By: Victoria Hulett, Sabrina Yunus, Jocelyn Kuo, Amanda Lee, Eunice Tseng
A Raisin in the Sun
By: Lorraine Hansberry
Book Questions:
3. Describe the relationship of Mama (Lena) with her daughter, Beneatha, and with her son, Walter. What expectations does she have for the future of each? Why?
Mama loves both of her children, but the three have different values and beliefs so they were unable to communicate efficiently with each other. However, as the story progresses, they learn to understand each other more, and bond as a family. When Beneatha talked to Mama about George, Mama finally supported her for the first time and understood how Beneatha feels. It feels like the first time when the mother and daughter feel connected each other. In Act II Scene II, Beneatha said to her mom, “Thank you for understanding me this time.” This shows the bond between mother and daughter is improving and that they’re finally able to understand each other. In the story, Lena’s expectation for Beneatha is that she wants Beneatha to continue to study what she wants. As for Walter, he felt that no one understands him in the family, even his mom. He feels that his mom doesn’t trust him and that she treats him like a child. However, the mom doesn’t feel the same. She just wants Walter to be mature and take responsibility of his family. The actual change in relationship between Lena and Walter occurred in Act II Scene II, when Walter asks his mom “You trust me like that, Mama?” and Lena told Walter, “I ain’t never stop trusting you. Like I ain’t never stop loving you.” , whereas in Act I Scene II, Walter told his mom, “I’m a grown man, Mama.” And Lena replied, “Ain’t nobody said you wasn’t grown. But you still in my house and my presence. And as long as you are- you’ll talk to your wife civil. Now sit down.” In the end of the story, Walter finally mature after learning his lesson; Lena also came to conclusion and told Ruth that “He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain…”
6. Identify and discuss a major theme of the play. Support your ideas with references to specific events and speeches.
One major theme of the play is the dream of fitting into the society. There are several aspects to the theme, since each of the characters in the play want to accomplish different things. Beneatha’s dream is to not assimilate and give in to what other people expect of her. She wants to be a doctor of an incident that happened when she was a child, “I always thought it was the one concrete thing in the world that a human being could do. Fix up the sick, you know – and make them whole again”, while Walter dreams of giving the family a better future. In Act II Scene II, Walter’s conversation with Travis expresses his ambition and hope for the future of the family, “your daddy’s gonna make a transaction…a business transaction that’s going to change our lives.” Mama’s dream is for Walter to grow up and be the head of the family. She wants him to take responsibility and for Beneatha to pursue her dream. Ruth’s dream is to have a bigger house to fit and unite the family together. In her conversation with Beneatha in Act II Scene III, Ruth emphasizes on family unity by expressing her happiness to Beneatha about how Walter and she is finally getting along and communicating well with each other, “we was still holding hands, me and Walter.”
3. Describe the relationship of Mama (Lena) with her daughter, Beneatha, and with her son, Walter. What expectations does she have for the future of each? Why?
Mama loves both of her children, but the three have different values and beliefs so they were unable to communicate efficiently with each other. However, as the story progresses, they learn to understand each other more, and bond as a family. When Beneatha talked to Mama about George, Mama finally supported her for the first time and understood how Beneatha feels. It feels like the first time when the mother and daughter feel connected each other. In Act II Scene II, Beneatha said to her mom, “Thank you for understanding me this time.” This shows the bond between mother and daughter is improving and that they’re finally able to understand each other. In the story, Lena’s expectation for Beneatha is that she wants Beneatha to continue to study what she wants. As for Walter, he felt that no one understands him in the family, even his mom. He feels that his mom doesn’t trust him and that she treats him like a child. However, the mom doesn’t feel the same. She just wants Walter to be mature and take responsibility of his family. The actual change in relationship between Lena and Walter occurred in Act II Scene II, when Walter asks his mom “You trust me like that, Mama?” and Lena told Walter, “I ain’t never stop trusting you. Like I ain’t never stop loving you.” , whereas in Act I Scene II, Walter told his mom, “I’m a grown man, Mama.” And Lena replied, “Ain’t nobody said you wasn’t grown. But you still in my house and my presence. And as long as you are- you’ll talk to your wife civil. Now sit down.” In the end of the story, Walter finally mature after learning his lesson; Lena also came to conclusion and told Ruth that “He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain…”
6. Identify and discuss a major theme of the play. Support your ideas with references to specific events and speeches.
One major theme of the play is the dream of fitting into the society. There are several aspects to the theme, since each of the characters in the play want to accomplish different things. Beneatha’s dream is to not assimilate and give in to what other people expect of her. She wants to be a doctor of an incident that happened when she was a child, “I always thought it was the one concrete thing in the world that a human being could do. Fix up the sick, you know – and make them whole again”, while Walter dreams of giving the family a better future. In Act II Scene II, Walter’s conversation with Travis expresses his ambition and hope for the future of the family, “your daddy’s gonna make a transaction…a business transaction that’s going to change our lives.” Mama’s dream is for Walter to grow up and be the head of the family. She wants him to take responsibility and for Beneatha to pursue her dream. Ruth’s dream is to have a bigger house to fit and unite the family together. In her conversation with Beneatha in Act II Scene III, Ruth emphasizes on family unity by expressing her happiness to Beneatha about how Walter and she is finally getting along and communicating well with each other, “we was still holding hands, me and Walter.”