Beneatha Film Analysis

In order to support his opinion, the author uses historical references to the enormous impact of racial inequality on African American lives. Additionally, Desmond names a set of historical data and rates of the poor African Americans in cities to enhance the reader’s understanding of this complex situation. African Americans were also more likely to get the apartment with broken furniture, windows, and other facilities that confirmed the existence of racial inequality (Desmond, 2016, p.249). To reassert his position, Desmond provides offensive statistics that millions of people are evicted from American homes, and most of them are African American (Desmond, 2016, p.293). As a matter of fact, the author proves that housing discrimination based on race is the primary cause of

Another example of social inequality in Evicted was not in the housing market, but when Desmond witnessed a police officer harassing Arleen’s eldest son, Ger-Ger. Desmond describes the experience by saying, “I watched a police officer pull his patrol car up to Ger-Ger, Arleen’s eldest son, and say, ‘Man you’re fucked up!’...When I came out of the apartment for a closer look, the officer looked at me and drove away. He might have acted differently had I not been a white man with a notepad.” (P. 322). Desmond was not only witnessing inequality in the housing market, but also within the police department. When I read this, I could not believe that the police would rather harass a young black man than keep the streets of Milwaukee clean. Desmond witnessed this inequality firsthand, and I think he saw how unfairly these families were treated. In Hillbilly Elegy, Vance described a lack of social acceptance from the people in Middletown towards the people from Appalachia. Vance described the way that hillbillies handled many problems as “Hillbilly Justice.” This form of problem solving within their community was highly frowned upon by the suburbanites of Middletown. The culture of Appalachia was highly irregular, but that is not a reason to look down upon or discriminate against a group of people. J.D even described that when he was in Middletown, he

In the drama, we learn that Beneatha dreams of being a doctor and Walter thinks she is crazy. In this quote, Beneatha it seems as if Beneatha is apologizing to her brother Walter but if the reader or viewer of the drama reads between the lines or sees the actors in dialogue, they would see that she is actually being sarcastic. For Beneatha, she is determined to prove to herself, her brother and others that her dream is not impossible and that she is going to follow her

Beneatha really wants to go college, but they don’t have enough money to send her college. Beneatha’s dream is to go to medical school and become a doctor, but Walter doesn’t want to use the money for that. Walter knows that Beneatha really wants to go to medical school and become a doctor, but he doesn’t think it would be a smart use of the money. It is very expensive for her to do that, and it would use a large amount of money. He wants her to know that it’s Mama’s money not theirs.“Who the hell told you to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messin ‘round with sick people then go be a nurse like other women or

At the beginning of the play, Beneatha is independent, over-confident, and arrogant. This can be seen when she exclaims, “Oh, I probably will … but first, I'm going to be a doctor, and George, for one, still thinks that's funny. I couldn't be bothered with that. I am going to be a doctor and everybody around here better understand that!”( ; ) At this area of the play, Beneatha, Ruth, and Mama are conversing about George Murchison and his appearance, personality, and family's wealth. Beneatha’s statement reflects her individualistic mindset and belief that she will get where she is going on her own. Another display of Beneatha’s self-centered personality comes when she tells Mama, “I mean it! I'm just tired of hearing about God all the time. What has He got to do with anything? Does he pay for tuition?” ( ; ) This rant of Beneatha takes place when Mama tells her that she will become a doctor God willing. Her feelings towards God are indicative of disregard for the thing Mama values

Mrs. Harrison believes that black people have to earn the white people’s respect, trust, freedoms and equality. Mrs. Harrison says to Bob, “You mustn’t think in terms of trying to get even with them, you must accept whatever they do for you and try to prove yourself worthy to be entrusted with more” (52). She states that if black people work hard enough, the white people will reward them. She also wants the black community to wait for the white people to “give” them something better, to accept what the white people “do for them.” She compares the idea of black and white people equality to communism. She tells Bob that he needs to make himself worthy of respect. “You know yourself, Bob, a lot of our people are just not worthy, they just don’t deserve anymore than they’re getting” (52). These comments illustrate how class has a great influence on Mrs. Harrison’s point of view on race. Without having to work and being rich, she is ignorant of the racial discrimination that a day to day skilled worker of Bob’s color has to go through. Like her daughter Alice, Mrs. Harrison has been given special treatment by the white people for her lighter skin, and her social and economic class.

Beneatha is a character that shows the struggles of an African American female at the time. Beneatha’s struggle is trying to become a doctor when others are telling her to give up on her dream. Walter, Beneatha’s brother, says, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy 'bout messing 'round with sick people—then go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet” (Hansberry 12-13). This is evident that Walter does not believe that Beneatha should become a doctor because it goes against the social norms of the time. Ruth shows determination by continuing her dream even with her family putting her down.

For instance, Beneatha Younger, a character in the play A Raisin in the Sun, is studying to become a doctor. Her brother Walter Younger does not like her choice of profession. He tells her to become a nurse because people do not see any female doctors. Only male. Nevertheless, Beneatha asserts “Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry get— if I ever get married” (Hansberry 50). Beneatha further talks about getting married and the expected role of married woman. Men are expected to be the working spouse while woman stay at home taking care of the family. Beneatha does not approve of this arrangement. Instead of letting society destroy her dreams by expecting her to be a stay-at-home mom, she takes action. Beneatha does not want to be controlled and ignores the opinions her family tries to impose on her. Like his sister, Walter Younger also has dreams of his own. Walter wants to partner with another male and open a liquor store. At the time, Walter was working as a chauffeur for a rich white family but continues to talk to Ruth about his dreams. “That’s it. There you are. Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. Man say: I got to take hold of this world, baby! And woman will say: Eat your eggs and go to work. Man say: I got to change my life, I’m choking to death, baby! And his woman say-- Your eggs is getting cold!”

Most black women ran the households, raised the children, cooked the food, and worked on the farm as needed. African-Americans could not live in certain areas and at most times it was hard for them to receive a loan for a house because they didn’t have a job but mainly because they were black. According to Faye Dudden, from the 1930s to the 1960s the Federal Housing Administration refused to insure houses in the African-American neighborhoods. Contracts in mortgage documents prevented white homeowners in white neighborhoods from reselling to black Americans. This resulted in African-Americans being “redlined” into segregated spaces (46).

Beneatha and Mama’s dreams are separated because of Beneatha’s dreams of becoming a doctor. Female doctors in the 1950s were seen not as accredible in their field. When Ruth tells Mama about her appointment for her pregnancy and the female doctor she went to, Mama says, "She—What doctor you went to? "(61). To Mama going to a female doctor is seen as giving up the baby which is the worst thing possible in Mama's mind. Mama undermines Beneatha as a doctor or any other female doctor because Mama was raised in a generation where the workforce was dominated by men while women were housewives. Another choice Mama disagrees with is Beneatha choice to not get married. Mama pesters Beneatha many times about marriage, but Beneatha never agreed. This was shown when Beneatha said, “I'm going to be a doctor. I'm not worried about who I'm going to marry-if I ever get married” (50). Beneatha wants to be a strong independent female doctor and not a housewife; besides, Mama believes that women should be married; nevertheless, they should not take on such a male dominated job. Many times Mama pushes Beneatha to marry a rich man, George Murchison, instead of supporting her dreams because Beneatha’s dreams are not the traditional life style. Beneatha pushes through Mama's beliefs on marriage and female doctors to still continue her dreams of being a doctor.

     Beneatha is an intellectual. Twenty years old, she attends college and is better educated than the rest of the Younger family. Some of her personal beliefs and views have distanced her from conservative Mama. She dreams of being a doctor and struggles to determine her identity as a well-educated black woman. She realizes her brother, Walter, dislikes the idea of spending the insurance money on the college tuition but is determined to be successful in her life: “BENEATHA: What are you talking about Ruth? Listen, I’m going to be a doctor … first I’m going to be a doctor! (I.i pg. 50)” Beneatha builds her frustration upon the doubts of her brother. When Walter

The Younger family was aware that there were not many female doctors during that time. They also knew that women did not aspire to be a doctor but they would rather settle to be a housewife or nurse. Walter Lee supports this claim in act one scene one by saying, “Ain't many girls who decide….to become a doctor” (36). This family represented other African American Families, therefore it is right to say that other families were aware of this issue. Walter continues, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? … go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet”(38). As stated earlier, women were expected to marry well to become housewives or, if they were interested in the healthcare professions, they were only allowed to be nurses. This traditional mindset was expressed continually throughout this play by several characters, almost all of the characters with the exception of Beneatha. Beneatha was determined to become a doctor, although her character was fictional she was not the only Black female who aspired to become involved in the medical profession. Women who shared similar values to those of Beneatha achieved major milestones which created a path for women to come to

As we see from her first entrance, Beneatha is a loud and outspoken character. She is a single young female living in a home with Ruth and Mama. Quite similar as characters, they share traditional values and believe women should care for the wellbeing of their family. Ruth and Mama take pride in doing domestic service work as their source of income and are continuously seen putting their children’s needs before theirs. Hansberry uses Beneatha’s character to contradict these values and introduce a character with modern feminist views. Beneatha fiercely fires back to anyone who questions her life goals. She is constantly found bickering with Walter about her dream of becoming a doctor. She is reminded by him that “girls” shouldn’t be doctors. Beneatha voices her feelings on male dependency when she mentions to Mama and Ruth “Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet - if I ever get married”, and they respond with a shocked “if!”(50). The idea of a woman not wanting to get married was shocking to Mama and Ruth. Beneatha feels that she does not need to be dependent on a man; she has one goal, to become a doctor. She does not need a man in her life, she feels perfectly

In A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha is an African American woman in the 1950’s who is determined to put her education first and one day become a doctor. Ruth tries to convince Beneatha to marry George because he is a rich man; however, Beneatha responds that “[she’s] going to be a doctor. [She’s] not worried about who [she’s] going to marry yet-if [she] ever gets married” (Hansberry, 1959, p. 936). After this discussion, Beneatha’s discipline and mindset is revealed. Beneatha clearly shows that she is more committed to her education than any other aspect of her life.

But, there is no telling what will happen down the road. A possibility of what may come to the family is abundance of discrimination from the White Americans. “The only people in the world who are more snobbish than rich white people are rich colored people.” (Pg. 49). The excerpt further explains the comparison of people’s attitudes by the color of their skin. The neighborhood that they are moving to may not accept or view them as equal. “That is just what is wrong with the colored woman in this world.. Don’t understand about building their men up and making’em feel like somebody.” (Pg. 34). This reference analyzes how Walter has no appreciation for his wife. This is apparent because of the comparison he is trying to do with the color of her skin instead of who she assuredly is. Making the decision of moving into this new house could bring up great opportunities for women or not give them equal rights and