Beneatha In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Mama and Walter influence the plot the most. The play was taken place during the 1950’s Southside Chicago. Mama is a very loving, caring character that tries to take care of her family the best she can. Walter is selfish, wants what is better for himself and argues with everyone. The family struggles, they are poor living in a small apartment with five people.

In the play A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, Beneatha (Bennie) Younger is a fiery young woman, aspiring doctor, anti-assimilationist, sister of Walter Lee Younger, sister-in-law of Ruth Younger, and daughter to Lena Younger. Her views about the world during the 20th century are extremely modern compared to those she’s surrounded by at the time. This monologue was written to showcase Beneatha’s distaste for George’s treatment of her, her feisty attitude, her belief in the power of women, her love of African tradition, and her desire to become a doctor. Beneatha and George, from the very beginning of their faux relationship, experience a conflict of interest. Before this monologue begins, Beneatha has just gotten back from a date

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” - Aristotle. Lorraine Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun with many subjects in mind, including how to address topics such as racism, sexism, poverty, and self-discovery. Her character Beneatha Younger, an ambitious, selfish, childlike woman, hopes to become a doctor while simultaneously trying to “find herself”. The rest of the Younger family, including her mother, brother, and sister-in-law, view Beneatha as an eccentric young girl who refuses to grow up. Despite her family’s views of her, Beneatha shows maturity when the time calls for it and proves to everyone, even herself, that maturity comes when you find yourself.

Additionally, Beneatha refuses to “just get married and be quiet” (Hansberry 22), as her chauvinistic brother, Walter Lee, expects her to be. This is depicted by the Beneatha’s sarcastic retort to Walter: “Forgive me for ever wanting anything at all!” (Hansberry 21), when they quarrel about Beneatha’s high ambitions and unruly independence she gained through education. This illustrates her

(Ch.16, Pg.168) Mr. Raymond acted as if he was drunk so he that he wouldn't need to explain to anyone his love for a black woman. The alcohol, he said, gave the community of Maycomb a reason to say, he didn't realize what he was doing. These kind of relations were completely unheard of during this time. Aunt Alexandra demonstrates discrimination, even against her own race, when she refused to allow Scout to have Walter Cunningham over for

Ruth lived a very sad life with her father, she admire the Black folks they were poor but they appeared happy. Ruth states, “If there was one thing Tateh didn’t like more than gentiles, it was black folks”(McBride 107). Tateh hated black folks so much that after Ruth married Dennis James’ father a black man, he disowned her. Keeping that a secret was better off for her kids but James wanted to know where was his mother from, who was her family, so James went to Suffolk, Virginia where his mother was raised. To find out that his grandfather was a racist, horrible person.

Tons of people on a normal day get made fun of because they dont look like others and that they don 't act like other people. In the book A Raisin In The Sun written by Lorraine Hansberry, A african american family living in the suburbs of Chicago pre civil rights movement trying to find a better life outside of their rundown apartment. In the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding Toula changes her appearance to go out and get the guy that she likes and when they see each other and it was love at first sight, Ian and Toula later get married. In the book American Born Chinese written by Gene Luen Yang, Jin changes his appearance because he wanted to fit in and get the girl that everyone likes. Some People think that they don 't fit into society so they change themselves to fit into society.

Being a woman who displays such strength, confidence, and power can be a threat to most men. Everyone has a few hurdles to jump over, in the process of running to their success. As a black woman Rice had to face the indignities for the color of her skin. Again as a woman going up against men for two sexist positons that most men believe should be held by men. I commend Rice on the power move of holding those positions as

The Younger’s are a family filled with headstrong characters, who break society 's barriers. Bennie is one of the few women who want to a doctor, which is not common at this time. Most people tell her that she should just become a nurse like most women and save her family money by not going to medical school. However, Bennie knows what she wants to do and will not let people stop her. A women is filled with strength when she adjust to many things in life and has overcome more (22).

Now widowed, she must raise her children, maintain her household and work to make a living for herself. Because she is black, a woman, and the wife of a man accused of raping a white woman, Helen was not able to find work. The person that hired her and the only person in Maycomb that would do so, was Mr. Link Deas, Tom’s former employer. He did not really need Helen’s services, but felt bad about what happened to Tom and he was one of the few decent people in Maycomb where colored people are concerned. “He doesn’t really need her, but he said he felt right bad about the way things turned out.” (TKAM, pg.