Theme Analysis
What image of humankind emerges from the work?
The image of humankind that is presented in A Raisin in the Sun focuses on humanity’s tendency to dream big even in times of oppression. The Younger’s are faced with poverty, racism, sexism and struggles within their family life, but their dream for something higher remains. Although the play ends with the
family’s future in their home in question, the fact that they stood up to Mr. Lindner and decided to fight racism rather than surrender their dream contributes to this theme. These dreams are in many ways encouraged by the children in the story. Mama says, “…Big Walter used to say, he’d get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his head back with the water standing in his eyes and say, "Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams – but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while."” Additionally, the future of Walter Jr.’s son Travis ultimately makes Walter sure in his decision not to give into Mr. Lindner. …Just tell me where you want to go to school and you’ll go. Just tell me, what it is you want to be – and you’ll be it….Whatever you want to be – Yessir! (He holds his arms open for TRAVIS) You just name it, son…(TRAVIS leaps into them) and I hand you the
world!”
Is the society flawed? Is it like-enhancing or life-destroying? Are characters in conflict with society?
The society is life destroying in this play, as the characters are in constant conflict with society. The story takes place in Chicago between World War II and
the present, a time period in which African Americans were fighting for their Civil Rights. The dream the family has of moving into a house is crushed by the
white community’s inability to accept a black family. Mr. Lindner offers the family compensation to encourage them not to move into Clybourne Park because the white residents don’t feel comfortable accepting them. Throughout the play, the presence of racism and racial judgments affect the characters. The African American community during the time period of the play is one that isn’t really even sure about embracing their African roots and a lot of its members, especially Mrs. Johnson simply think that the circumstances aren’t going to change. Mr. Asagai is a representation of African culture who serves to contrast with the disconnection of the Younger’s to their African roots. While Beneatha is in many ways ignorant and simply trying to become an individual, her thoughts on assimilation and accepting the racial and gender roles of society reflects the Younger family’s fight. “The Younger’s is too much for me! You sure one proud-acting bunch of colored folks. Well—I always thinks like Booker T. Washington said that time—‘Education has spoiled many a good plow hand’” This quote from Mrs. Johnson shows the acceptance of the situation that holds down the Younger family’s dreams. She believes that black people shouldn’t bother reaching for something higher, but the Younger’s choose to fight Mr. Lindner and move on with their dreams anyways.
The gender roles of society are also part of the theme. While Walter is trying to become the man of the family and provide for them by investing in the liquor store, Beneatha is trying to improve for herself, getting educated and aiming not to become a nurse, but a doctor. When Mama gives Walter the remaining money, (the $3,500 for Beneatha’s education and the $3,500 for him,) he snaps out of his depression and feels good again, as if he is fulfilling his role as the man of the family. Ruth is the practical character, trying to make sacrifices, (even almost aborting her baby,) for the good of her family, but Walter sees this as holding him down from providing for his family. “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 here baby! And a 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!”
What symbols does the author deliberately establish? How do you know they are symbols? What do the symbols seem to mean?
Symbols the author purposely establishes is Benethea’s hair, which represents Beneatha’s own pride and love for her African culture despite the obstacles that stand in her way. Living in a time where although women and African Americans were trying to establish more civil liberties for them, Benethea has trouble attending medical school and discovering her culture. When Beneatha announces that she wants to be a doctor, there are those who do support her yet those who also feel that she is taking the wrong road since she is trying to go against the traditional ways that society views woman, and more importantly, African American woman. She feels that the people around her and her relationships, such as that with Asagai, will help her fill her dreams such as becoming a doctor and being the reformed woman who knows much about her own culture. Beneatha wants to have pride in her African culture and in being a woman, hence she does not let people like Walter try and push her dreams down when he would say, ‘Who the hell told you, you had to be a doctor?” feeling that she is using Mama’s money for dreams that cannot truly come true. Beneatha and Asagai show the pride that they still have in their African culture. As soon as the two meet, Asagai mentions: “…Do you remember the first time you met me at school? You came up to me and you said…”...I want very much to talk to you. About Africa. You see, Mr. Asagai, I am looking for my identity!”” This shows that Beneatha truly wants to know more about her culture, feeling that she does not know enough and wants to use Asagai to teach her. Asagai knows must about his African heritage, evident in the gifts that he gives Beneatha such as giving her a Nigerian dress. He does not forget his heritage and instead embraces it, which is what Beneatha is trying to do through her relationship with Asagai. We see the way Beneatha has so much pride for the heritage she is does not know fully but is trying to find by the way she is disgusted and resents George Murchinson, a black man whose family and him has basically let go of their heritage and culture. She complains about them when she tells Mama, , "Oh, Mama-the Murchisons are honest-to-God-real-live-rich colored people, and the only people in the world who are more snobbish than rich white people are rich colored people. I thought everybody knew that. I've met Mrs. Murchison. She's a scene!" This shows that she does not appreciate those who lose their culture and hence instead of being with George, she sees more comfort in being with Asagai.
Symbols that show sacrifice for others are the actions of Mama and Ruth. Mama is completely willing to give money to Beneatha and Walter in order for them both to acquire their dreams. Mama gives all her time and effort to those around her and even to her plants. Her plant symbolizes her great care and effort to make sure that everyone around her is happy. She treats her plants like her child, making sure it is live and well, like she does to Ruth, Walter, and Beneatha. She is very optimistic in her plant when she says that the plants will always survive as long as there is faith and hope in the future, which is how she feels about her children as well. She believes that although they are going through hardships and obstacles come by- such as Ruth’s abortion problem, Walter’s struggle to serve his family, and Beneatha’s dreams of being a doctor- she feels in the end, they will still end up successful and happy. Ruth as well shows sacrifice when she makes a decision to abort her baby. She evidently does not want to be but feels it is the best since she knows that she and her family cannot handle the baby due to their financial difficulties. She does not ask Mama for her money not does she ask Walter to give up his dreams. She sacrifices what she loves in order to provide for those around her.
Are character’s controlled or in control of their destinies?
Although the characters are in complete control of their actions and what they will and are doing, the results of their actions cannot be controlled; hence, their destinies cannot be controlled as well. For example, even though Mama raised Benetha to believe in God and to have faith throughout her childhood, Benetha ended up being an atheist who does not believe in God and feels that is just an idea rather than a true fact. Mama did not plan for Benetha to be an atheist, hence she has a hard time trying to accept the fact and forces her beliefs on Benetha. Mama could not control the destiny of Benetha or her own destiny in having her whole family believe in what she believes. Even though Mama was able to control her actions, such as giving Walter and Benetha a share of her money, she cannot control what is going to happen to them in the future. Walter’s investment might fail and Benetha’s dreams of being a doctor might not work out in the end; however, Mama cannot control that Benetha and Walter cannot control this either, showing how destiny takes its own role and cannot be controlled yet takes a certain path through the actions of the characters. Society also takes a huge role in influencing the destinies of people. Benetha’s beliefs in God changed because of how society was, making her not have faith in a higher being and instead have faith in herself and the woman that she wants to be.
What are the moral conflicts in the work? Are they clear cut or ambiguous? Who is the moral center (the character that the author sees as clearly right and good)? If there isn’t one, why?
Moral conflicts that are being faced are mainly by two characters: Walter and his decision on whether or not to run his liquor store; and Ruth’s decision on
whether or not she should get an abortion. Walter’s moral conflict comes with the “American dream” that many people of his time desired. He wants to be titled in being able to be successful and wealthy when having started from scratch and with nothing to help him. He hoped that through hard work, he would able to achieve his dream. However, his desire to become successful and provide for his family comes into conflict with those around him, especially Mama, who disapproves of his value of money over faith and morales. Walter becomes so engrossed in his desires that he ignores the other problems around him, such as Ruth’s decision in whether or not she should get an abortion, which he ignores by walking out the house when Mama confronts him about it. Ruth is having a moral decision when she does not know whether or not she should get an abortion. Although she does not want to do that to her baby, she still feels it is necessary to sacrifice for her family. Her conflict comes to problems against Mama’s who is disappointed in her. Mama feels that by making good decisions through your life, goodness will eventually come to you. However, Ruth is stuck between waiting for the future and for the good versus trying to overcome the badness of the present, such as their financial difficulties and trying to understand Walter’s dreams which she does not know whether she agrees with or not. Walter’s moral conflict is not as clear cut. It is ambiguous because what the reader sees from Walter is a man who just wants to make money and is envious of those who make more money than him, such as Charlie Atkins and his dry-cleaning business. However, Walter’s conflict is much bigger in terms of having the American dream and is his main reason that he matures through the story in realizing that the “American dream” is not the main way he needs to grow. Ruth’s moral conflict is very clear cut because the decision of having an abortion is evidently one that is bad to some people and understanding to others.
The moral center of this story is Mama. Mama is the only character who seems to be completely sure in her beliefs and knows what she wants to have in her life. She lets out her opinions to others on how she feels about their actions- such as how she feels about Benetha’s religious beliefs, Walter’s desire for money, and Ruth’s decision on abortion. Mama is able to tell them how she feels and what she believes without faltering in her beliefs. Throughout the story, Mama is always consistent in what she believes in. From beginning to end, she still believes in her religion, her beliefs, and is able to make her own decisionswithout as much conflict as other characters. She splits the money among Benetha and Walter and does not regret her decision.
What repetitions occur in the play? What meanings can you draw from these repetitions?
A repeating phrase in the play is “Eat your eggs.” In the beginning of the play, Walter says, “That’s it. There you are. Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. (Sadly, but gaining in power) Man say: I got to take hold of this here world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat
your eggs and go to work. (Passionately now) Man say: I got to change my life, I’m choking to death, baby! And his woman say – (In utter anguish as he brings his fists down on his thighs) – Your eggs is getting cold!” “Eat your eggs” becomes a repeated symbol of focusing on “right now” rather than thinking about big dreams. Walter believes in looking ahead and doesn’t see things the way Ruth does. Ruth believes in looking at the current situation and making the proper sacrifices with the current situation while Walter is constantly driven by his need to make himself the man of the family. “Eat your eggs” is an example of Ruth’s belief that Walter needs to stop talking about his plans for the liquor store and focus on getting ready for work. Another repetition in the play is Beneatha’s insisting that Mama does not understand her. When Asagai is first coming over to their house, Beneatha feels the need to preface his arrival by saying, “Well, do me a favor and don’t ask him a whole lot of ignorant questions about Africans. I mean, do they wear clothes and all that--” and the two further disagree on the topics of religion discussed previously. When George is being disrespectful to Beneatha and Mama agrees with Beneatha that George is a fool, Beneatha finally thanks her mother for understanding her.
What contrasts does the playwright establish? Which are the obvious contrasts and which are the not-so-obvious contrasts?
Some obvious contrasts are the views on maturity between the characters. Benethea believes that in order to be mature and grow, one needs to be balances and intellectual about the world around them. This makes her wants to discover more about her culture and get closer to Asagai. She feels that she can be a new, reformed woman by figuring out her identity, shown when she meets Asagai, and become a better woman. She tries to develop a relationship with Asagai, who loves the passion that she has in learning about her culture, and try to learn more about Africa since Asagai has much knowledge in Nigeria and its heritage. Benethea’s passion to learn more about her culture is shown when she meets Asagai and explains that she wants to “find her identity,” knowing that Asagai knows much about Nigeria, through his gifts such as the Nigerian robe. This also pushes her to want to be a doctor, wanting to be intellectual and acquire education, taking on the civil liberties that are being advocated during her time. However, her views on maturity differ from Mama’s view and Ruth’s view. Mama believes that maturity comes through time and time is something that everyone shall have. Mama feel that as a long as one has faith and hope in their religion and in their future, maturity shall come to them and they will learn to become wise, as she feels she has through her years. She is an old, wise lady who feels that one needs to always think about others and make sure they are proper in their household, which is why she likes to make sure her house is always clean and good. Mama is also very strong in her beliefs and does not let others put her beliefs down. For example, when Benetha exlaims “Christ’s sake,” a sin, and when she says that “God has nothing to do with it,” Mama gets extremely angry and disappointed, not appreciating Ruth’s beliefs that God is not true. Mama slaps her and makes her repeat the words “In my mother’s house there is still God,” feeling that those who do not respect her beliefs should be reprimanded. This shows that Mama feels maturity comes with a strong foundation
in what you believe; however, what Mama believes comes with what she grew up with, such as believing in God and having faith. Ruth believes that maturity does come with time as well but she also believes that it comes with sacrifice and giving up dreams for others. Ruth symbolizes much about sacrifice throughout the story, such as her feeling obligated to have an abortion. This shows that to her, maturity means giving up what you love and not trying to put others down for what they love, even though others, such as Mama, will be disappointed in her. For Walter, he feels maturity comes when you are serving the role that you should be in a family. For him, since he is the man of the family, he feels that he must mature by making money and providing; however, in the beginning of the story, it is evident that he is not fully matured by the way he keeps on trying to convince Ruth that investing in the liquor store would be a good thing, showing how he still needs support around him to keep him on a pedestal of security. But he ignores the problems around him such as addressing Ruth’s decision of abortion, showed when he just walked away without saying anything since he did not want to face the problem head on. Although Walter believes that maturity comes with providing and being the man, he cannot fully act mature in the story because he has not achieved being the man and giving money to his family.
Views on culture and heritage are not-so-obvious contrasts that are shown in the story. The views that are contrasting are that of Asagai and Benetha versus that of Ruth and Mama. Asagai and Benetha feels that heritage and culture is important and significant in their lives, believing that it is a part of their identities. Asagai thinks that culture is something that you should have pride in and never let go; Benethea feels that culture is can help her become the “new woman” that she wants to be- someone who is part of the new reforms that are occurring at her time and someone who is intellectual and all knowing. However,Ruth and Mama feels that although culture and heritage is important, it is not the main thing that people should worry about. Mama looks down on Benetha’s views of putting down religion and being an atheist and her views on idolizing on trying to know more about her culture and heritage. Mama feels that having faith in her beliefs is important, which is why she gets angry and Benetha and Walter for valuing money more than their faith. Ruth also feels that Benetha’s value in trying to find her identity is not as important as family and making sure you sacrifice for them. These views are shown through the story but not explicitly stated.
The image of humankind that is presented in A Raisin in the Sun focuses on humanity’s tendency to dream big even in times of oppression. The Younger’s are faced with poverty, racism, sexism and struggles within their family life, but their dream for something higher remains. Although the play ends with the
family’s future in their home in question, the fact that they stood up to Mr. Lindner and decided to fight racism rather than surrender their dream contributes to this theme. These dreams are in many ways encouraged by the children in the story. Mama says, “…Big Walter used to say, he’d get right wet in the eyes sometimes, lean his head back with the water standing in his eyes and say, "Seem like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams – but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while."” Additionally, the future of Walter Jr.’s son Travis ultimately makes Walter sure in his decision not to give into Mr. Lindner. …Just tell me where you want to go to school and you’ll go. Just tell me, what it is you want to be – and you’ll be it….Whatever you want to be – Yessir! (He holds his arms open for TRAVIS) You just name it, son…(TRAVIS leaps into them) and I hand you the
world!”
Is the society flawed? Is it like-enhancing or life-destroying? Are characters in conflict with society?
The society is life destroying in this play, as the characters are in constant conflict with society. The story takes place in Chicago between World War II and
the present, a time period in which African Americans were fighting for their Civil Rights. The dream the family has of moving into a house is crushed by the
white community’s inability to accept a black family. Mr. Lindner offers the family compensation to encourage them not to move into Clybourne Park because the white residents don’t feel comfortable accepting them. Throughout the play, the presence of racism and racial judgments affect the characters. The African American community during the time period of the play is one that isn’t really even sure about embracing their African roots and a lot of its members, especially Mrs. Johnson simply think that the circumstances aren’t going to change. Mr. Asagai is a representation of African culture who serves to contrast with the disconnection of the Younger’s to their African roots. While Beneatha is in many ways ignorant and simply trying to become an individual, her thoughts on assimilation and accepting the racial and gender roles of society reflects the Younger family’s fight. “The Younger’s is too much for me! You sure one proud-acting bunch of colored folks. Well—I always thinks like Booker T. Washington said that time—‘Education has spoiled many a good plow hand’” This quote from Mrs. Johnson shows the acceptance of the situation that holds down the Younger family’s dreams. She believes that black people shouldn’t bother reaching for something higher, but the Younger’s choose to fight Mr. Lindner and move on with their dreams anyways.
The gender roles of society are also part of the theme. While Walter is trying to become the man of the family and provide for them by investing in the liquor store, Beneatha is trying to improve for herself, getting educated and aiming not to become a nurse, but a doctor. When Mama gives Walter the remaining money, (the $3,500 for Beneatha’s education and the $3,500 for him,) he snaps out of his depression and feels good again, as if he is fulfilling his role as the man of the family. Ruth is the practical character, trying to make sacrifices, (even almost aborting her baby,) for the good of her family, but Walter sees this as holding him down from providing for his family. “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 here baby! And a 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!”
What symbols does the author deliberately establish? How do you know they are symbols? What do the symbols seem to mean?
Symbols the author purposely establishes is Benethea’s hair, which represents Beneatha’s own pride and love for her African culture despite the obstacles that stand in her way. Living in a time where although women and African Americans were trying to establish more civil liberties for them, Benethea has trouble attending medical school and discovering her culture. When Beneatha announces that she wants to be a doctor, there are those who do support her yet those who also feel that she is taking the wrong road since she is trying to go against the traditional ways that society views woman, and more importantly, African American woman. She feels that the people around her and her relationships, such as that with Asagai, will help her fill her dreams such as becoming a doctor and being the reformed woman who knows much about her own culture. Beneatha wants to have pride in her African culture and in being a woman, hence she does not let people like Walter try and push her dreams down when he would say, ‘Who the hell told you, you had to be a doctor?” feeling that she is using Mama’s money for dreams that cannot truly come true. Beneatha and Asagai show the pride that they still have in their African culture. As soon as the two meet, Asagai mentions: “…Do you remember the first time you met me at school? You came up to me and you said…”...I want very much to talk to you. About Africa. You see, Mr. Asagai, I am looking for my identity!”” This shows that Beneatha truly wants to know more about her culture, feeling that she does not know enough and wants to use Asagai to teach her. Asagai knows must about his African heritage, evident in the gifts that he gives Beneatha such as giving her a Nigerian dress. He does not forget his heritage and instead embraces it, which is what Beneatha is trying to do through her relationship with Asagai. We see the way Beneatha has so much pride for the heritage she is does not know fully but is trying to find by the way she is disgusted and resents George Murchinson, a black man whose family and him has basically let go of their heritage and culture. She complains about them when she tells Mama, , "Oh, Mama-the Murchisons are honest-to-God-real-live-rich colored people, and the only people in the world who are more snobbish than rich white people are rich colored people. I thought everybody knew that. I've met Mrs. Murchison. She's a scene!" This shows that she does not appreciate those who lose their culture and hence instead of being with George, she sees more comfort in being with Asagai.
Symbols that show sacrifice for others are the actions of Mama and Ruth. Mama is completely willing to give money to Beneatha and Walter in order for them both to acquire their dreams. Mama gives all her time and effort to those around her and even to her plants. Her plant symbolizes her great care and effort to make sure that everyone around her is happy. She treats her plants like her child, making sure it is live and well, like she does to Ruth, Walter, and Beneatha. She is very optimistic in her plant when she says that the plants will always survive as long as there is faith and hope in the future, which is how she feels about her children as well. She believes that although they are going through hardships and obstacles come by- such as Ruth’s abortion problem, Walter’s struggle to serve his family, and Beneatha’s dreams of being a doctor- she feels in the end, they will still end up successful and happy. Ruth as well shows sacrifice when she makes a decision to abort her baby. She evidently does not want to be but feels it is the best since she knows that she and her family cannot handle the baby due to their financial difficulties. She does not ask Mama for her money not does she ask Walter to give up his dreams. She sacrifices what she loves in order to provide for those around her.
Are character’s controlled or in control of their destinies?
Although the characters are in complete control of their actions and what they will and are doing, the results of their actions cannot be controlled; hence, their destinies cannot be controlled as well. For example, even though Mama raised Benetha to believe in God and to have faith throughout her childhood, Benetha ended up being an atheist who does not believe in God and feels that is just an idea rather than a true fact. Mama did not plan for Benetha to be an atheist, hence she has a hard time trying to accept the fact and forces her beliefs on Benetha. Mama could not control the destiny of Benetha or her own destiny in having her whole family believe in what she believes. Even though Mama was able to control her actions, such as giving Walter and Benetha a share of her money, she cannot control what is going to happen to them in the future. Walter’s investment might fail and Benetha’s dreams of being a doctor might not work out in the end; however, Mama cannot control that Benetha and Walter cannot control this either, showing how destiny takes its own role and cannot be controlled yet takes a certain path through the actions of the characters. Society also takes a huge role in influencing the destinies of people. Benetha’s beliefs in God changed because of how society was, making her not have faith in a higher being and instead have faith in herself and the woman that she wants to be.
What are the moral conflicts in the work? Are they clear cut or ambiguous? Who is the moral center (the character that the author sees as clearly right and good)? If there isn’t one, why?
Moral conflicts that are being faced are mainly by two characters: Walter and his decision on whether or not to run his liquor store; and Ruth’s decision on
whether or not she should get an abortion. Walter’s moral conflict comes with the “American dream” that many people of his time desired. He wants to be titled in being able to be successful and wealthy when having started from scratch and with nothing to help him. He hoped that through hard work, he would able to achieve his dream. However, his desire to become successful and provide for his family comes into conflict with those around him, especially Mama, who disapproves of his value of money over faith and morales. Walter becomes so engrossed in his desires that he ignores the other problems around him, such as Ruth’s decision in whether or not she should get an abortion, which he ignores by walking out the house when Mama confronts him about it. Ruth is having a moral decision when she does not know whether or not she should get an abortion. Although she does not want to do that to her baby, she still feels it is necessary to sacrifice for her family. Her conflict comes to problems against Mama’s who is disappointed in her. Mama feels that by making good decisions through your life, goodness will eventually come to you. However, Ruth is stuck between waiting for the future and for the good versus trying to overcome the badness of the present, such as their financial difficulties and trying to understand Walter’s dreams which she does not know whether she agrees with or not. Walter’s moral conflict is not as clear cut. It is ambiguous because what the reader sees from Walter is a man who just wants to make money and is envious of those who make more money than him, such as Charlie Atkins and his dry-cleaning business. However, Walter’s conflict is much bigger in terms of having the American dream and is his main reason that he matures through the story in realizing that the “American dream” is not the main way he needs to grow. Ruth’s moral conflict is very clear cut because the decision of having an abortion is evidently one that is bad to some people and understanding to others.
The moral center of this story is Mama. Mama is the only character who seems to be completely sure in her beliefs and knows what she wants to have in her life. She lets out her opinions to others on how she feels about their actions- such as how she feels about Benetha’s religious beliefs, Walter’s desire for money, and Ruth’s decision on abortion. Mama is able to tell them how she feels and what she believes without faltering in her beliefs. Throughout the story, Mama is always consistent in what she believes in. From beginning to end, she still believes in her religion, her beliefs, and is able to make her own decisionswithout as much conflict as other characters. She splits the money among Benetha and Walter and does not regret her decision.
What repetitions occur in the play? What meanings can you draw from these repetitions?
A repeating phrase in the play is “Eat your eggs.” In the beginning of the play, Walter says, “That’s it. There you are. Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. (Sadly, but gaining in power) Man say: I got to take hold of this here world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat
your eggs and go to work. (Passionately now) Man say: I got to change my life, I’m choking to death, baby! And his woman say – (In utter anguish as he brings his fists down on his thighs) – Your eggs is getting cold!” “Eat your eggs” becomes a repeated symbol of focusing on “right now” rather than thinking about big dreams. Walter believes in looking ahead and doesn’t see things the way Ruth does. Ruth believes in looking at the current situation and making the proper sacrifices with the current situation while Walter is constantly driven by his need to make himself the man of the family. “Eat your eggs” is an example of Ruth’s belief that Walter needs to stop talking about his plans for the liquor store and focus on getting ready for work. Another repetition in the play is Beneatha’s insisting that Mama does not understand her. When Asagai is first coming over to their house, Beneatha feels the need to preface his arrival by saying, “Well, do me a favor and don’t ask him a whole lot of ignorant questions about Africans. I mean, do they wear clothes and all that--” and the two further disagree on the topics of religion discussed previously. When George is being disrespectful to Beneatha and Mama agrees with Beneatha that George is a fool, Beneatha finally thanks her mother for understanding her.
What contrasts does the playwright establish? Which are the obvious contrasts and which are the not-so-obvious contrasts?
Some obvious contrasts are the views on maturity between the characters. Benethea believes that in order to be mature and grow, one needs to be balances and intellectual about the world around them. This makes her wants to discover more about her culture and get closer to Asagai. She feels that she can be a new, reformed woman by figuring out her identity, shown when she meets Asagai, and become a better woman. She tries to develop a relationship with Asagai, who loves the passion that she has in learning about her culture, and try to learn more about Africa since Asagai has much knowledge in Nigeria and its heritage. Benethea’s passion to learn more about her culture is shown when she meets Asagai and explains that she wants to “find her identity,” knowing that Asagai knows much about Nigeria, through his gifts such as the Nigerian robe. This also pushes her to want to be a doctor, wanting to be intellectual and acquire education, taking on the civil liberties that are being advocated during her time. However, her views on maturity differ from Mama’s view and Ruth’s view. Mama believes that maturity comes through time and time is something that everyone shall have. Mama feel that as a long as one has faith and hope in their religion and in their future, maturity shall come to them and they will learn to become wise, as she feels she has through her years. She is an old, wise lady who feels that one needs to always think about others and make sure they are proper in their household, which is why she likes to make sure her house is always clean and good. Mama is also very strong in her beliefs and does not let others put her beliefs down. For example, when Benetha exlaims “Christ’s sake,” a sin, and when she says that “God has nothing to do with it,” Mama gets extremely angry and disappointed, not appreciating Ruth’s beliefs that God is not true. Mama slaps her and makes her repeat the words “In my mother’s house there is still God,” feeling that those who do not respect her beliefs should be reprimanded. This shows that Mama feels maturity comes with a strong foundation
in what you believe; however, what Mama believes comes with what she grew up with, such as believing in God and having faith. Ruth believes that maturity does come with time as well but she also believes that it comes with sacrifice and giving up dreams for others. Ruth symbolizes much about sacrifice throughout the story, such as her feeling obligated to have an abortion. This shows that to her, maturity means giving up what you love and not trying to put others down for what they love, even though others, such as Mama, will be disappointed in her. For Walter, he feels maturity comes when you are serving the role that you should be in a family. For him, since he is the man of the family, he feels that he must mature by making money and providing; however, in the beginning of the story, it is evident that he is not fully matured by the way he keeps on trying to convince Ruth that investing in the liquor store would be a good thing, showing how he still needs support around him to keep him on a pedestal of security. But he ignores the problems around him such as addressing Ruth’s decision of abortion, showed when he just walked away without saying anything since he did not want to face the problem head on. Although Walter believes that maturity comes with providing and being the man, he cannot fully act mature in the story because he has not achieved being the man and giving money to his family.
Views on culture and heritage are not-so-obvious contrasts that are shown in the story. The views that are contrasting are that of Asagai and Benetha versus that of Ruth and Mama. Asagai and Benetha feels that heritage and culture is important and significant in their lives, believing that it is a part of their identities. Asagai thinks that culture is something that you should have pride in and never let go; Benethea feels that culture is can help her become the “new woman” that she wants to be- someone who is part of the new reforms that are occurring at her time and someone who is intellectual and all knowing. However,Ruth and Mama feels that although culture and heritage is important, it is not the main thing that people should worry about. Mama looks down on Benetha’s views of putting down religion and being an atheist and her views on idolizing on trying to know more about her culture and heritage. Mama feels that having faith in her beliefs is important, which is why she gets angry and Benetha and Walter for valuing money more than their faith. Ruth also feels that Benetha’s value in trying to find her identity is not as important as family and making sure you sacrifice for them. These views are shown through the story but not explicitly stated.