Every person who comes to America has a common motive, with underlying details causing their motives to differ. Some come to America with the hope of freedom from the difficult lives they face in their home countries, while others will arrive because of the various opportunities for success that America has to offer. But most of all, many believe the country can give them the chance to find who they are and figure out what their goals are their new life. Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun surrounds a black family in the southside of Chicago, known as the Younger’s. The play gives insight on the life of the family, and the many difficulties they face as each family member tries to achieve their American Dream. Beneatha Younger, the daughter …show more content…
She is studying to be a doctor, which is quite difficult for a young African American woman in a working class family since they can barely afford to send her to medical school. Beneatha is then confronted with two men, George Murchison, a wealthy black man, and Joseph Asagai, an intelligent African student from Nigeria. Beneatha sees who she is pressured to be through George, and what she believes she wants to be through Asagai. The American Dream for Beneatha is the search to find who she wants to be through the characters of Murchison and Asagai, in a family and world where she is expected to live and act in specific ways according to her role in society. George Murchison’s role in Beneatha’s life triggers societal expectations that are directly shown by her family, due to the fact that Murchison is a successful black man and he is respected in their community due to his wealth. Beneatha always feels …show more content…
Beneatha is intrigued by Asagai’s culture and his firm belief in his Nigerian heritage, and she somewhat longs to find this dedication and interest in her own ancestors and native culture. Asagai comes over to the house to give Beneatha authentic Nigerian robes, and the two continue to talk. Asagai helps her put on the robes and then comments saying, “You wear it well… very well… mutilated hair and all” (Lansberry 61). Beneatha is quite shocked when he says this, and responds asking, “My hair- what’s wrong with my hair?” Asagai alludes to the fact that Beneatha straightens her hair, instead of letting it be curly and crinkly as a black woman’s hair should naturally be. Beneatha’s tendency to straighten her hair elaborates on the fact that she is struggling to find her identity and camouflages any indications of her
Mama believes that doing so will leave Walter as a hollow, empty shell. Asagai, one of Beneatha’s lovers, came from Nigeria to propose and asked for her to come back with him. He wants her to pursue her career as a doctor there. This gives Beneatha hope for a better future and allows her to see things somewhat differently.
She is the daughter of Lena (mama), and the sister of Walter. She is a determined woman that wants to peruse a career as a doctor which makes her a smart woman. In A Raisin in the Sun Beneatha is struggling to find out in who she truly is, this is a reason in why she has many experimentations with forms of art. She relied on the insurance money from her father’s death and investments that made by her brother to realize her dream of becoming a doctor this very much influenced her, this gives her a new perspective of her dreams and new ways of fulfillment. Even though she and Walter didn’t have a fantastic relationship because of investments and Walters manhood, it brings Beneatha closer to him and sees his true potential of strength, which indicates
Beneatha is a round, dynamic character that evolves throughout the play. She comprehends herself and her general public better toward the finish of the play than toward the start. She learns to deal with the failures of the people around her. She learns that her views on African culture are based on her personal experiences not on a wholly African one. She also discovers that there are
Beneatha believes that education is the only way to achieve a successful life. Yet, Walter does not understand why she values education so much, and asks her, “ I just wondered if you’ve made up your mind and everything” (Hansberry 25). She wants to become a doctor so that she can live a more independent life. Brubaker says, “Beneatha’s version of the American Dream is solitary, less traditional, and not as concerned with family; her’s is a less conservative version of the American Dream.” Beneatha’s family is concerned with her dream of becoming a doctor because it was so rare in the 1950’s. She does not want to feel like she has to constantly rely on a man, and even implies that she might not even get married. Her interest in Africa “symbolizes her struggle to understand her identity as an African-American Woman” (Marshall). Beneatha does not want to assimilate to the traditional ideas of
When her friend Asagai came from Canada and visited her, he brought her a colorful robe of a Nigerian woman. She was excited about the robes, that she decided to wear them immediately. Later that day, Beneatha started dancing, as she caught the attention of her sister in law, Ruth, as she was unsure of what Beneatha was doing; and asked her indecisively. Beneatha replied “A folk dance… it’s from Nigeria. It’s a dance of welcome (Hansberry, pg. 77). This quote show, how Beneatha is trying to bring the Nigerian culture to America. This folk dance, seems to help her to find her own identity and have pride of the African culture. Beneatha wanted to visit Africa some day and learn more about their traditions to build her identity. Asagai asked Beneatha to marry him, and come to Africa to live together. Beneatha was excited when she told her mom about Asagai’s proposal. Beneatha's dream about visiting Africa, would come true if she gets marry with Asagai. Also, she
The story of this play is simple and the majority of African-Americans faced such issues in the 1950’s, living on the south side of Chicago, struggles with poverty, dignity and dreams of a better life. Wanting better for your children and trying to fit in, while maintaining family values. A Raisin in the Sun is an excellent example of the relationship between family values and conflict. In this play it portrays: values and purpose of dreams, the need to fight for racial discrimination and the importance of family.
Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is a play about segregation, triumph, and coping with personal tragedy. Set in Southside Chicago, A Raisin in the Sun focuses on the individual dreams of the Younger family and their personal achievement. The Younger's are an African American family besieged by poverty, personal desires, and the ultimate struggle against the hateful ugliness of racism. Lena Younger, Mama, is the protagonist of the story and the eldest Younger. She dreams of many freedoms, freedom to garden, freedom to raise a societal-viewed equal family, and freedom to live liberated of segregation. Next in succession is Beneatha Younger, Mama's daughter, assimilationist, and one who dreams of aiding people by breaking down
Many of them being people attempting to discourage her. An impediment Beneatha faces is when Walter nastily 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…” (1.1.38). He believes she needs to conform with the stereotypes that are common among women. However, these hindrances intensify her ambition and motivate her to become one. She is doing this to break the racial stereotypes as well as gender stereotypes that are put upon her. Mama and Ruth tell Beneatha they want her to marry George Murchison because of his family 's line of wealth. Beneatha confidently replies “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” She breaks the stereotype that she needs a man in order to get through life. Beneatha wants to be able to provide for herself and wants them to know she does not need a man. Beneatha’s ambition is a result of the positive effect the world has had on her.
Beneatha met two different guys in the story and these two gentlemen represent something and who she choose over. The first guy she met is a man name George Murchinson, he represent rich, spoil, and ungrateful to beneatha. The second guy she met is a man name Asagai and he represent culture, and a african heritage to his kind. The difference between these two guys is the one is rich and the other in college and being a doctor as well. Beneatha was talking to these to guys and didn’t know who to date until towards the end when Asagai told beneatha to marry him and going to africa. She considering going and why she choose to go is because when she is with Asagai she feels more happy. When she go on a date with George she don’t feel as happy when
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 American dream that Beneatha wants to acquire is to receive a good education, become a doctor, and marry a good man. This is where two key characters come into play; George Murchison and Joseph Asagi. George is shown as stuck up and acting like a rich white person. This shows when George enters the Younger home and
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.
Nobody in the play is as influential on Beneatha as the people she dates. George is the first person she goes one a date with. He comes from a very wealthy African-American family he looks and dresses preppy. Her family loves him, but she is not serious about him. Beneatha says,”...I couldn’t ever
She goes on dates with George but finds him boring and is offended that he finds her dreams of being a doctor stupid. She is a strong independent woman who is at the brink of being a full thrown feminist and is not at any time giving into the pressures of society to marry the richest man she can find. George is an African-American who shows no interest in his African roots, he does not like talking about Africa or talking to those who advocate it. George has completely assimilated into the American culture to gain the respect of the white people being one of the African-American families who cracked on the pressures of society assimilate. George’s wealth was not something that swayed Beneatha, his wealth sure could assist her in pursuing a medical career but she did not want to be tied by any boundaries. Asagai was different from George because he did not want to marry Beneatha to tie her down, he wants to marry her to set her free.
Asagai, I am looking for my identity!” (Hansberry 49). Thus, by revealing Beneatha’s interest in Africa to be genuine, coupled with her excitement, Hansberry then expresses a sense of pride in returning to one’s roots as well as encourages African Americans to embrace theirs. After all, by portraying an interest and yearning for knowledge involving African heritage in one of her characters, Hansberry transfers this idea to her audience as well.