beneatha insults Walter by calling him an assimilationist, Ruth asks her what the term even means. He explains that a free Nigeria – even if it still contains violence, even if it kills him – will constitute progress towards a better future. Instead, she asks about Travis ’ whereabouts. Uncaring and bored. Walter is afraid that if the women in his family are able to take care of themselves, they won't need him. Beneatha uses her brother’s irresponsibility with money as a weapon with which to further diminish his self-esteem. Beneatha, by the way, is really getting into this. 8. Without her dream to anchor her identity, Beneatha is unmoored and disparages her youthful hope and idealism. She says some of the money will definitely go towards Beneatha’s education, and then that some of … Ruth and Mama take great pride in Walter’s moral victory over racial prejudice, recognizing that his decision marks his transformation into a man. When Walter asks Mama again where she has been, she doesn’t answer the question. Beneatha's defiance toward Walter is symbolic of her defiance toward all barriers of stereotype. Through the character of Joseph Asagai, Hansberry reveals a trend toward celebrating African heritage. Walter, however, is crushed by Mama's news; to him, Mama has "butchered his dream." And though Walter begins slowly and meekly, as he tells Lindner about the accomplishments of his family, he gradually gains confidence, evidenced by his ability to look Lindner in the eye. Instead of celebrating her African heritage, Beneatha now focuses on the problems that will plague a free Africa. The topic is so important because it shows for Walter’s dreams are being deferred while everyone else is getting chances and help. (17) Describe Walter. She dates two very different men: Joseph Asagai and George Murchison. In a hugely transformative moment, Walter reaffirms his and the family’s pride and, further, by referencing the six generations of his family to live in America he asserts that he is as American (and, likely, more American) than Lindner himself. The matriarch of the Younger family, Lena, commonly referred to as “Mama,” is Walter Lee and Beneatha’s mother and Travis’ grandmother. Even though they do not agree with Walter’s plan to give in, the whole family suspects and hopes he will come to his senses and make the right decision. Lena Younger, Walter’s mother Beneatha Younger, Walter’s sister. Walter’s speech recalls his earlier assertion that money is “life.” He emphasizes the overriding importance of money, which he believes carries more weight than moral distinctions between right and wrong. Mama’s demand that Travis witness Walter’s decision to accept Lindner’s bribe is a last-ditch attempt to appeal to Walter’s sense of dignity. answer choices . She lampoons Walter’s aspirations of material wealth and power. Beneatha comments on her mother’s reliance on divine providence. A Raisin in the Sun Active Reading Guide for pages 535 to 544 Purpose: Engage in active reading and share responses in an online experience Objective: Discover emerging conflicts and motifs 1. After Beneatha insults Walter by calling him an assimilationist, Ruth asks her what the term even means. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. When Mama finally does give him money she tells him to split the money between him and Beneatha she tells him to go to the bank and put Beneatha’s share there. She urges Beneatha to release her anger and love her brother, hoping that the family’s love can repair the damage that the world – and racial prejudice – has done to Walter. Beneatha is extremely angry at Walter. Ruth argues that the money belongs to Mama, and suggests that she take a trip to Europe or South America. Just as Walter has asked her to do, Ruth tries to persuade her mother-in-law to invest the money in the liquor store. He criticizes Beneatha’s overemphasis on money that she did not earn and scolds her for hitching her dream, however noble, to the death of her father. Not everything is perfect. In what does her search consist? A Raisin in the Sun explores not only the tension between white and black society but also the strain within the black community over how to react to an oppressive white community.Hansberry’s drama asks difficult questions about assimilation and identity. When she does respond to Walter, … RUTH: Walter — WALTER: Mama would listento you.Youknow listen you she to more than she do me and Bennie.Shethink more you. Returning the plant in its usual place by the window, Mama signals that she has given in to the dissolution of her dream and resigned herself to the fact that the family will remain in the apartment. Tags: Question 7 . Walter gets angry and leaves because Ruth is going to get an abortion without his say in the decision and mama says that she’s not planning on giving him money for the liquor store. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Mama says that she has always … She has the radio going. What does Walter mean when he says money is "life" (74)? 7. They wordlessly and internally celebrate his moral victory without shamelessly celebrating the moment. Beneatha provides the definition, making it clear that an assimilationist is not a person she could respect. $6,500. Her comment that nobody consulted her suggests that her being a female makes it even more impossible for her to have a future. Making sure to bring her plant with her, Mama takes a last look at the apartment before leaving it forever. Having lost her own dream, Beneatha attacks Asagai’s idealistic dream for African independence. We'll make guides for February's winners by March 31st—guaranteed. Now that the family has realized Walter’s plans, everyone has lost their hope because the money was the key to their dreams. With the loss of the money to fund her dream, Beneatha appears to have lost her pride in her identity, which was intimately tied to her dream of becoming a doctor. Making final preparations to leave the apartment. Teachers and parents! Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Mama’s decision to take the plant to Clybourne Park symbolizes a new beginning for the family’s dreams, but also hints at continued struggles for the family at its new home. Angry and hurt. Beneatha has just announced to Ruth and Mama she will be a doctor, putting marriage second. In this moment of weakness and despair, Beneatha believes her future lies in others’ hands. Tags: Question 13 . "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Everyone but Mama exits the stage. He resents his status as part of the “tooken” and is willing to sacrifice his pride in order to become a “taker.” Walter covets the control and power that “takers” exert over the world. With her cynical statement on African freedom, Beneatha anticipates the problems that many newly formed African nations did face. Mama feels that Walter will not stand up to Ruth and for his family as Big Walter had. In the presence of his son, the next generation, Mama hopes that Walter will honor the sacrifices of earlier generations and show that same pride even in terrible circumstances. Based on the opening lines between Walter and Beneatha, characterize their relationship. The Youngers: Mama, Ruth, Travis, Beneatha, and Walter Lee are used in this play as s ymbols of dr eams and conflicts and Hansberry uses the themes of gender, race, and class to create Walter is saying that the family will be good neighbors to the white people of Clybourne Park, but he is also asserting their right to be neighbors of those white people.
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