-It is an all white area Hansberry uses this allusion to emphasize Mama's need to keep the appearance of a nice home. The next day, Saturday, the Youngers are cleaning their apartment and waiting for the insurance check to arrive. 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. 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. Mamas plant symbolizes her version of this dream, because she cares for it as she cares for her family. Asagai obviously cares for Beneatha very much, and he wonders why Beneatha does not have the same feeling for him. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. of the pronoun in parentheses. Latest answer posted August 25, 2021 at 3:18:50 AM. The fact that Travis is so intrigued by a rat, rather than being afraid, seems to emphasize his life of poverty. Walter and Beneatha have never know the problems Mama and her husband faced, but they are aware of the social and financial inequalities that still exist, and which that they would like to eradicate. How does Walter feel about her plans? Subscribe now. -Lots of emotions at once. How does the mood of the play change when the postman rings the doorbell? Why does he visit? -She buys curtains You run our lives like you want to. -Walter says he's depressed. You the head of this family. Finally, while she seems to understand Ruth's despair, she does not condone her action. So you butchered up a dream of mine--you--who always talking 'bout your children's dreams. What is the significance of the exchange between Mama and Walter? Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Beneatha refers to the "ghetto" in which they live as though it brings with it a disease that she calls "ghetto-iris.". -He's a drunk and doesn't care that Ruth may kill her maybe -She will most likely take his offer because she's not happy with where e life is now and this would be a good change. Their different reactions illustrate the different ways this news impacted their lives. he ringing of the doorbell signifies that the check has finally arrived. She tries to give the plant enough light and water not only to grow but also to flourish and become beautiful, just as she attempts to provide for her family with meager yet consistent financial support. Mama believes that Africans need religious salvation from heathenism, while Beneatha believes that they are in greater need of political and civil salvation from French and British colonialism. sentence 1 (subject of a question): 2 (subject of a subordinate clause): 3 (direct object of a verb); 4 WebRuth calls the doctor she, which arouses Mamas suspicion because their family doctor is a man. (object of a preposition). Why is there so much apprehension about the check? Hansberry may have selected the name Beneatha to represent the oppression of African-American women, drawing on the word 'beneath.' Consider her body language upon hearing the news: She laughs joyously, having practically destroyed the apartment, and flings her arms up and lets them come down happily, slowly, reflectively, over her abdomen, aware for the first time perhaps that the life therein pulses with happiness and not despair. 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. The interaction between Beneatha and Asagai reveals how serious Beneatha is about finding her identity. Asagai roughly translates "Alaiyo" to mean "One for Whom Bread Is Not Enough." Beneatha claims that she is trying to express herself, an idea at which Ruth and Mama have a laugh. 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. Walter returns home and wants to talk about his liquor store plans. Dont have an account? 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. Purchasing Finally we see a side of Beneatha that is not just spoiled and demanding. To honor her African identity, Beneatha realizes that she must allow her hair to display its natural, unassimilated form. Through these reactions, it can be gathered that Beneatha is spoiled: she has no qualms about hurting her family's feelings when she is angry. How does this fit Walter's character? A Raisin in the Sun Study Guide Act II - Ques, professional nursing chapter 18/19 review, A Raisin in the Sun Study Guide Act I - Quest, 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. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. -Because she believes that dreaming will take you nowhere in life and it's point less. Explain how the ruins of Great Zimbabwe reflected the capital's wealth. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Her relentless care for the plant represents her protection of her dream. Ruth feels ill and anxious about her pregnancy. -Business partner with Walter and Willy Completa la siguiente frase de una manera original. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. George, on the one hand, represents total assimilation into white culture. -Going sledding down steep stairs when it snowed and one time a kid splitting his face open Will he try to stop Ruth? Latest answer posted June 28, 2020 at 11:07:39 AM. Why did Mama choose this location? -Need to decide if they are going to move or not Asagai sees Beneatha's haircut as an example of assimilationisman acceptance of white oppression and a rejection of her African heritage. Kind of like a rainbow after the rain." Act II Scene 1. Mama implores Walter to honor his fathers memory and take pride in his own manhood by convincing Ruth to not have an abortion. The Youngers Saturday morning ritual of cleaning the apartment shows the pride that the family takes in maintaining its home. Struggling with distance learning? In this conversation, Mama represents a colonial/imperialist view of Africans as savages who need to be "saved" and "civilized." 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. Read more about why Mama wants to own property. What time does normal church end on Sunday? -Ruth talks happily about him and how they have been holding hands A3S1 Why does Beneatha attack Asagai's dream about Africa? -Moving the furniture, spraying insecticide, washing walls, listening to music. Putnam admits that she sent Ruth to Tituba. Which one? Travis asks them for moneyhe is supposed to bring fifty cents to schooland Ruth says that they do not have it. Asagai, on the other hand, represents Black Pride and African heritage. She explains that she is looking for more than storybook love. However, with these other conflicts involved, the Youngers seem like a real family facing real problems. Second, she lost a child herself and knows the never-ending pain that can accompany the experience. A1S1 Why do you think Mama likes the plant so much? We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Might Beneatha's anger hide another emotion, and if so, how is this significant? (one code per order). 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. During the 1950s, abortion was illegal, but Ruth has valid reasons for not wanting her pregnancy. The issue of the money has caused none of the family's conflicts. 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. A2S2 What is Walter's dream for the future? 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. 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. A1S1 Who is George Murchison and how do Beneatha, Ruth, and Mama feel about him? 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. 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. Before Asagai's arrival at the Younger apartment, Beneatha sternly admonishes her mother not to say anything embarrassingly naive or patronizing about Africa. -Comes to tell Walter that Willy took all their money -Others says it looks like she should be in the fields. 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. She wants to become an independent and liberated woman. Why does he react this way? 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. -She gets very upset that her son is growing up chasing rats Ruth returns from seeing a doctor, who has told her that she is two months pregnant. She reveals this information to Mama and Beneatha. Ruth and Beneatha are worried and uncertain, while Mama simply expresses her hope that the baby will be a girl. Ruth calls the doctor she, which arouses Mamas suspicion because their family doctor is a man. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Please wait while we process your payment. Read more about Walters perception of who the antagonists are in the play. Log in here. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% What this means is that Asagai sees Beneatha as someone who has a longing that will not be filled by material possessions alone. How much is a biblical shekel of silver worth in us dollars? -starts out in a worn-out, older, small, crowded living room. Beneatha made this statement to Asagai when they first met, a remark he had found amusing. She thinks that if Mama gives him some of the money he might regain his happiness and confidence, which are two things Ruth feels she can no longer provide for Walter. What does the following statement by Beneatha's foreshadow? Contact us Beneatha gives Mama some facts about Africa which Mama later parrots for Asagai's acceptance and Beneatha's approval. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Answered by Aslan on 7/25/2017 10:26 PM Ruth A2S3 What does Travis get for Mama? -When Walter says "who even cares about you" to Ruth Refine any search. Later, he is upset that Mama has decided about the liquor store without even seeing it; from his perspective, she does not have enough information, has not "listened" enough, to have made a decision. Note his body language in this scene and how it compares to Ruths. He does not appreciate the depth of Ruth's despair, and cannot imagine her choosing not to have their baby. 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. 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. -Blending in with white culture A Raisin in the Sun Comprehension Questions.odt - A Raisin -Bennie joking about Tarzan and with Asagai. Ruth's pregnancy would still add a burden to the family. Ace your assignments with our guide to A Raisin in the Sun! Why does she lie to Travis? Purchasing What does Mama's confusion show? $24.99 $24.99 Still, no matter how much Mama works, the plant remains feeble, because there is so little light. Travis sleeps on the couch in the living room. What do you think accounts for that improvement in their relationship? Suddenly, there is a commotion in the street, and. Some word pairs will be antonyms, some will be synonyms, and some will simply be words often used in the same context. Dijo que la historia (concluir) con la segunda parte de la pelcula. In A Raisin in the Sun, explain George's reference to Prometheus. Ruth and Beneatha? She simply wants to do the best for the family that she already has. Beneatha takes pride in her African nickname and its ability to accurately represent her dedication to her dreams. Tendremos que salir a las seis de la maana, lo que A1S1 Describe the setting of the story. She knew there was no real room for another person in the apartment and that finances were extremely tight. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. WebHow do Ruth and the other family members react to the news of the pregnancy? With whom do you side in their argument? So what you need me to say it was all right for? -By asking her if the money was hers -He is the welcoming committee at their new neighborhood Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Tudo Sobre Ansiedade - Home The check represents an outside force that enters into their lives and changes everything, for better or for worse. A2S2 How does Ruth find out that Walter has not been showing up for work? SparkNotes PLUS Nigeria was ruled by the Portuguese at the end of the fifteenth century, followed by the Dutch, the Danes, the Spaniards, and the Swedes. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. He promises to bring the money to Willy when he receives it. Renews May 7, 2023 Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Act One, Scene 2. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! -He comes home later than he was supposed to The issue of the check serves only to exacerbate the conflicts that already exist. Act 1 | The Crucible Questions | Q & A | GradeSaver How can you tell that she feels guilty? 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. Just bought a rat Subscribe now. -Because the $10,000 is finally arriving The way she dressed and behave she described as a 'tart', 'jail bait', 'rat truck' by George and she has describe as a 'purity' by Lennie and Slim. How does Ruth behave when she learns Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Asagai visits Beneatha, and they spend some time together by themselves. A2S2 Why does Beneatha tell Mama that George is a fool? Her dream of a house and a better life for her family remains tenuous because it is so hard for her to see beyond her familys present situation. Ruth and Mama get along the best Ruth is a strong , independent woman who wants to steer away form what is How is that money beginning to cause conflict within the family? How do you form that impression? Once again, we see how protective Mama is of her family. 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. Mama's generation worked hard so that their children could have a "better life," which, to her, meant a life without segregation.