Transcript A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun
Beneatha
Celine Linarte
Deepak Atyam
pd. 5
Mr. Jepsen
• The setting takes place
in a South side Chicago
apartment. The
apartment is amongst
the many in a genuinely
all-black neighborhood
during the 1940’s and
late 1950’s.
Setting
Background Info
• Beneatha: At 20 years of age, Beneatha is a very
intimidating person that believes in being intellectual
as well as independent. She appears to be thin,
good-looking, and lean.
• She holds a personality of an intellectual feminist and
is a proud natural African American.
• “That was the most marvelous thing in the world… I wanted to
do that.” Pg 1926
• At some point, she is revealed to be a bit openminded person with a positive attitude.
Background Info
• Beneatha has been ashamed of her African American
heritage. She is strong willed at heart and she’s very
specific when she speaks. Many times, she refers to the
person that she is speaking to in respect to give them the
all the attention.
• “To go to Africa, Mama – be a doctor in Africa…” Pg 1934
• With the help of Asagai, Beneatha becomes proud of her
heritage. By using the term “heritage”, it indicates that
she is of African blood and it does not date just to her
ancestors.
Feminism
• “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” pg. 1878
• Beneatha has met strong opposition with her future
vocational plans
• Plans of being a doctor
• She is assertive of her opinions which was different
for the average woman during this time period
SKIT
Characterization
• Depending on the subject, Beneatha can elaborate on what
her mind feels. Other times, she is straight to the point and is
strong-willed
• “Shut up.”
• She is direct and blunt to show her concise attitude about
things. This habit reveals her true self inside her and allows
other to know exactly what she is thinking and feeling about
others.
• “People went out and took the future right out of my hands! And nobody
asked me, nobody consulted me- they just went out and changed my
life!”
• In this quote Hansberry shows Beneatha’s strong personality
by expressing her anger
Characterization
• Hansberry creates Beneatha’s character to
be genuine by the way she speaks. The
way she said that and the words that she
spoke are very realistic.
• “Talk about – Olddddddddfashionedddddd-Negroes!”
• “Sticks and stones may break my bones
but…. Words will never hurt me!” pg 1916
Questions
• Joseph Asagai: shows his pride for his African
American culture by using words and terms from
his Yoruba culture. This affects Beneatha
because he helps them realize that their
background and culture is very important and it is
nothing to be ashamed of.
• “Movement, progress… It makes me think of Africa” Pg
1925
Questions
• George Murchison is an educated man who
came from a successful family. Walter feels
intimidated and repeats himself, especially
when talking about George’s father.
• He is a shallow man and at times, he is ashamed
of his heritage.
• “That’s up to George. If he’s ashamed of his
heritage --”
Questions
• A Raisin in the Sun is a comment on Langston’s poem
in that their problem “festers like a sore
And then runs.” They found a solution to their
problem after years of struggle and their solution was
to move, therefore they “ran.”
• Their life did not “sag like a heavy load,” it explode(d)
because they were not stuck in one place with their
problems; they were able to continue moving on
even though mistakes occurred along the way.
Questions
• The family did get an offer that stunk “like rotten
meat, (and) crust and sugar over like a syurpy
sweet;” however, the family rejected Lindner’s offer
of extra money and decided to move anyways.
• Beneatha’s dream did not “dry up like a raisin in the
sun,” for she still has a strong desire to become a
doctor and fend for her family and heritage.